Actually, although I know you are joking considering his recent injuries, if a dog DID try to kill him, they WOULD go for the hand. Remember this if you ever end up in the shitty position of having to fight a dog: they go for your hand, once they get a hold of it, they hang on tight, sink their teeth in deep, and when they have you, they pull you FORWARD, until you are off balance.

Their goal is to pull you to the ground, because once you are down, then they can reach your throat. If the dog gets your throat, you're finished.

Your only hope would be to act totally submissive and whimper, and not to resist AT ALL once the dog had you on the ground. But that is only assuming it wasn't angry enough to rip your throat out the instant it got a hold of your adam's apple.