Max and I are having increasing problems running into off-leash dogs on our daily walks in our neighborhood. Call me a wimp, but I nearly pass out from fright when a Great Dane or even a Golden Retriever comes shooting out of nowhere and starts jumping around us. Dogs never amble up to us; they either dart toward us or stalk us.
Yesterday, we tried out a new place to walk -- a quaint shopping and real estate development in the first stages of construction. We were passing the back end of a pickup when a huge German Shepherd popped up from the truck's bed and barked menacingly. I gasped in fear and the Shepherd stopped for a moment and did a Yorkie-esque head tilt.
Then he went back to growling and put his paws on the gate as if he was about to jump to the ground. I hoisted Max into my arms (Buddy Belts are great for hoisting!) and walked away.