Lucy IS a pit bull

Okay, so I had a scary experience yesterday - probably my first real one with Lucy, and I figured I ought to share it.
I took Lucy with me to run errands yesterday - I picked up a pair of glasses, headed to the pharmacy...all of the things you do on Saturdays. When we had a few extra minutes, I took her down for a walk along Leschi. This was her first visit to that part of town, and there's a big walkway there and plenty to look at, so I thought it would be good for us to do something different. The weather was beautiful, and after about half a mile of insane Lucy behavior, she finally calmed down and started to walk well.

We stopped just past the marina and sat down to watch the dragon boat teams practice. The sky was clear enough to see the mountain and the weather was great. I had brought treats and a bone for Lucy to chew on, and she was by my feet gnawing away happily while I talked to Mom and Dad on the phone.

To my left I could see a stroller approaching, and a toddler wobbling ahead of his dad. He teetered in my direction, and I promptly hung up on Mom, knowing I had to play good ambassador with Lucy the crazy and a small child. His father told him to ask before petting, and he did from about 6 feet away. I had my hand on Lucy, with one hand under her collar and the other gripping her leash like my life depended on it. She's always been pretty good with kids - I can wave a treat in front of her and they can pet her all they want. This one was different. He was small and uncertain in his steps, and he was bundled up like it was winter - a coat with the hood pulled over his head, sunglasses and a pacifier. I think it was that combination - and the silent approach - that scared her because all of her hackles went up and she growled a deep, frightened growl. She bore her teeth and then started barking a panicked bark, the whole time standing in front of me and pushing me backwards.

I was horrified. I apologized profusely to the father, saying that perhaps it was the pacifier and the sunglasses, and that maybe she just got startled. But Lucy wouldn't calm down. I pulled her aside and made her sit - and then made her do a trick or two to show the little boy that she was a funny dog, but just not one to talk to at that moment. The dad said it was OK, and that this was a good lesson for his son, and that it was probably just a surprise to the dog. He then asked if we took her to the dog park to get her used to small kids (we do, but not off leash I explained), and what kind of dog she was. There it was, the big question. I said she was part pit, and yup, he said he thought so, and that she looked like a staffordshire bull terrier. He picked up his son and I walked away, heading right for a crowd of small kids. Lucy didn't even flinch that time.