All I had to battle with were instinct and intellect against 42 pointed teeth.
Unfortunately, instinct and intellect clash. Waging war in your own mind isn't a good idea when facing imminent bodily injury. Instinct wants to fall back on the 'ol "fight or flight" routine. Both of which have lead to scars and mutilation for my fellow mailman. Intellect, having learned a better method, recounts the details of Caesar's book, "Be the Pack Leader". He says, stay still, make yourself big, think confident thoughts, and DON'T run.
(My eHow article on fending off dog attacks can be read here: How to Avoid a Dog Attack)
I was on the way back to my vehicle from a font door delivery when the owner came out asking if I could...BARK BARK BARK!!!
Here's what played in my head within the single second it took for the Australian Shepherd to push past his owner and reach my leg.
Instinct: "RUN!"
Intellect: "I have two legs, it has four."
Instinct: "FIGHT!"
intellect: "I have fleshy fists, it has jaws."
Instinct: "WHAT DO I DO?!"
Intellect: "Stand still, stand tall, face the dog but don't look at it, and exude confidence."
Instinct: "THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK! I'M GOING TO GET BIT! OMG, IT'S GONNA HURT!"
But it did work. The dog scrambled to my leg and barked viscously; it's front teeth actually butt-up against my skin. It stopped, walked away, came back, did it again, and went back inside.
Instinct: "I can't believe that worked."
Intellect: "Told ya."
