Thanks for all your replies, i agree that people do not need to know what the problem is and it then gives rise for people to suggest im not in control, Thanks for all your advice im going to stick with calling out and decide what to call out depending on the dog approaching and its owner if that makes sense, but have taken alot away from the advice given.

i am not sure if this would work or not as I don't have an agressive dog. Buty thought I would put it out there as another idea in case it helps.

you could carry a muzzle with you. Then people might get the idea quicker and get their dogs.
you wouldn't have to use it just carry it as then people would know your dog might not be friendly.It would mean that you didn't have to shout you could just reach for the muzzle and make a show of it so they realised that there dog wouldn't get the best of greetings.

Good luck whatever you choose.

Ndidi

I had a similar problem in the past, but touch wood, all has been fine with MY dog for the past couple of years. I used to call out to people, and probably just like you, I'd get terrified with a dog charging over to us for fear of it ending in a punch up.

I spent a very long time walking in solutude, and then I gradually increased the amount of dogs she would get to meet, and I always, always put her onlead for the introduction, OR, I would just sit her to one side, ball in gob, and if I saw that she was getting stressed if it was aggressive, then I'd grab the rope on her ball and she was more than happy to take it out on that (and she still does that!). Over time, I found her to be so much more relaxed by doing what I did, i.e. the lead, the sitting by my side, that she would let any dog go past her snapping and snarling and lungeing at her, and yet she didn't bat an eyelid.

When I see a strange dog approaching now, I put her onlead, and I notice that everybody does the same, IF they feel their own dog might cause a problem, afterall, they don't want their dog hurt either do they and I do have a pretty scarey gsd. When we meet up, I just tell them that I put my dog onlead for her OWN safely, because I'm so fed up with other dogs coming over to her and giving her an attitude because if they do that, she will have them, but if they're friendly, then she will be too and it's worked for me for a long time now.

I meet up with quite a few dogs on my morning walk now, probably meet about 10 on most days, and I have to say, my dog has never shown any of them any agression, because time has cured her of any fear aggression because of the work I did with her, letting her know that I was in charge, she really had nothing to worry about once I had put the lead on her and made her sit next to me. It works for US, but of course, some dogs respond differently once their lead goes on, but for me, I don't want to risk her meeting a dog with an attitude and letting rip at it, it's just not worth the risk for me. Once we've met a friendly dog, I always unclip the lead, but ONLY when I feel it's safe to do so, because I read her body language so very well nowadays, and that's what you are going to have to learn too if you want to stay trouble free.

Good luck, you will get there, and most of all you must stay totally calm and in control so that your dog knows this, there is nothing to worry about and in turn, he won't worry either.

I have a bitch with fear aggression; basically she is wary of any strange dogs and just doesn't want them near her. Nothing has happened to make her like this, it's just the way she is. From a small pup I tried to socialise her in every situation I could think of but have never got her over her distrust of other dogs. She's absolutely fine with my other dogs at home!

She has an excellent recall and she doesn't actively seek out other dogs, so if I see one approach I will put her on lead. If the other dog approaches her offlead I will say to the owner, 'she isn't very sociable with strange dogs' and if they say (as they often do) 'oh he/she is very friendly' I will answer that my dog doesn't see it that way! I figure if I have my dog under control and they don't, my dog is entitled to snap if they invade her space - which she usually does! This normally results in an extra effort made to call their dog away; but some dogs are oblivious to their owners and I've been involved in some very interesting situations! I never get stressed or pull on her lead, I don't make an issue of it so she is not reading anything from me, it's just her natural nervous disposition and that's how she will always be I guess.

At the end of the day it's your responsibility as an owner to make sure you have a 100% recall with your dog and if you don't then you should leash it in situations where there could be problems.

I tend to agree with this ... especially about the response of their dog being friendly!!!

my Clifford is much better than he used to be, and will avoid dogs he doesn't know anyway. But if they look like they is any chance they will run over once I have put him on lead I call out 'sorry, he's a nervous rescue dog and may snap if he is frightened'/'doesnt always like other dogs'. This usually gets both a quick response from the other person to call their dog plus sympathy points!