Dog interaction is amazing, isn't it. The Pop Dog can be a nightmare with other Labs and larger young dogs charging around, play boxing and even "play" growling. I put the last play in inverted commas because I'm never very confident on that one. If the other dog has a ball things get really exciting and I've taken to carrying a tennis ball as a swap for the almost 100% of interactions where Poppy steals the other dogs ball and flounces off with it. The other dog sometimes takes this really badly, but Poppy can show a great turn of speed and dodging ability when she has to. 
When meeting small dogs she tends to just sniff and move on. Some dogs, though, are a completely different matter.
We meet Jaspar the Alsatian most mornings. He's always on a short lead with a muzzle. This morning we met Jaspar coming through the stubbles in a field but off the lead and with a tennis ball on a rope in his mouth - no muzzle. I expected his owner to put him on a lead, but no! So the Pop Dog slinks up to him ears back and hackles up. Then she stands up with ears forward and wags her tail at him but not too close, you understand. Jasper gave her the once over that involved dropping his ball on a rope. He's an impressive dog with HUGE presence. I thought this is going to go really badly if Poppy steals the ball. Pops looks at the ball but leaves it! Jasper picks it up and runs a few yards with Poppy and drops it again. Poppy stands to one side very tense but leaves the ball. Jasper moves on with his ball and Poppy recalls.
After I'd walked on a little way Poppy suddenly runs back to check out where she last saw the ball, and then comes back.
I thought the interaction was amazing. Poppy obviously rated Jasper but gave him room and (all I can think of is) total respect. There was no overt aggression on either side, but Jasper was clearly calling the shots.
When meeting small dogs she tends to just sniff and move on. Some dogs, though, are a completely different matter.We meet Jaspar the Alsatian most mornings. He's always on a short lead with a muzzle. This morning we met Jaspar coming through the stubbles in a field but off the lead and with a tennis ball on a rope in his mouth - no muzzle. I expected his owner to put him on a lead, but no! So the Pop Dog slinks up to him ears back and hackles up. Then she stands up with ears forward and wags her tail at him but not too close, you understand. Jasper gave her the once over that involved dropping his ball on a rope. He's an impressive dog with HUGE presence. I thought this is going to go really badly if Poppy steals the ball. Pops looks at the ball but leaves it! Jasper picks it up and runs a few yards with Poppy and drops it again. Poppy stands to one side very tense but leaves the ball. Jasper moves on with his ball and Poppy recalls.
After I'd walked on a little way Poppy suddenly runs back to check out where she last saw the ball, and then comes back.
I thought the interaction was amazing. Poppy obviously rated Jasper but gave him room and (all I can think of is) total respect. There was no overt aggression on either side, but Jasper was clearly calling the shots.
