Question Author
Thanks to both lankeela and drchasuble for your advice. I understand the flexi lead approach and this may work for Sam. I will get him one. My problem with this tactic is the treat business. Both George and Sam are grazers, and unfortunately as my sister will described "their bowls at home are a buffett for dogs". Therefore there is nothing I could think of as a reward treat. They dont like dog chocolate and with them both if i tried to give them a treat while we were out it would be like "oh yeh mum, dont waste out time it is so gooooood being out playing - I can all the treats i want once home". I guess then the only treat they love all the time is a cuddle and praise as their reinforcement.
Drchasuble, fortunately I know my dogs would not nip anything unless it looked like a toy but I am more scared of bigger or smaller dogs even attacking Sam for his enthusiastic and real friendly barking or worse some worried person kicking him thinking he is going to attack. They are only both about 6" off the ground and they would not survive that type of thing. I do get very stressed about taking them out sometimes because of this and I have had experiences where a dog has come up a bit aggressive from nowhere and in fact my most recent nightmare is I waded into the Mersey with the both of them in my arms when an unsupervised rottweiler came bounding up the beach. Luckily it thought better of following me in. His then unconcerned owner strolled up and I was so upset I told her she should give her dog on the lead and pointed out the bl---- obvious that I had to wade into the water to escape his aggression, she said "I know, he is awful, he does not like small dogs" well I got annoyed to say the least pointing out next time it may be a child and to get him on a lead. In essence I would do anything do keep them safe but they do love their little run off the lead. Krysteena