I am extremely annoyed with my neighbors. Last night I had my GSD, Aries, pull me on rollerblades for his evening exercise. When I am time constrained, I find it is a quicker way to give him a workout.

This time many of my neighbors were being idiotic. First there was a dog around 70 lbs unleashed being supervised by 5 siblings, the oldest 7, the youngest 2-3. They were running through a line of 5 front yards; their house as one of them. I was on a perpendicular street so I couldn't have seen them and turned around before the other dog spotting us. It flips and starts charging us. I jump into the nearest yard so that I have better leverage to control the situation on wheels. I am BARELY able to keep this dog at bay with deep commanding tone and body language. I tell the kids to get their dog now because I was only able to keep the dogs at a stalemate and didn't want to let loose the pepper spray with children nearby. It wouldn't have hit them directly, but it carries a bit in the breeze. The children were afraid to approach their OWN dog while it was acting that way. I think of letting my 7 year old in the front yard with Aries unsupervised and shudder at the thought of her trying to keep him from attacking another dog by herself! Finally the 7 year old carefully inches up to her dog and grabs it. The dogs turns and snaps at her before finally letting her lead it away. I follow them a safe distance behind to have them bring out their mother to metaphorically "rip her a new one".

I roll away thinking problem solved and averted. Seriously, the very NEXT block there is a maltipoo and pomeranian sniffing around the front yard of a house that is 4 houses away from there own and NO ONE in sight. I know 4 houses away because that's where the poor thing ran after I sprayed it. Their garage was open and I think there was a doggie door on the door leading to the garage because the maltipoo ran into the garage and was gone for a minute then ran back out with a teenage girl that had apparently been in her house.

Anyways, I do the jump into the nearest yard for leverage routine and try to scare it off. It doesn't doesn't even break stride in it's charge, so I pepper spray it. It runs home and the teenage girl comes out like I said, so I give her a brief but stern lecture on yes, I pepper sprayed the dog and this is the reason for leash laws and I saved her dogs life. Had I allowed her dog to get to mine it would have been over quickly.

Am I supposed to tell my dog to lay down, it won't eat much!? Just because a dog is small and probably won't win a fight, it's alright to pick a fight!? This irks me to my core. People with aggressive small dogs, but they don't have to control them because they are small.

So I leave the area thinking I should have been able to stop that dog in it's tracks with the amount of distance I had to start my routine. Usually from about the distance of "across the street" and farther I can get a dog into a rethink the situation mode. Most of the time, from a certain distance, I can effectively show them that they will be met with resistance..beware.. and I can see them rethink whether or not they want to pursue the situation. Alternately, if they are a certain distance close, they are not able to be swayed and my only option is to "win", and keep them away from my dog. For me winning is pepper spray. But I HATE using it.
I should have been capable of keeping this dog away with my voice and body language. So I couldn't help but wonder if I am not as effective a deterrent on rollerblades?

I can't help but to feel quite resentful of the possibility the advice I receive being "just don't take your dog rollerblading". I enjoy it a ton, and it's a good way to exercise Aries well in a small amount of time. If I drive elsewhere to do it, the driving to that other place takes time which renders it obsolete for when I am in a time pinch, which is often with a new baby. (baby definitely does not go rollerblading with me fyi) I highly doubt I need to worry about encountering these specific dogs off leash ever again, but I'd rather not pepper spray a good portion of the neighborhood because dogs aren't intimidated by me on wheels. On the other hand, better pepper spray than a hammer.

I live in a region in Brazil, where I always have experienced almost exactly the same thing as you. Only that I have not been on roller blades. I cannot see any reason why you shouldn't do this.
In my region the real strays don't atack, their living on the street and know and get on well with other dogs.They may run after someone on rollerblades, bycicles or other vehicles.They bark and can like this of course frighten people who don't know the particular stray.

But a completely different thing are dogs - big or small - of negligent dog owners. This should be forbidden and after a clear warning warning brought announced to court. If someone has a dog,- especially if it an aggressive one - they have absolutely to assume their responsabilty.

But unfortunatly they think small dog are not dangerous at all. They are often as lap-dogs possessive of their owner or other thing, and I can only assure you a spoiled ankle-biter can be much harm, more than only being uncomfortable.

Use your pepper spray or what ever you have. We as doglovers do want to hurt or injure another dog. So we use the less dangerous protection for us and our dog against the other oneBo, because it is actually not his fault.
But wie can come unsuspectedly in a situation, where we have no other choice than to give him a phylacteries, which he wll not forget so easily. But unrespomsible owners should get one very unforgettable too. Of course we then hav to choice an other way.

Hope you can go o rollerblading, without such awful incidents.IMO we have to fight against such careles owners,

Good luck to you and you active dog. It could be so wonderful and good for the dog and yourself'd never .Such owners should recieve a pepperd lesson, which they'd never forget.
Hope the best for you!

Thank you for your regard! I will definitely keep exercising my dog. I will not be scared off!

Thumbs up! Admirable!