So I'm an idiot when it comes to neighbors dogs. :)

[pikabike]

It’s not your fault.

Never let a strange dog get behind you, either. Yes, a neighbor’s dog that the owner has not introduced to you is a strange dog. Clueless owners exclaim, “I didn’t think he was capable of this!” after the dog bites someone or another dog.

I’m fed up with being jumped on and owners either doing nothing or excusing it with, “He was just being friendly.” So I won’t let any strange dog (or any familiar dog I know has bad manners) get within body-contact distance from me. If the owner then says, “Oh, you must not like dogs” I then tell them, “Only bad ones.” I don’t need their Seal of Dog Idolizer approval.

So don’t blame yourself. What you did was unwise but not blameworthy.

[gouligann]

If the dog was on the sidewalk or street, then the owners are to blame.

If the OP stepped onto their property, or the dog was on the owner's grass and the OP reached out to the dog, then the OP is to blame.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by Hollytree

Wow! You're a lot more apologetic than I would have been!!

The neighbors are really lucky it happened to you & not someone else.

100%.

Their dog should not have been loose and allowed to run up to the OP at all.

I have two little dogs and they are friendly but when we leave our house - they are leashed. Period. I know people that are TERRIFIED of dogs no matter the size and I don't want my dogs running up to strangers.

Yes, the owners are lucky. Someone else could have tried to make hay with this - going to the ER, making a claim against their Homeowner policy, etc.