[Quiet Man Cometh]

That's harsh. I love dogs, but I grew up with them (my parents had a great dane when I was a baby. I used him as a big toy of sorts, so I'm told). I think a lot of problems with dogs come from people not socializing their animals properly, or trainging them to simply behave when strangers are involved. It doesn't help that a lot of people use methods of interacting with dogs that are outdated. Sticking your hand in a dogs face to let it smell it can be asking for trouble if the dog is uneasy or nervous. The dog can smell you just fine from where you are standing.

I have been bitten three times by dogs. Once by a golden retriever who had just had puppies and didn't want company (the signs were there but being like 4 years old I wanted to pat her anyway), once by my spaniel that was ill and later put down, and once by a toy poodle that was afraid of me.

I can understand being afraid of dogs. I know they can have habits that would be frightening for people not aware of what the dog is doing. I know three dogs personaly that like to 'mouth' people they meet or like, grabbing into hands or arms and such to play or whatnot. Pit bulls are known to do it and my sister's pit-mix does it. He doesn't bite, and isnt' trying to hurt you but feeling teeth even lightly on one's hand can be frightening.