These encounters require more strategy than you might think to avoid turning your peaceful walk into neighborhood drama.

Nothing ruins a relaxing dog walk quite like spotting an unleashed dog bounding toward you and your leashed pet while the owner casually strolls behind, completely oblivious to the chaos about to unfold. These situations happen more often than they should, and how you handle them can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a genuinely dangerous encounter that leaves everyone stressed, angry, or worse. The key lies in preparation, quick thinking, and knowing exactly what works.