Wife and I were walking our dogs today. We do this daily, around the neighborhood, which is a typical south Florida suburb, houses packed tight, sidewalks in front of the houses, about 20 feet from the front of the house and their garages. We have a 60 pound Sheltie/Shepherd mix who is a goofball and is great with people and other dogs. Our other is a full-blooded Collie, about 75 pounds, very tall and big, but a bit shy around people (was beaten and abused/neglected for 6 years) but loves small dogs.
So, I usually carry my Glock 26, but today I didn't. Just decided not to. Maybe it was a good thing I didn't today.
We walk past one house with aan open garage door - someone was obviously working on their car. Suddenly out of the garage charges this large white dog, looked like an albino german shepherd. He was "huffing" and coming right at th e dog I had (the sheltie-shep). My dog didn't growl or raise hackles, and my wife got a hold of the Collie (who was in a passive position). I immediately knelt down and started calmly talking to the other dog while holding my hand out. He came up, stopped, started sniffing our dog. Two guys came out of the garage, yelling for the dog to come back. Eventually he did.
So, what would you have done given the same situation? If I had been armed, I think I might have instinctively drawn, and if so I don't know what the outcome might have been - I wouldn't have shot immediately, but I wonder what the reaction of the two guys would have been?