sigh... we went out for walkies and one of the little dogs that absolutely *despises* Odin for existing ran up (off-lead) into his face, barking and growling

Normally, Odin lets this stuff slide, and I praise him for the lack of reaction. But he clearly decided that he'd had Enough from this one and started barking and growling right back. And it's 100x more intimidating when he does it. It was the angriest I've ever heard him, I've never heard him "borf borf borf borf!!!" like that before

I have mixed feelings because on the one hand, every other dog gets to run up and yip yip yip at Odin, so it's not fair to hold him to a higher standard and expect him to never react and stick up for himself, but on the other, he IS bigger, he IS stronger, and people and dogs alike WILL get more scared.

The people walking the little dog weren't upset with us, they fully acknowledge the little one starts these things. (It's not actually their dog. It belongs to someone who's become too elderly to walk the dog himself.) And actually, they were concerned that I must have pulled my shoulder while yanking Odin away and making him sit! No, actually, I'm fine, that's why he wears a halter. Once I got him sitting, the fight was over.

But buddy... half the neighborhood heard that menacing borf at 10 at night...