I've been thinking about this a lot, since googling and researching and reading opinions on unleashed dogs while on trails. So far in my hiking/running/walking experience on trails I have not met an aggressive dog, neither has Rocky and he is probably the friendliest dog out there. There isn't a person/dog he hasn't met that he wasn't crazy about, though sometimes the feelings aren't mutual. On one blog or whatever, a person ranted about if an unleashed dog were to run up to his leashed dog in a friendly manner, his dog might not want to engage or say hi and bite that dog. First: an unleashed dog can get away if need be, second: most dogs understand that growling or baring of teeth is a warning of leave me alone, and even if a dog snaps at another one it doesn't mean there will be blood, snapping at another dog is like a mother smacking her child's hand away from the cookie jar.  Third: if someone is so worried about their dog being aggressive even on leash, why not muzzle them? I don't mean those tight muzzles, but the ones that are large enough for them to drink and pant but won't allow them to bite another dog or human. Also, maybe for unleashed dogs, would it reassure another runner/hiker if a loose dog has a large muzzle on? I'm just curious and constantly thinking of these things, because I love having Rocky off leash, he enjoys it, I enjoy being able to focus on my stride and the ground but sometimes I will leash him if I see anybody ahead of us...... especially if they have a dog because you never know until you ask.

What do you think? Would you be comforted by a dog wearing a muzzle off leash? As the owner of the dog, would you be okay muzzling your dog while out hiking or running, even if you know your dog is friendly and wouldn't hurt another person or dog? Would it concern you more if you saw a dog with a muzzle running loose or even leashed?

I honestly don't see a need to muzzle dogs. If a person's dog is that aggressive in the first place I doubt they would allow him off leash.

To further what you have already said, I was out running the other day with my 2 boxers and on my way back to the house this dog came charging at us from nowhere, barking and growling, as soon as he got close both of my dogs stopped, Carter lunged at the dog (he did not make contact) and Brody was all hunched over and growling. It took about 2 seconds for that dog to tuck it's tail and carry on with something else that didn't involve him getting beat up.

Another instance I was running alone on the back road to where I live (first time running this road) and there is a house that quite litteraly has about 5 dogs that are always roaming around, wherever they desire. I was just minding my own and all the sudden I hear all these barking dogs and see them running down the drive way. I just stopped talked to the dogs calmly and once they seemed disinterested I just moved along.

I think a large majority of dog attacks is usually human error, just my opinion though.

Yea I can understand that. I have been bit once when I was a kid. I was heading over to a friends house and they had this chow mix and he wasn't leashed. I saw him under the porch staring at me so I got nervous and turned around to head back to my uncles house and as soon as I turned my back he charged and locked down on my leg, from that point on I learned that being scared and trying to run is not a very good option.

OK, a few things here.  If I'm understanding what you're saying...

If you have your dog off leash, he needs to know to not run up to other dogs/people and should be under pretty solid voice control. Otherwise, IMO, he shouldn't be off leash.   I don't care what the temperament of the other leashed dog is - a strange dog charging has a high probability of setting up a bad situation; it's just an inappropriate greeting.  There's really no scenario where a leashed dog should be muzzled because of the chance a poorly behaved dog will charge up to him.

If you have never seen a dog fight, trust me when I say you will likely NOT have any time to react when it breaks out and the dogs are intent on fighting.   Unfortunately, I've been through dog fights more than once...and in all cases, there was very little "build up" - posturing, growling, etc.

I had a dog attack my dog on the sidewalk - and both dogs were leashed - there was nothing either of us were able to do to stop it, until we physically separated them (and that alone is NOT fun).  Of course, my dog took the brunt of it since he was caught off guard by the attack and had to go to the vet to get stitched back together - and the lady kept saying "Oh, but my dog is usually so friendly!"  Yeah... not so much, lady.

I also think that if you have an unleashed dog and you feel the need to muzzle him, again, he shouldn't be off leash.

I do muzzle my dogs, but largely for the safety of our resident bunny family in the back yard.  I will also muzzle in certain high-stress/high-risk situations because it's easier to muzzle than to deal with the vet trip. But never muzzle only one dog in a group, because it leaves it defenseless.

MTA: I'm really only talking about dog-dog aggression.  Loose, off leash, unattended dogs attacking humans is an entirely preventable situation... and those owners are idiots.

 

If you have your dog off leash, you should put him on a leash. 

IMHO, this. Period.

I've seen my fair share of dog fights, more than a dozen in fact since for a few months I worked at a doggy daycare, by myself I have always been able to break them up because I have no real anxiety of being bitten, I'll choke a dog out  and have before. My ole girl Molly was attacked twice at the dog park by an Aussie  who attacked everybody's dog, his problem was that his owner kept him locked in her tiny yard and only brought him to the park once or twice a month so he tried to herd the dogs and when they didn't comply, he attacked them. Both times I took the brunt of the teeth and protected my girl, she was an older dog and didn't provoke him and I would gladly do it again and again and I have a scar on my arm from his teeth going through my hoodie sleeve. There are always cues before a dogfight, ALWAYS, but the temperament of the dogs is what makes the difference, some make it obvious that they are irritated or looking for a fight, others show subtle signs like not wanting to make eye contact with the dog, usually showing the whites of their eyes, hugging up on your legs, not really wagging the tail, those dogs feel cornered and will react without even baring teeth or growling. Most well socialized dogs understand a stupid dog's cues who is running up on them, and they'll let that dog know that it is undesirable behavior, normally the crazy dog calms down immediately or goes on about his/her business. So far out of a dozen dogs on the trails, Rocky ran into a Dobie female who wasn't interested in him, not even to play, she wasn't aggressive but she pretty much ignored him. I had asked the owners if she was friendly, and they said yes so I let Rocky say hi, but female dogs usually aren't quite as happy to meet other dogs (especially males if the female is fixed). I've found that meetings are a lot nicer when both dogs are off leash (in my experience), then on leash because a leash is their territory and they will be more unwelcoming to other dogs when on leash. Although sometimes Rocky thinks he's going to leave me and go off with the other dog/s, not cool.

But I do try to hit the trails when nobody else is on them, like before dawn so that Rocky and I don't have to worry about others and their dogs, though the trails we run have a river camp with dogs always running loose, luckily I haven't ran into them so far this year.

I guess I didn't answer the question. 

I don't care about a muzzle more so than them being leashed and under control by their owner.

I've tried to figure out how to stop him from spinning in circle all while shaking his whole body in excitement...

I had a boxer that would pee when she got excited.  So when I came home from work I had to basically just act normal or else the spigot turned on!