I guess I'm lucky in our neighborhood we walk our dogs and all the big dogs are on a leash. It has been nice for a few years.
One time about 13 years ago we had a Lab/shepard mix (Dallas) and walked him and a large black Newfoundland ran out of his garage barking and growling. Our Dallas jumped on him and put him on the ground and held him down by the neck. Dallas was still on his leash with me holding it! Dallas didn't even break the skin but it was scary. Our vet said it sounded like our boy was trained. He was a rescue we got at the pound so we never did figure it out. He never did anything again but we were always super careful just in case.
You never know what can happen with a big dog and even with the best training they can attack if provoked. A little Yorkie barking can provoke a big dog easy.
I always carry a big branch of a tree like it is a walking stick....
