I am not downvoting you, but I think you’re not taking seriously the responsibility a dog-owner has to other people, and how deluded some dog owners are.
I have had some serious close calls (like, instinctively pulling my hand away from a dog that went from no signs of aggression to full on hard snapping at me, where I could feel the slick teeth on inside of my palm as I pulled it away) from dogs that were not on leashes and the owners were not even phased. In those situations I absolutely have to go through what I’m willing to do and yes, I’m willing to fight that dog because it clearly is ready to injure me.
Some dogs are sweethearts but some dogs need to be on leashes and probably also need (humane) muzzles in public, and likewise some people think they are responsible when they are not.
To add to this, for those dogs that are behaved, I don’t know that. I have never met your dog before and assume all dogs are hostile until they prove otherwise. Just because you think your dog is okay with strangers, what happens if I happen to have my own dog on a leash who is not okay with strangers dogs approaching them.
Your choice to keep a pet should not be the burden of others to determine the safety of.
I am not downvoting you, but I think you’re not taking seriously the responsibility a dog-owner has to other people, and how deluded some dog owners are.
I have had some serious close calls (like, instinctively pulling my hand away from a dog that went from no signs of aggression to full on hard snapping at me, where I could feel the slick teeth on inside of my palm as I pulled it away) from dogs that were not on leashes and the owners were not even phased. In those situations I absolutely have to go through what I’m willing to do and yes, I’m willing to fight that dog because it clearly is ready to injure me.
Some dogs are sweethearts but some dogs need to be on leashes and probably also need (humane) muzzles in public, and likewise some people think they are responsible when they are not.
To add to this, for those dogs that are behaved, I don’t know that. I have never met your dog before and assume all dogs are hostile until they prove otherwise. Just because you think your dog is okay with strangers, what happens if I happen to have my own dog on a leash who is not okay with strangers dogs approaching them.
Your choice to keep a pet should not be the burden of others to determine the safety of.