Dog become curious if you are fearful if anything, not so much super aggressive and attack people. ... Lashing out at a dog however is more likely to provoke a violent response.

I totally appreciate people are scared of dogs, or even just cautious, which is why mine stay on lead at all times. Not a huge fan of off lead in public places at the best of times, due to the uncertainty of the actions of all dogs and humans involved in their interactions.

To bat the word 'attack' around like it happens all the time, and whenever humans and dogs interact is a little worrying, and certainly not something to lead kids to believe.

Caution is your friend for sure, as is being respectable of the surroundings you are in.

Im not a fan of peoples dogs running up to mine off lead, nor running around kids. My one and only experience of the dog off lead meeting people was in Crystal Palace with 2 rather drunk people having a picnic in an area most people didn't venture. It resulted in an off lead Tuvaaq devouring their picnic, and 2 very stunned and maybe afraid people sitting very still.

I of course offered to pay for the food, and apologised. And they have not been off lead in any public area since.

Sadly there will always be those who don't want to walk with their dogs, and feel everyone else should put up with their running around and faeces. And on the flip side there will always be those who over react to a safe encounter. Unlike the muppet who decided to confront Tuvaaq on his walk this morning, most strange.