I got myself one of those sonic devices nice and cheap from Maplin for when I'm out training on the hills with a group of Juniors. Seems to do the trick with apparently no damage done to the dog.
I'll get slated for this but I carry a small knife with me on runs. I got bitten about 3 years ago and it got infected and I was laid up for nearly a month with no earnings.
If I see an aggressive dog, I'm taking it down before it takes me down.