[at-l] Rotties in TN

[ketzer@email.com]

encountering a loose dog can definitely be an unnerving experience.  
back in '92 i was hiking on a backcountry road relocation just north of  troutdale virginia. it was a peaceful day...that is until i heard some ferocious barking coming toward me from up around the bend. bearing down on  me was the biggest male rottweiler i think i have ever seen...and he didn't  look happy. i was invading his turf by approaching his master's home. i  didn't have much time to think before that big slobbering dog would reach  me...so i braced myself and held both hands open, out in front of me and  started talking to him like i was excited he was coming out to visit me;) he  came up short just a few feet away and hesitantly started to sniff my hands.  before i knew what was happening...he was all over me, licking me with his big  slobbery tongue. it was a pretty funny sight when i rounded the bend with my 
new friend. his master was out mowing his yard, and by the sound of his 
yelling was not too happy that his big lug of a dog wasn't protecting his 
turf;) 
anyway...i'm sure it is a good idea to be wary of stray dogs (as some can 
definitely be violent and terratorial, especially if it's current or previous owners were dysfunctional), but i think that a majority will leave a hiker alone if that hiker doesn't show the dog fear. 

ketzer (aka steve miller) 

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