I know you don't want to use mace or pepper spray, but they have the advantage that the propellant in the can means they "shoot" further so if you do have a dog run up on you, you can get them before they get too close. If nothing else, carry a spray bottle or water bottle with half and half water and lemon juice that you can squirt the bigger dogs with. Lemon juice isn't as strong as the ultra concentrated cayenne in pepper spray but it still burns like a sonofagun if you get it in their eyes. Just don't forget which water bottle has the lemon and which doesn't if you get thirsty on the walk
