Feels good that I'm not alone. My dog is thankfully great with people and would show her belly for a rub to an intruder, however I am always very careful around small children now. After the incident I discovered she had a nasty inner ear infection which probably contributed. I do wonder if that was why she was let go. Thankfully she does not appear to have suffered abuse as she is a very trusting, obdedient and affectionate dog. She justs get anxious if another dog gets too close and attacks. I am struggling to get rid of the ear infection though. She has been to the vet and I was warned that is antibiotic resistant. We've not long finished a course of treatment and I am hoping to manage it with regular cleaning. She is not in pain with them and usually is good when I clean them with solution from the vet. I was wondering if there some hear loss too.
I so undertstand what you say about other dog owners response, I have started saying something similar. Just the other day in a local field we visit, I saw another dog off led approaching so I walked my dog to what should have been a safe distance from the path for them to pass and politley requested that they did not let thier dog appraoch mine. 3 times I asked before I had to shout. They were only a few meters from us and thier dog was still loose approaching mine fast who up until that point had remained calm and distracted by me.
I hate the muzzle too but people do tend to avoid your dog more so hense less shouting at them to stop thier dog approching.