I never thought I was pitbull prejudice until yesterday.  I was on the green belt walking my 2 beasts- a Lab and a lab mix.  We were approaching a trail entrance and up ahead ( coming towards us) was a lady with a pitbull mix. It wasnt big ( in height- about knee height). But heavily muscled. He was pulling her along- she was not in control. I immediately move to the side of the trail and put my dogs in Sit.  She saw us and said-" Let me go into my cul de sac- he's a rescue and I don't know how he is with other dogs- he's friendly but being a pitbull mix I just don't know..... My husband has him trained but he won't listen to me." So I move to the opposite side of the trail to give her more room and sit the dogs again- we were about 20 feet away from each other.She's still talking and all the sudden the dog slips his collar and comes charging. My big lab goes forward and puts himself in front of me as I try in my most Alpha voice to tell the dog NO and STOP. My other dog is a tough scrapper and I knew if he and the other dog got into it - it wouldn't be pretty. Both of my dogs are good but neither tolerate charging dogs well. I have never been so afraid. The dog was trying to circle- so the only thing I could think of was to continue to circle with it and keep my dogs facing him- hoping my dogs barking and growling would deter it. I had control of my dogs but both were barking and snarling. I tried to keep calm and repeat  the NO, Stop and Sit commands. The lady just stood there. The dog finally heard me or saw that it was a lost cause  and backed off enough for the lady to come and get him. She was very apologetic - and then she informed me that they just don't know much about the dog- he spent 2 years on the street!! The whole incident shook me up- and I don't shake up that easily around dogs. This is happened before with other dogs slipping their collars,  but usually I move forward and say No and the loose dog backs off. This dog did not and I could tell this dog was not listening at all- not to his owner, not to me and initially not to my dogs' warning barks. I did realize yesterday that my big Lab is protective of his space and me- I've never seen him like that. I already knew my lab mix is protective.  After the dog was retrieved both of mine went back into their sit positions.  It came very close to me dropping both of my dogs leads and letting them all go at it. I realized when it was over that perhaps I did have a prejudice and maybe it affected my energy( fear) and my dogs picked up on that and were more protective than normal. OR maybe it was seeing a heavily muscled dog charging! He was smaller than my boys but outweighed them both. I don't blame the dog but the owner. Most owners are very clueless about their own dogs behaviors. I hear it ALL the time "My dog is friendly" meanwhile the dog is giving off every sign that it's feeling threatened or wants to be aggressive.  I'm always leary when I see an owner not in control of their dogs but unfortunately now I will be leary when I see this type of dog. I will try to be better at keeping my response more controlled- dogs of any breed know fear and most don't react well to it.
@Jpgurl:
This is why I carry pepper spray with me everytime I go for a walk, especially when i walk my dog. I have been approached or chased by stray or loose dogs too many times. Thankfully I have not had to use it yet as a stern NO! usually stops them but at least I feel slightly more protected if the dog doesn't retreat. 4951