Artful Dodger: Damien use to LOVE kids..now he is more muture and a bit older and doesn't tolerate them as well,so I don't let kids pet him.They can look,but not touch,because I will NOT take that chance.
A WONDERFUL way to break the ice with a dog is to offer treats..I tell everyone I meet this,it starts to earn the trust of a dog.If a person is truly "bad" the dog knows,and he will let YOU know.
ANY DOG that just flys off seemingly unprovaoked has issues,weather it be breeding,socialization (or LACK OF IT) dominance issuses,or terirtorial issuses,but these can ALL be adderessed by the owner being responsible.
I train dogs and do you think I will walk up to a strange dog,big or little that I don't know? no way..why? because I am not stupid,lol.I also do not EVER allow my dogs to be offlead,EXCEPT at the training club,and it is under INTENSE training that they can be offlead.I have at LEAST 5 dogs a week run up on us at the park and the owner yelling that famous.."oh!! it's ok!! my dog doesn't bite!!" ummm,ALL DOGS CAN BITE! and what if mine did bite? people are so ignorant when it comes to dogs and it just rubs me wrong!