Teresa, you misread my comment. My comment was your words may have elicited a threatening response, not that your comment was threatening. I will stand by my comment that having a dog on a leash/lead also offers control and safety of your dog. I've seen "family" dogs tear off chucks of a toddler face and by a breed with no negative history. And, while your dog may not be anything but friendly and inquisitive, it may be 'dead meat' to that man's dogs. Sometimes dogs do more than smell each other's butt.