Loud noises can work well. Even something like a whistle, clapping, or a water bottle filled with coins, can stop a dog charge or break that frame of mind.

A lot of our members carry pepper spray or deterrents like that in case of a dog attack. I'm unsure if you can find them over the counter in Portugal, but those can work.

Bumping into a true wild dog hasn't happened to me in a very long time, but ideally I like to think I would try and just use my body positioning to demand some space while I checked if it had tags.

Maybe someone else can offer a bit more

Either way I wish you the best of luck.
~Chris~

Thanks for the fast reply!
Well, no dogs here have tags, because the ones that have owners are chained at their houses. AS far a violent stray dogs, they're only like that because we're invading their territory, don't know what to do on that case except just back off.
Just came back from the place im talking about, but didn't dear enter it fully cause as soon as i got into already heard dogs barking on the background, and i dont know if they're chained or not so i get bumped, mishka just don't give a sh**, ahah.

Shaqua and I used to go jogging/walking for a 7 miles trek when I lived in the country and we ran into a lot of dogs loose. I found most of the time if I ignored them they left me alone, but a simple squirt of a water bottle seemed effective in these instances. I will say one time a pit came charging at us and Shaqua was so scared she just jumped into my arms...lol! She's 41 lbs but thinks she's a little dog sometimes.

So what happened when the pit charged ? Did you kick him or something ? Thats somehow a weak point of mine, i know they'll bite me but i dont like hurting animals

Luckily he didn't actually get to me. I just yelled at him and he back off a bit,, barking and barking at me as we walked away. I'm sure my "mommy" instincts would have made me kick him if he did get to me. If something is going to attack my baby I'm not gonna be nice. That being said I wouldn't try to hurt him, just keep him away..

I don't know where his owners were., he came charging out of their open front door. No person in sight.

Thats what scares me the most, as it is in the woods there is nobody around .

When I run with Bodhi, sometimes I have the same problem with loose dogs and irresponsible owners.

Sometimes yelling and puffing up- raising my hands over my head and waving- does the trick and the dog will stop. Other times I will have to kick the offender. I don't like hurting dogs either, but I will do so to protect my dog.

I do have pepper spray, which is quite effective, but lots of times I forget to bring it.

I have this issue big time. I carry Halt spray or Pepper spray- sometimes both. I dont think Halt has any lasting impacts on them and is safer since its strictly formulated for dogs. Also if the dog is making me nervous i usually change course and stop running. i think Running just makes it worse since even though your trying to do your workout, the dog will want to chase you. I usually take both if im alone because the halt is for dogs, the pepper spray is for people (havent used it yet )

Thanks everyone, but it seems if i go on the highway there are no stray dogs as it used to be, because some maniac decided to put venom in dog food and killed all that there were