I get either extreme when walking Bridget in town, most people with dogs turn away as soon as they see us(she's over 200lbs) but it seems the smaller the dog, the closer they want to get.

In a pet store(I think you have to expect it happening) I had a lady want to let her little dog(smaller than Bridgrts head) meet.
I was ok, and it worked well, the lady was so excited . I am lucky to not have had any problems, most dogs pee when one of the girls stand over them.(yes I let them t bone as I don't iniate the meeting, but watch the other dog for avoidance)

as for people, most avoid us, but the ones that don't are pretty insistant on getting to pet them and ask tons of questions, and I do let them after a sit.
my rott, no I say she's a working dog

Oh lord, don't get me started on petstore people. I never take Logan in one, well almost never. My chow mix Sport was super obedient and was fine with polite people and dogs. So I took her everywhere. One day at Petsmart this guy let his giant golden drag him over to her. The dog was super exuberant and got right in her face before I could do anything. She gave him a few good correction bites to the face snarling. He knew what it meant was was more polite instantly. The owner said "OMG that's such a mean dog, OMG you shouldn't bring a mean dog in here OMG" Of course I told him "you shouldn't bring an out of control dog in the store, and you're dog is rude as you are!"

When Keiko was small I was taking him potty and a lady with a large dog walked up with her dog lunging at the end of the leash. The dog had his hair up and a half snarl yet she declared that her dog just loved meeting other dogs and mine wanted to meet hers. Keiko was hiding behind me and she just kept comin. So after many times telling her no and seeing she was not about to heed I picked Keiko still insisting that he really did not want to meet hers. She didn't bother me again but just the same I kept my distance.

Zuki loves other dogs, Keiko these days is ok about it but not over zealous about it either which I would rather.

At least for me I don't really have to deal with the same people over and over. I did go to pet co tonight with Keiko but thankfully no dogs there. I really needed to take him there cause it has tons of new smells and things. He is easily spooked by everything so I am still working on that. Several people wanted to pet him and had questions and I did not have a problem with that. Just want them to ask first. And depending on where I am I let them pet my dogs also I don't let them be pet often by other people.

I don't know how it is in other counties, but in mine you are not allowed to walk your dog off leash outside of your property or designated parks/beaches. I've had on two occasions the same pitbull run across the street to "meet" my dog. The first time I took that as aggression and instead of risking it, I ran on top of the hood of a pickup truck. The second time the dog ran from two houses down and across the street to "meet" my dog. Both times were not the friendliest of greetings, but I walked away unscathed so I can't say it was aggressive. Both times the owners insisted "that's how she plays." I just want to tell him, walk your dog on leash (they were carrying the leash) and if you want our dogs to play there's a dog park that allows off leash just half a mile away. My other problem is I don't know if that dog is licensed and up to date on it's shots. I'm kind of at odds on what to do because this is my neighbor and if I report it, i'm afraid of retaliation if they find out.

Maybe people are so focused on meeting other dogs because in training class they are told to do this and it is practiced. I don't know. And I think Dog parks play a role in this as well. Everyone thinks all dogs have to be "friends" with each other. I have no interest in my dogs having other dog friends, they have each other. I do want my dogs to have manners and not be aggressive.
Maybe that is where people get the idea dogs need to be friends, I am not sure.
But it is a pain when people will not respect my dogs space...or mine. I notice people, and help me not to do this, really do not listen to what is said. hmmmmm

sharon

I've encountered it as well. BIndi is a sweet dog but a guy was walking his dog-off leash- and it was running up behind Bindi. Bindi is about 18-20 lbs and this was a big dog but the size wouldn't matter. I asked the guy to get his dog, he ignored me, so I turned and pointed to the dog and said, No, go home. It stopped and went to its owner.
I also walk Cody and all my dogs early when people are not around. I do not want any bad experiences with my dogs. Cody especially. He had some bad situations at the pound when he was just a baby and doesn't feel comfortable around strange dogs, though he is not aggressive. He is very reactive and I would not want him to get worse. So, the saga continues. I have to get up at o dark 30 to get out before other people do. I drive around the area first and if someone is there with their dog off leash, I find another spot. Sometimes its a deserted parking lot.

sharon