New neighbors have two dogs, a lab and a lab mix. First couple of times they saw me, they barked their fool heads off. Now, they come up to the fence, and I'll usually go up to them, talk to them, and let them sniff the back of my hand . . . after which I scratch them under their chin(s). They seem to like it, and they hardly ever let loose with more than one "yip" (if that) when they see me.
I just want to keep on friendly terms with them, because I KNOW that with two young kids in the house, eventually they'll get out through an unlatched gate . . . and when they're running up to me, I'm confident they'll be friendly and just come over to give me a doggy "HI!"
I get along with almost all dogs, but another neighbor had some sort of mutt that always growled and snarled at me - not in a friendly way! Had that dog ever gotten loose and come running at me, that would probably have been the end of him.