I don't blame you for worrying -- I pay close attention to a dogs demeanor and body language before allowing Jackson to go say hi to ANY dog.
I do allow him to be around certain big dogs ... my uncles German Shepherd, grandma's Foxhound & Goldendoodle, other uncles Labs, etc, these are dogs I know well, and even so I always pay close attention.
Jackson is very social, and I was very lucky that as a pup, we had a lot of good dog-to-dog interactions and experiences. Nowadays though, I tend to avoid on leash greetings because it's just not really necessary. I know my boy is fine walking past other dogs, and doesn't NEED to say hi, and he's already socialized, and is good with other dogs etc.
I do think it's important for pups to have good experiences or they may turn reactive or fearful. If you have a small dog park near you, I'd check it out, and go on a slow day. Or finding a daycare or puppy meetup/play group somewhere. |