Q: How do I defend myself and my dog when out walking and other dogs come at us? Generally, our morning walks are uneventful, but I need advice on how to deal with the occasional surprises. -- K.J., via e-mail

A: When it comes to professional pet behavioral advice, nothing works all the time and everything works some of the time. With that disclaimer in place, we can tell you that when facing a potential canine challenger, your best bet is to communicate with body language to thwart an attack.

Deter canine confrontations by sending clear signals in dog language that no threat exists. When you see a loose dog making a beeline in your direction, put your dog on a down-stay. Simply lowering your dog's position and posture communicates to the loose dog, "I'm not here to fight or challenge you." You dog is essentially saying "Uncle" before a confrontation starts.

Although your heart may be pounding, demonstrate emotional leadership. Take a deep breath and exhale so your own dog can hear you, letting all your tension out to signal your dog to also relax. We lower our dog's arousal rate by lowering our own.

Keep your side toward the loose dog so you can glance at him but not stare. Keeping a relaxed and loose muscle tone, stand tall in front of your dog to keep your dog's attention on you. If you see your dog begin to move, calmly yet firmly insist that your dog stay. Stand on the leash to prevent your dog from suddenly leaping up in response to the approaching dog.

When dogs are on leash, they are more likely to fight defensively because they cannot get away. Your dog must learn to rely on your leadership and be well-trained in advance before you can expect him to follow your instructions when on leash -- especially when challenged.

Keep in mind, there are dogs -- as there are people -- who suffer from mental illness. If the loose dog was not properly socialized to other dogs as a pup, he may not read canine body language or respond well.

When dogs are not trained and live boring lives, they also create their own jobs, such as barking at mail carriers. Regardless of whether the other dog is attacking to protect his space or exercising his macho ego or simply having some fun, your best bet is to simply ignore him.

Do not turn your back and retreat or run. If the dog attacks you, stand like a tree and fall like a rock with your arms covering your neck, and let your dog fend for himself. Rarely will your situation come to this extreme, but now you know what to do.

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.