I'm a petite female that lives in ghetto hell. I also wear steal cap boots and I'm not afraid to use them. When I'm walking.... I'm WALKING.... I'm talkin' power walking. Someone would pretty well have to run after me to pet my dogs. I just avoid eye contact as I'm not out to show my dogs off, I'm out to work them. There are occasions where I will stop to talk to someone, and if they are sketchy.... which is pretty well everyone around here, and make any attempt on my dogs..... well... they will get a taste of my boots. I'm in pretty good shape for an old broad and I fight dirty. Never hurts to make implications that your dog is friendly but also smart and knows a real threat, although.. I've never had to actually SAY that... it's usually the sketchy person telling me that I bet they would protect me because most the sketchers here are all cracked out so they scare themselves off the dog.