What's the right thing to do in this situation?

First IMO your boss should have informed you of the dogs temperament. When you saw the 2nd dog acting in this manner you should have stopped what you were doing and informed her. Making friends with a fearful aggressive dog on it's turf is not a good idea at all. The fact they didn't know you should not come into play if it had a sound temperament to being with. Fear based aggression is not something to fool around with especially when the dog doesn't settle down to allow you to do your job! JMO

The first thing you need to do is talk to the owner about this situation. Explain exactly what happened. She is obviously aware that the dog is not accepting to strangers. Not only did it obviously scare you to death, but if the dog had bitten you, you could sue her. And it would have had to be reported to the police, leaving her in a position that she could lose the dog as well as facing legal action. You did the right thing for the situation you were in, but you should not have been in that situation. In other words, your boss obviously knows the temperament of this dog and should have never left you alone with it. You really were left in a terrible situation that should never have happened. Good luck

Calming signals can be a life saver in such an unexpected situation. While not making eye contact is critical, there are other things you might try if this happens again. 1. Stop what you are doing and make no noise. 2. Turn slowly sideways. 3. Look at the ground and blink repeatedly. 4. Lick your lips. 5. Yawn. If the dog charges, hit the ground face down, knees tucked, and arms locked around your head and neck. Calming signals are visual cues dogs give to each other to diffuse emotional situations. Dogs may give calming signals to calm themselves, or to calm the other dog. In any case they say clearly that you are not looking for a conflict but in a way that is clear to dogs. For more information on calming signals, look up the book and video by that name by author Turid Rugaas.

If you are there to clean up dog poop, not get mauled by the dogs, you need to get this dingbat to secure her dogs somewhere else so you can do what you are hired to do. Why would you take a chance with aggressive dogs - and why the heck would this person not have the brains to keep her dog away from you? Don;t go back until she agrees to - it is not your job to deal with her dogs or go through all these machinations when one threatens you. This is irresponsible in the extreme on the part of the person who hired you.

you did exactly what i've done. if the owner hadn't shown up, you should have made your way SLOWLY to the door or gate. if you run, you trigger the prey drive.

were you sitting down or standing up when trying to give attention to the second dog? if you were sitting, you should have immediatly stood up. you must be taller than the dog, otherwise he thinks he can dominate you. you have to show your dominance to the dog. what should've happened if the other dog was wary of strangers was you let it come to you when it finally felt comfortable and ready. given with some dogs, that might take several meetings before that can happen. it has to be on their time, you can't force a dog to like you.

Shame on your boss! Imagine if it was some kid who was hired to clean the dog poop, that is a disaster waiting to happen. From what I can tell, you did everything absolutely right. The dog is challenging you, dominant dogs will do this when there is no owner (pack leader) to control the dog. It doesn't sound like a fear aggressive dog at all, a fearful dog will attack/bite you from behind. A dominant dog is more subtle, using body positions and attitude to assert their dominance. And you never pick fights with a dominant dog, especially if it's not yours. Being aloof is a must and NEVER assume the dog is "friendly" because it allows you to pet it. People always make this assumption but in fact, a dominant dog will demand to be petted to assert dominance. Tell the owner that this dog needs to be crated when he can't supervise the dog. He might seem skeptical at first though since the dog is probably only aggressive when he's not around but be firm. You did everything right, but who knows what the next person might do.

It's nothing you should have done, it's a case of what the owner had a *responsibility* to do and seemingly failed to do. I had a very territorial dominant male Dobermann, which is standard for the breed. He would bark when someone approached the house & stand by my leg rumbling in the back of his throat when I opened the door *but* when I *allowed* the person in, he *immediately* back down on command. Your boss should have either signalled to the dog that you were allowed in the house or if the dog hadn't been trained to stand down on command, put the dog in a crate/locked it another room. As the owner of the dogs, it was the responsibility of your boss to control or contain the dogs, to ensure that you could go about your business without being put it fear of conflict. I have just purchased a big thick walking stick to use if a dog is threatening to attack.

You mean your boss left you in the company of that dog AFTER what you described to us??? WTH? I never would have allowed that. You poor thing. I think that, at that point when you realized the problem, there was likely nothing more you could have done. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. But welcome back!! :-)