Sorry to hear about your encounter Fr Chuck and I am glad you are okay!
We have had a few stray dog problems too. My dog was attacked one night and the Animal Control people advised me to buy some mace. The gun shop where I bought it gave me these two suggestions:
Go deep in the woods and spray it on a tree to "see what its like". I was instantly made aware of how even the slightest breeze would affect it.
Also, if you are really in a jam where the dog is charging you and about to jump up in an attack, its wise to point your hand way out in front (gives the dog "bait" - ugh, I know, verrrry scarey!) but that is so you protect the hand holding the spray can, enabling you to get a good squirt of it off.
So I practiced like that too. Must have looked the bloomin' ninja fool out there in the forest, LOL but I live without fear now roaming freely through my woods. Lets hope its good for wild hog, I sometimes hear sounds that suggest they may be present too???
