I'll be devils advocate in this conversation...based on experience.
I was at Ocean Beach a few weeks ago and basically almost every yard has a short fence and almost every yard had a huge dog. Sometimes you just have to trust that just because it's a big dog doesn't mean it's untrained and vicious.
On the flip side I actually had to pick jimmy up to get him away from a small poodle or whatever it was that came flying after him when we were walking down the street. Teeth showing and everything....Any dog can damage our wee ones.
Dogs contained in their yard, big or small, will always bark at other dogs and people walking by....it doesn't mean they will jump over the fence and kill you and your dog.
However, that doesn't mean you should not bring protection from both the big and the little dog that do get loose.
I was walking ChiChi last year and someone was out in their garage and driveway. They had both dogs loose and one was a pit bull. He came running at ChiChi super fast. Well, I had never yanked my dog from the ground to my arms by the leash so quickly or at all....I was surprised. Next thing you know the dog is just standing there at my feet wagging his tail.
I was ticked off and a little scared...it could have went either way.
Just be careful, protect yourself but also have faith in other dog owners
