That is scary. around where i live there are stray dogs all over, so when we walk i have run into a stray Pitt before and i was very scared, i was walking Senorita and she is twice his size but she is a big baby, i just did not make eye contact , he was staring us down the whole time, and i walked my normal pace, then when he got out of site we ran home. Ever since then i have not walked her, this was at the end of the season, and im nervous, this year , i may take her over to where my mom lives to walk this year. And i think the mace idea is good, too.