I thought I smelled it's breath.

I checked latter to make sure it wasn't my pants it was that close. Riding a nice side road this morning I saw a PU truck parked close to the road pointed in the direction of the road, I saw no one in the truck but what I couldn't see was a Shepard looking dog, apparently it was laying in wait behind a wheel waiting until the last moment to launch the attack, one bark was all I heard that and the furry blur headed for the bike, close to darn close. Glad these bikes accelerate quickly.

Sounds like a flea-trap

Sneak attack is hard to avoid. If you see it coming best thing to do is slow down and then speed up.
Throws off their timing and have to change direction.

I'm more worried about deer already hit one on FJR. Didn't crash but I was close to going into a ditch on other side of road lucky nobody was in other lane.

To close to dog gone fast, put the emphasis where you wish Yes I've used a taught that method of avoidance.