My neighborhood has about probably a little over a dozen attention-deprived dogs. These are dogs that escape frequently, are never let out of the backyard/house, are never walked, and some don't even have collars or fences, allowing them to run free. None are very well-trained and most are overweight and/or fleabitten. Not to mention the barking contests they have every night.

I know this is not the dogs' fault. I am an animal lover and will always look to the owner when a dog has a behavior or health problem. But walking my (foster) dog has become annoying, as almost every time, at least one dog will approach and stalk us, making poor Nala either playful or very nervous. One dog even started humping her. I also have had owners come up to me and ask what breed she is (she's a APBT mix, but I don't tell them that - figure they'd try and have her taken away/destroyed. People around here aren't too bright).

I once had an owner tell me to keep her away from their dog because she might attack. This dog is quiet, well-behaved, trained, and weighs no more than 45 pounds. I'm 5 feet tall and 115 pounds, and I can pick her up and carry her feasibly. She has never bitten, knocked over, or attacked another dog or person in her life. I wanted to retort by saying "Well, maybe you should try a fence? I hear they're pretty good at keeping dogs in/out."

Anyone else have to deal with this when going on walks? How do you feel about unrestrained/unsocialized, free-running dogs in a suburban environment? Mostly, I just don't appreciate people telling me how to keep a dog when they refuse to properly care for theirs.