Massive dog, felt genuinely frightened- being a complete baby?

[notallmenbutalwaysaman]

I usually love dogs and rarely, if ever, have any fear around them unless they are evidently aggressive. I am also very pregnant (basically about to give birth) and pretty hormonal/feeling quite vulnerable.

I was out for a walk (waddle) today and on my way back a couple were walking with their dog. I don't have a dog of my own but I had stroked a friendly dog previously during my walk so probably smelt of dog. The couple's dog was a german shepherd and huge and they shouted ahead "don't worry, he's really friendly"- fine, I have no issue with german shepherds. He was off the lead and I assumed they meant he'd come up and sniff at me and want a pat or something. Anyway he bounded up to me and I admit up close I did feel a little intimidated by the size of him- he was more like a wolf- but I wasn't trying to show any fear and was still being polite to the couple. The dog then began circling me and barking (in what, in my admittedly rather hormonal state, felt a very aggressive manner). They kept repeating he was harmless but he wasn't coming when they called him. I stupidly seemed to freeze with the dog circling me and barking, and my partner had to come and grab me and insist I walked on.

Was I being a complete baby? The dog didn't attack; there was no attempt to bite or anything, it was just a feeling I had of being in real danger. I'm sure he just wanted to play really. Were the couple out of order or was I being dramatic? I don't think the couple were best pleased with my attitude towards him.

I own German shepherds and another large breed (bigger)

I never let them approach people, the owners were extremely rude and inconsiderate. Despite owning and working with dogs I would have also hate to have been approached especially like that (and also because I have no interest in someone else’s dog…why would I?)

Ive Been involved in the breed for a long time alongside working with other large breeds and I have found a bizarre culture of people being offended when others dislike their dog. So many in the bully community too. Lots of comments about them being a big softie etc wondering why people are worried and even laughing that people are frightened. I suspect you’ve met one of these self important arseholes that can’t see beyond their own perspective.

That was what I was taught as a kid and not to ever run.

I’ve had big dogs run up to me and have stood like a tree and they just circled and sniff me before moving to something else.

Don’t care how friendly people say their dogs are. My safety matters more to me than their hurt feelings.

Thanks - owner would be exercising the dogs in the field behind our house so was nowhere near to do anything. I was just lucky nothing happened to any of us.

Off lead and barking? - terrible. Even if the dog had good recall!

And I bloody love dogs!

I have a large dog. I don't let him off lead around people as although he's very friendly he looks aggressive when he barks/plays and he sometimes jumps up. If he was off lead in this scenario I would immediately apologise and put him on lead. He's not your responsibility and I would absolutely freeze too.

Growling is very different from barking.

Definitely NBU. I’m a dog lover and I’d have been terrified. My small dog was once attacked by a German Shepherd, she just didn’t like the look of him and started attacking. The owner rushed over to restrain her, but I was still bruised from trying to get my dog away from her, they’re such strong animals.

It annoys me when people downplay aggressive behavior and pretend that their DDog couldn’t possibly hurt anyone-ANY dog potentially could, even my little guy!

Some owners are oblivious. Their dog may be 'fine', but you may not be. I also get owners saying this to me when I walk my dogs - one bounds up (I keep one dog on the lead as he's fairly deaf now and tends to jump on people) and they either ignore it or say the dog is 'friendly'. Yes he may be but what if my dog isn't? If my dog starts to react and their dog responds I'm a bit stuck. One time my dog and off lead dog actually did start growling at each other and I told the owner who just smiled vaguely and slowly walked up to their dog but no attempt to take it away.
My off lead dog has no interest in other dogs and has 100% recall.

So many dog owners are absolutely dicks. These were one example of thousands. I'm sorry that happened to you. What utter morons.

Oh, and when my youngest son was 6 months old, he got attacked by a dog when he was sitting in his pram. Apparently this dog was 'fine' too - the owner said he'd never done anything like this before. There's always a first time. Dog owners who think there is no possible way of their dog harming anyone ever are ignorant and selfish.

Totally get what you are saying, but just thinking through why I said that…my dog does not play bark. Ever. Even though he’s a shepherd he’s unusually very quiet, so if he does bark it’s usually fear-based on his part. Hence my worry if a stranger dog barks at me because if it was my dog it wouldn’t be a good thing. But I do know what you mean that for many dogs it’s probably just playful.

Circling and barking is lets play communication.

Doesn't matter the breed. Get that media breed Bellshill out of your head firstly. I have recently been biten by a yorkie, now I can't wear my fake nails as two fingers are damaged. I didn't report the owner because I'm not some stupid Karen and know the police have better things to do.

In addition to this, yes they should have moved the dog away from you regardless of breed especially as you're pregnant

Nonsense I'm a dog lover and I prefer the owner to let Me know rather than I pet an arsehole dog which happened to me when I got bite recently

My dog barks when she wants attention not always an attack.

I'd be mortified if my (big) dog did that to anyone, let alone a pregnant lady. YANBU.