Snapping @ other dogs

[Tamara & Giada]

My Giada growled and snapped at another dog on our walk today :(  Good thing she was on a leash! I had to pull her away and the lady was not happy!  she has NEVER done this before.......does anyone have insight on this?  She is usually very jolly and good with people and other dogs.  With our extended family she is around 7 other dogs on a regular basis!

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

Yes - I am very very lucky to live in the UK where dogs are almost always allowed off lead. Of course in a city I would never walk around with him off a lead - except for in the park.

We are not as relaxed as the French yet, who allow dogs in many cafe's and restraunts - but we are getting there!

[Leslie J]

I have been letting Cocoa visit other dogs when we are out walking and it always went well... until last weekend. A man was waiting for his companion to tie his shoes on the side of a hiking trail and came over to comment on how cute Cocoa was. His dog had an odd look in his eye and I remember thinking things weren't quite right. One of my sons started calling me and I looked away for a minute and his dog suddenly snarled and lunged at Cocoa. She's quite submissive and backed off towards me. The man apologized profusely as he left.

My conclusion... Cocoa can play with neighborhood dogs we know, but we are going to avoid the on leash visits. She likes them, but I never can be sure about the other dog. After reading this thread, I can't help but conclude that this isn't a natural interaction for dogs and thus can yield unexpected responses.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Meeting another dog head-on while restrained on a leash is probably the least natural way for two dogs to meet, and in unrestrained circumstances, you will never see two non-aggressive adult dogs greet each other this way.
Even when the two dogs know each other and are friends, look at the way they make initial contact when they meet, on-leash or off. They will rush toward each other, but then bounce backwards and start doing play bows a few feet apart before they move forward again. They are each giving the other dog some space and signalling their intentions to play.
When strange dogs meet off-leash, they approach the other dog from the side and/or the rear. You are right that close contact on-leash is not a natural interaction for most dogs.