I think I understand what Jenn is saying, and I think it makes a lot of sense. It's simply a fact of life that the world is full of other dogs; some friendly and some not. While I would go to great lengths to socialize my pup only with friendly, puppy tolerant dogs that I know, the fact is that this incident with the original poster is hardly the end of the world. He handled it appropriately by protecting his pup. There's really no need to dwell on what "might" have happened.
When I'm walking my SAR dog, I don't walk around with a stick, tazer, cattle prod, pepper spray, or baseball bat either. Dog packs are not a problem where I live and it would be serious overkill to walk out the door armed to the teeth just in case something "might" happen. Good Lord, if I worried myself about what "might" happen, I'd live in a bubble and never leave my house.

Or to play Devil's advocate you could just prepare for worst case scenario's and go about your business feeling safe and secure knowing that you took reasonable steps to ensure your personal safety.
Just depends on your point of view....

Yes, it does depend upon one's point of view, as well as what one considers to be "reasonable steps". That's different for different people, depending upon many different factors. For some, that might mean carrying a stick; for others, it might mean something else. To make a blanket statement saying that everyone should do X Y and Z is a bit too simplistic, IMO.

I've been attacked by a stranger in the past, so I've taken what I consider to be reasonable steps to ensure my personal safety; self defense classes, carrying pepper spray when I go out alone at night, being aware of my surroundings, using the buddy system, locking my doors, being aware of everyday household items that can serve as weapons. To me, those are reasonable steps. But to assume that taking reasonable steps to ensure one's personal safety is a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen is a false sense of security, and always being worried about what "might happen" is no way to live, IMO.

My brain is my biggest weapon, and I try to carry it with me wherever I go. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Since I can't edit my previous post....

To get back on the original topic, the incident was handled just fine, and it doesn't sound like harm was done.

Lisa:
"But to assume that taking reasonable steps to ensure one's personal safety is a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen is a false sense of security, and always being worried about what "might happen" is no way to live, IMO."

I never said at all that nothing bad would happen if you take reasonable steps to prepare - I said "you're ensuring your personal safety" Big difference there. You may still get attacked, but it's the attacker that ends up incapacitated or dead , not you.
And if I hadn't "worried about what might happen" in the past, I would have been killed at least five or six times without any exaggeration at all. So I'll stick with preparing and being watchful, thanks very much. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I never said at all that nothing bad would happen if you take reasonable steps to prepare - I said "you're ensuring your personal safety" Big difference there. You may still get attacked, but it's the attacker that ends up incapacitated or dead , not you.

My gun could get taken from me; the bad guy could have a bigger gun/better aim/faster trigger finger. My carefully raised and trained personal protection dog could get shot/stabbed/clubbed in the head. Nothing is foolproof! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> You're not "ensuring" a thing; you're just increasing your chances of coming out alive. But I'm not knocking that; nothing wrong with protecting yourself. I think the difference is just how much time and energy each person is willing to expend in preparing for the worst.

In a feeble attempt to calm things back down here, what I did the next day was carry a couple of big rocks from my driveway. I figure it would save time from having to bend down to pick one up, assuming there would be any there to be picked up. I'm going to watch that part of the video again to see what Ed says. Maybe I remember incorrectly.

Lisa, I walk my two dogs twice a day and never without protection,crazy things happen when you least expect it,so why not be ready for the unexpected? makes no sense not to, AL

I've used my bicycle as a club and shield and screamed like a violated chimpanzee at a very threatening Rottenwhiner to keep him away from Max. worked really well.