I’m grateful for learning an effective way to deal with dogs on hiking trails via /r/gratitude

When owners let their dogs loose and they start running at me, I immediately stop, turn around, take out my cell phone, and pretend I'm looking at something. That way the dogs can't consider me a threat closing in on their owners.

If the dogs are nice, they'll circle around and eventually lean up against me. Then, I know it's safe and calm to pet them.

If the dogs are obnoxious, they'll tend to run on by.

This method has worked so far. I don't know if it will always work. I just want to take matters into my own hands.