I've heard several conflicting things that you are supposed to do if a dog attacks you. Some people say to stand still and don't move, others say to get down on the ground and protect your face, and a friend of mine who is a cop says to raise one arm up in the air and then don't move.
What have you heard and do you know any correct methods?

My daddy told me that a human should use his weight in a conflict with an attacking dog: grab some fur, hold on, and knee-drop the animal. You might get bitten, but he will soon die from crushed lungs.

I have had good results deterring an attack by standing my ground but looking aside, as if unconcerned. The animal keeps up his threat, but does not attack. But when you turn to leave, he advances. So you turn again to him and repeat the 'indifferent' act. This seems to lessen his hostility. You are not attacking him, thereby triggering his own attack, yet you are not intimidated, either.

I think raising one's hands overhead would help, because then the animal thinks you are bigger than you are. There are breeds which are exceptions. Pit bulls are fearless when aroused.

Never raise your arm in the air as a dog will only see you as a bigger threat. Dogs are aggresive 99% of the time through fear and scaring them more wont help this problem. If you see a dog that is submissively aggresve ie. head low, ears back then you should look to the ground (never make eye contact) and assume a non threatening posture such as head down. Make no sudden movements and back away very slowly while facing the dog.

I have never encountered a dog that wants to attack you just for the shear hell of it and if this is the case then its probably because you are on someone elses property so thats your problem!

Sorry, Qwerty, but I'm sure I'm not alone in having been harrassed by dogs on public property. Most dogs seem to like me - in fact when out walking with my SigOth (before I married my current husband) I used to put myself between him and the threatening dog (he was taller, so maybe the threat element was the factor) and the dog might threaten and bluster, but would not make serious attacking moves. But if he was nearer the dog, it would 'go for him'. Didn't matter if he threatened the dog or tried to appease it or ignored it. They wanted a piece of him!
But now that I think about it, my husband has about the same reaction from dogs that I do. They menace, and can be somewhat scary, but don't attack. He's taller than I am, too - but then just about everyone is.

A friend of mine, who is a dog groomer, told me that the best way to deter a dog that you're unsure of is to step on its paws which, if it's not going to attack, should make it trot off. (Of course this could actually trigger an attack - a point that came to me after the conversation.) If the dog does attack then the best thing to do is kick/punch it in the throat, repeatedly if necessary. Dogs haven't any protection there which is why they usually go for that area. (This will crush thier windpipe making it impossible to breath and most likely kill them.)

Gosh, if an attacking dog is so close that I could step on his toes I don't think I'd think of doing it!

OMG, I'm sorry I meant if a strange dog came up to you & you weren't sure about it. No, if a dog starts attacking a little tap on the toe ain't gonna do it.