If I don't walk newcomers to the gate and introduce them to the dogs, the dogs will bark the entire time strangers are around. Cinnamon practically did cartwheels when a guy climbed on the roof to give me an estimate back in October. I was busy with someone else in the yard and he didn't wait for introductions. If I had, they'd have known he was okay once he was on the roof and we wouldn't have had the fuss.

You could get the impression from all of my photos that my dogs rarely walk. :)

Poppy and Cinnamon 1 (big pups--Poppy is taller and longer now, but still weighs less than the pit)
Poppy and Cinnamon 2 (Yin and Yang)

I'm sure I'm not the only dog lover here who has the pleasure of seeing their dog make what could be misconstrued as a "growl," but it's a playful sort of smile. Teeth slightly showing, and the nose is quite mobile with the lip action, with a wrinkled muzzle. No noise, but a wagging tail. If you have a dog that is characterized as being of a "dangerous breed" you have to be really good at reading the body language and recognizing the noises they make. But I think that adds to the richness of pet ownership and strengthens the bonds with the animal.

SRS