Many times I am asked questions about dogs attacking while on a walk. Just today I received a call from a customer wanting a strong crook that she can take along with her while she walks her small dog.

Her dog may only weigh 10 pounds, but a dog is a dog I don't know her dog, but I do know how dogs in yards can react to outside dogs and people when they pass by. She has been severely bitten in the past, and was looking for protection.

It's funny how God brings an example right in you face right when you need one. So this morning I took my pack for a two mile walk down the road, since the weather was cooperating.

As I neared the turn around point, I heard a familiar bark from a dog who lived in on the property I was passing. I glanced and saw him running our direction and barking along the way. I turned and faced him, with the girls in hand, my chin up and chest out.

It only took a minute for the barking dog to give it up and run back toward his house. But, little did I know, he ran back and got his colleague to come back with him. I had only walked about 100 feet further when we got challenged again, and this time by a pack of two.

Again I faced the dogs, remained calm, and made sure that my chin was up and chest out. I wanted to let these dogs know that I was the leader of this pack, and was only passing by. This behavior on my part, also reassures my pack that they are protected by me, and that I have the strength in character to protect them.

This time, the newest dog to the fence was the pack leader of that pack. He was a beautiful black lab of good structure, with a beautiful glossy coat. We just stood there facing the fence, and waited for him go give it up. The first dog, being more subordinate, left for home after about a minute, but the lab stayed around for a couple of minutes more. I just kept telling myself, "stay there, stay there...relax".

Taking this time with dogs that I don't know, will allow those dogs not to escallate any fence aggression that might be developing. Also, if I walk by their yard more often and practice what I did today, they just might eventually regard us as no threat and leave us alone. My major reason.

This approach of standing your ground can also work when confronted without a fence barricade. Avoiding a fight of any kind is a much better end to charging dogs when taking a walk with your dog. Not creating a future problem is also a good goal to keep in mind.