I get in front of my dogs and yell at the approaching dog to go away. Make myself look as big and scary as possible and always keep myself between the loose dog and mine. They need to know that'll protect them, they don't have to worry about it or protect me.

I used to feel guilty about this next part, but not anymore--if your dog is off-leash, out of control and a threat to my dogs, I will do whatever it takes to protect MY dogs. Doesn't happen very often, but a couple times a winter some nutball dog decides it's a good idea to jump in the middle of my dog team!

There's a lady out here who we frequently run into with her small dogs. She does pick them up when she sees the team coming, which I greatly appreciate. However, it does make what she's holding more interesting! I have found that if she picks up her small dog and keeps moving, my dogs couldn't care less. It's when she freezes that she becomes an interesting distraction.