How do you cope on walks?

i cope by being less anxious than you are ... it was your perception and fear of the situation and your anxiety that made it a big mess ... if your dogs are friendly and walking on the beach, let them meet the other dogs off leash ... if your dogs are not into other dogs, then it is you who needs to take extra steps and that does not include leashing them and then walking them by a group of unleashed dogs ... if your dogs are not friendly or you do not want them to socialize, meander the other way, avoid, don't confront, especially with your anxiety level ... you made it a confrontation ... if you see a situation you can not handle, go the other way, don't suddenly expect a pack of playing dogs to ignore your leashed dogs ... i say get over yourself and walk your dogs where there are no other dogs ... otherwise just let them play, that is what most socialized dogs will do ... nothing you described about the off leash group was aggressive, even the dog who growled, growling does not equal aggression ... how do i cope, my dog is friendly regardless of the situation so walking her does not invoke anxiety in me ...