Two things, one really bothered me, the other one did too but more in an exasperated way.

[Julie and Max]

The first happened a few days ago. I was walking Max where I always walk him, where there is rarely any people and I can see a great distance away. I do allow him off leash, when nobody is around, and he always comes when called. So I saw a dog in the distance with no people, and I instantly leashed Max, the dog slowly came closer and I could see it had tags but no people. At first I considered trying to catch it, and take it to the humane society since it was alone and I was worried about it. As it came closer I could see by it's body language and the way he looked at Max that he was not very friendly to other dogs. So I put Max behind me, got out my pepper spray and stood very tall and firmly told him to go away. He stopped for a few minutes, just stared at Max with tail up straight, body stiff, ears up and then finally went on his way. I was pretty relieved and continued on my walk. About five minutes up the way I came upon a man and a woman sitting in the grass. They asked me if I had seen their dog, and I was a little confused and I said yes almost at the other end. They say to me, oh he's friendly and he'll go down to the other end, go into the bush and come back here. I told him I didn't think he was really that friendly to other dogs, and just as I was saying that, the dog comes out of the bush, and he tries to attack Max. Now Max is a big baby, and he instantly turtled, and I got that other dog off him before anything happened, but I was pretty upset. The people acted all surprised and said he never did stuff like that, but honestly I don't think a dog just suddenly attacks one particular dog for no reason very often. Max wasn't hurt or anything but now I am leery of walking there, but it upsets me that I might not be able to because it really is the perfect place for us to walk. They said they go there a lot, should I call someone? I just don't really know what to do in a situation like that. 

My second incident, which was entirely my fault, and as disgusting as it was, kind of makes me chuckle a little now. Today my mom went walking with me, and most of you know about my battle of the dead things. Now Max has actually been really really good lately, leaving things alone. But today we were walking along, and he was on the bank, and I was talking to my mom so I forgot that we were coming up to a spot where there was a whole dead duck that had frozen to death. Well Max had not forgotten, he runs down the bank, then back up just as proud as can be carrying this whole dead duck. Not eating it (which is a big improvement) but still so gross. He carried it for a bit, but finally he did drop it for me, and I threw it in the stream, so I guess I can be proud that he didn't eat it lol...and it only took me about 3 minutes to get him to give it up. 

[Julie and Max]

Jacqueline I am so sorry for your terrible experience. and the damage to your hand that is terrible. I don't see how they could even try to blame you a little bit for that since your dog was leashed. That owner must have known that her dogs were not friendly, I just don't understand people like that. My last dog was also named Cleo and she was a lab/retriever mix. I know that I get a little frightened by certain breeds mostly depending on the attitude of the dog. 

Lonnie I'm so glad your husband was able to handle the situation. It can be terrifying when an unfriendly dog approaches you. I hope that Libby never catches a squirrel too! Max has never caught anything that was alive, but he's very proud of the dead stuff he catches lol. Today when I went for my walk I took garbage bags, and cleaned up all the dead stuff for two miles (yes there was quite a few because the winter has been so bad and a lot of birds froze to death) I never imagined I'd be out cleaning up dead birds for free. 

[Julie and Max]

Nancy, did you want me to pepper spray the owners. :)

I really hope I never have to use that spray and I would only do so as a last resort, like very last resort. I have not seen those people and their wandering dog out there the last few days thank goodness. 

The crunching bones are the worst! The sound of it actually makes me physically gag. Like I said I cleaned up all the dead stuff today, and it was gross but not as bad as listening to the crunching of bones. :(

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Of course, I meant pepper the owners - tongue in cheek of course, but I wonder if those things could go off 'accidentally' when 'accidentally' pointed the 'accidentally' wrong way - like toward them!   :-)  I was really lucky when I saw Gordie with that bird, my dh was home!  I have put him in charge of gross-stuff clean up!

[Deborah Brown]

Let me share the other end of the leash so to speak.  I have a reactive dog and am familiar with a different scenario.  

Mr. R has a reactive dog who is afraid of other dogs and can be aggressive.  Mr. R's dog is constantly in training using desensitization and counter conditioning methods to help his dog learn to deal with other dogs.  He knows how close his dog can get to other dogs and remain calm. He is very careful and has seen improvement after months of work.  Ms. Happy is blissfully unaware of Mr. R and his dog's issues.  She likes to walk her dog off-leash so he can run and have fun.  When Ms. H's dog approaches Mr. R's dog, Mr. R tries to warn her off but she says it's OK because her dog is friendly.  Ms. H's dog is excited to meet another dog and does not stay back.  Eventually Mr. R's dog lunges and snaps and might even bite.

I participate in a reactive dog forum and see some variation on this scenario almost every day.  This is why I say it is important for all dogs to be leashed and for owners to respect other dogs' space.  One bad encounter for a reactive dog can really set back his training.  In the worse case, the dogs get hurt and everyone is terrified.  Often, that well adjusted happy dog is traumatized and then we have another reactive, scared dog in the canine population.

[Christy&Riley]

I can sympathize on both. I won't walk further than our little street because I just don't know how to handle other dogs. We have enough troubles with the nearby dogs that are allowed to run loose in the neighborhood. I hate feeling trapped in my own yard.

If you know when they are out, you could call the humane society and let them know there is a loose dog roaming around. Might teach the owners a lesson. :-)

Even though the duck incident was frustrating, I'm impressed that he would drop it. I just cannot get Riley to give up something in her mouth. Today on a walk she found a small rope with s hooks on both ends. She is chomping away and I have no treats to even try to bribe her with. Thankfully she didn't have a good bite on it so I eventually pulled it out. Hate to know what metal hooks would have done on the way down. Ugh...it's like a toddler that never grows up!

[Julie and Max]

I still feel like you aren't listening to me Deborah, as I have never and would never let Max approach another dog leashed or unleashed, and I've said that a couple times here. It has never happened.

[Deborah Brown]

Likewise, LOL!

I posted because there were a number of people sharing their stories of encounters with scary off-leash dogs.  People who don't have a reactive dog don't often realize that any dog can be a scary dog.  Hopefully, my post was educational to some and not just a nuisance to you.

[Julie and Max]

Nancy lol...it's not really pepper spray as that isn't legal here. It's called bear spray but I believe it's the same thing. My husband tried it out when he first bought it for me, to make sure it really worked. He sprayed it so that it sprayed into the wind and wouldn't hit him, but still a little got on his face, and he said it really stung. (I did not laugh, honest). I felt like the people that owned that dog were a few fries short of a happy meal if you know what I mean. 

I usually have my dh in charge of gross stuff clean up also but he's been working 15 hour days, so I can't really make him walk the two miles with me to clean up the dead stuff...or could I?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Only if he REALLY loved you . . . . .  :-}

[Julie and Max]

Christy is there nobody you can call about the dogs roaming free? That isn't fair that you can't take your Riley for a walk without having to worry about that. :(

I was actually pretty impressed he dropped it too, as I've had a lot of trouble with him eating dead stuff and usually he won't give it up for me, treats have never worked. Apparently no treat has as much value as a stinky dead bird. Max has gotten much better about all the other stuff he used to pick up like every bit of garbage he saw, he leaves the garbage alone now but it's taken a long time and a lot of work, and sometimes if I'm not extra vigilant with how quickly I say leave it, he will grab something. 

I'm glad you got the rope away from Riley, that could have been nasty, and they are totally like toddlers even worse sometimes lol. Max was in the yard today, he'd been out there for about 10 minutes by himself which is a long time for him, so I called him, he happily came running to the door with a black face and paws. I went to the back of the yard to see just what he'd been doing. Well the root of one of my trees had been sticking a little bit out of the grass. He must have thought it was a really big stick because he'd dug a huge hole around it, trying to dig it up! 

[Julie and Max]

Nancy I'm not sure he'd like that definition of love. "so how many dead things will you clean up to prove your love" :D

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Hmmm  ". . . .   as many as possible (so that I can avoid gross-clean-up duty)."