To ask for tips on dealing with scary dogs?

[Dogfog]

I am scared of big dogs, I am scared especially when they run/bark/snarl. This is only really an issue when out walking and they run at fences/gates on their own property. Mainly because they are unattended, there is usually a group of them and there's no way of knowing if they can get out. Today it was three doberman type dogs and it was really, really scary. If it's one dog on a lead with an owner, I'm fine. I get nervous when I can hear dogs barking in the distance in case the route takes us near them. I was knocked down by a dog when I was little, but anyway my husband was also scared today. It's happened a few times recently. I know they're not doing anything wrong, but is there anything we can do to make them less interested in us? Give Mr a field of cattle any day!

It's really difficult with dogs on their own property. They hear you coming and 'think' I must defend my property/owner so run or bark or snarl. You are walking past so for the dog the outcome is that they barked, you went away and they 'think' that worked (again).

I also think that because I was anticipating something scary, my adrenaline was flowing. Maybe the dogs could detect my nervousness and unsettled them further... Certainly I was hyper-alert and more reactive which didn't help me.

My solution is to wear noise cancelling headphones with music on. That way I can be genuinely disinterested in the dog and hope that my total non-reaction helps it to feel calm.