Question for those of you that walk your dogs?

[bckrazy]

In a situation where the other dog is aggressive... I would stand still, with my dog behind me, and tell the dog to go home.

Now that I really think about it, I've never actually been faced with an aggressive, loose dog. There are several rude Golden Retrievers & Labs in my neighborhood who are always out in their yards, but they aren't aggressive, just rude. I will tell them to go home, Gonzo will tell them off, and they're pretty much on their way.

I feel bad for anyone who has aggressive dogs loose in their neighborhood. It has to be scary. But, I think, most importantly, DON'T RUN! That will just provoke a dog to give chase.

[Pam]

I have never had this happen and it scares me to death to think of it as I am reading your stories. Long ago my dad was walking my childhood dog, and an off leash dog came up and attacked my dog. My dad was so shaken he nearly had a heart attack. When he got home he and mom raced Laddie to the vet and he was OK in time.

The worst thing I have faced on my walks is dogs snarling/growing at us from out of windows or in a fenced yard (cyclone) where they can see us but not get to us. Bella's tail goes way down and she is clearly afraid. Ripley acts like "bring it on." I like the idea of bringing an umbrella or some sort of device for protection, but honestly just the thought of this terrifies me.