so if i'm running down the street and some unleashed guy comes running up to me snarling and gnashing his teeth at full speed with no intent to slow down or stop, i'm supposed to stop and tell him "No" in a stern voice? If that doesn't work then I have the "right" to defend myself? I don't see how dogs are any different than humans... if me taking an "alpha-dog" stance against another "alpha-dog" human or animal won't work. If a person or dog or cat or whatever comes after me I am looking out for number 1. If I ever feel threatened, dog, human, guy or girl, I will defend myself.
I'm not trying to act tough as I have never been in a position to have to physically defend myself, nor do I know specifically how I would. But I do know that if I do feel threatened I won't have the thought of PETA suing me in the back of my mind - I will eff the dog up until I'm not in a threatened state.
And in Ian's position, it sounds like he tried to get away in a non-confrontational manner at first, that didn't work, then he prepped himself for a confrontation, just in case, and then it happened. Doesn't sound like the owners had any intention of stopping the dog, let alone being physically capable of it at that point.