Yesterday night, I took Jack out for a pee. As we were walking out the drivway, the first thing I saw was a boxer, bolting at us. Then he was on Jack's back, and after much yelling and growling, I managed to pull Jack back and the owner got his dog back. Turns out he was readjusting a boot and didn't see us coming, and the dog managed to pull the leash out of the guy's hand.
I made Jack sit (manually, he was only half sitting after the ordeal) while the guy was excusing himself, explaining the boot situation. I had to insist that Jack shut up and sit down and calm himself because he was looking intensely at the other dog, whining, and wagging his tail while trying to stay in a sit.
All in all,total accident, both dogs were fine, and I have a nice 3 inch bloody scratch with a giant bruise around if from the dog's paws (I guess). I feel the need to mention that the owner is a sketchy guy (I've seen him before), and that the dog isn't even neutered. Mmph. But boy am I glad that neither dogs were hurt and ended up at the e-hospital, 10:30 on a Sunday night...
Anyway... Jack was "better" with other dogs for the last few years. Able to sit and watch most of them pass by on the sidewalk, always with me holding the collar but if the other dog wasn't "looking for it" he would be ok and forget about it quickly. Often small dogs he couldn't care less for.
I've been able to have him smell/see other dogs through a fence (never on leash) and know which ones he'd probably be an ass with, and which ones he's ok with (not that he would play with them or anything). He seems to be the kind of dog that if approached by a calm, polite dog, he's fine, but anything else and he acts like an ass - but with no biting, just a lot of noise. My main concern is always that if he meets another dog, he will react like an ass but the other dog might take it to another level, and then... Who knows.
Coming back form the park today, we saw another large dog from afar, and Jack was super anxious about it, trying to look at it over the snow banks, pulling, hackles up, tail straight up while the dog was walking in the same direction. The dog did turn back once and lift the ears, but nothing intense. I made Jack sit right away, he did but kept concentrating on the other dog. After a few seconds he answered to "look at me", I praised him and we kept walking. He did try to pull a little, and stared some at the other dog, and then we got back in to the driveway.
I'm not sure what to do to get him back to being the way he was, ("I don't care") and frankly since he's been better with dogs leashed on the street I haven't put much of an effort into making things even better. What has worked well with you guys, considering my level of nervousness is now also a little higher?