Kuma was attacked today

Hi guys and girls.

I used to use this or the other forum a while back. Thanks to CC for pointing me in this direction.

Well I was out for a long walk with Kuma this morning and once we entered a park I saw two dogs off leash running around with each other. They were approx 50 metres from the path I was on. Kuma noticed too but carried on about his business. Kuma then looks around and stops and I see that the smaller of the dogs (a sharpei cross) is running over. I tell Kuma no and he carries on walking but the dog does not listen to its owner and keeps on coming. Kuma turns to face it and it stops just in front of it. They have a sniff get excited but I don't let Kuma play the chase game as the dog was growling a bit also. I continue on with Kuma and the sharpei just stands there. Then the other dog. A big mastiff/pit cross comes charging over. Same thing. It gets right in Kumas face and starts sniffing. I tell Kuma 'leave' and 'lets go' he does but the mastiff/pitt kind of blocks him. All the time this dogs owner is screaming for his dog to come back. They sniff face to face and kuma goes to sniff his shoulder, the thing growls and Kuma stops. Then it full on teeth showing lunges at kuma, who darts left and slaps its face with his paw. It lunges again and Kuma darts out of the way. They are head on and it starts again so I pull Kuma out of the way. In doing so however I spin Kuma side on and it grabs a chunk of the side of his neck, Kuma slaps the things head again and breaks the hold. The dog finally listens to his owner and walks off very slowely. Kuma stood there I'm sure wanting to go after it but I held him close and told him to sit. I look him over and he is fine. I guess the benefit of having so much fur is that thats all the dog grabbed.

The owner apologises and tells me he usually has him on a lead around other dogs. The sharpei's owner asks if Kuma is an Akita, I say yes and thats one of the reasons he stays on a lead at all times. She then turns and says something to the other guy along the lines of your dogs lucky. He asks me a few times if I'm sure if Kuma is ok and I tell him to keep his dog on a lead in the future.

Now I'm happy Kuma is fine and seemed totally unfased by it. In fact I'm sure he believes it was a game! But I actually am feeling like I let him down big time! In pulling him I hindered him in his ability to protect himself. I opened him up for this dog to get a grip. If it had lunged further it could have been a lot worse! I remember my old dog trainer saying to me that if my dog is ever attacked then to just let go of the lead and let them get on with it to avoid injury to myself or making it worse for my dog. Should I have done that? What I do know is that if the dog didn't stop when it did I would have kicked it away for sure.