I just had to write and thank you. I read your post the other day and then I was walking my little one last night around the neighborhood a bit later than usual. As we got close to home it had gotten almost dark - more than I would have thought or we would have taken a shorter walk. Suddenly a big black dog who had gotten loose from his backyard was charging at Bella. It was so close I didn't have much time to react and did what you described by pulling the leash up in the air and her harness lifted her out of the dog's reach and into my arms. I had to kick at the dog to keep it away from her - it was so persistent and tried to jump up. I ran up to the nearest house and rang the door bell and the guy came right away and went to get the dog (it wasn't his)- it had collar and tag on and he was going to call the owner. Bella was shaking so much and I was so shaken that we just went home once he was after the dog. I got online and ordered some Muzzle to carry when we walk from now on. I live in a very safe neighborhood with mostly wonderful neighbors, but most have really big dogs and they do periodically find ways to dig or escape out of their backyards... or the owner thinks the dog is able to be controlled by voice and they let them run around the front yard not on a leash
Anyhow- I am just glad that Bella was not hurt and I am so appreciative that I read your post about how to just pull her up with the leash- it prevented her from being attacked.