Interesting thread as usual - both in terms of the ostensible topic - dogs and as much again in terms of humanology!
Cards up front - very dog person. And in terms of what follows I accept that colours my views to just the same extent ( if opposite scale ) to those who've written to the contrary here. Certainly, exchange the word snake with dog throughout and my reactions and emotions are a good match. So please do not take anything pejorative from my wafflings!
Anthromorphism is a regrettable and yet universal trait. I have it in spades - and given my profession involves the taking of animal life that's just making things hard for myself! Yet time and again above, human characteristics are attributed to the dog - in terms of its intent, emotion etc. The writers may have absolutely zero conscious intent to do that, but the effect is there.
As a good friend observed as a Special Forces ferret ( looooong story ) sunk his nashers deep in my finger - ' its not a good or bad ferret, you need to think more Zen - it's all just varying states of ferret'. Wise words, painful, but wise.
Dogs remain wholly and totally oblivious to human statute, bye-laws, breed integrity etc. They live in a world driven by pack programming and stimulated by smell, sound, sight at a level realistically above our comprehension. Whilst subject to mood swings as are we all, their motivation is logic based. BUT that is dog logic, not human.
None of this is an apology for ignorant, inept or bad owners - in interaction with the human world ultimate responsibility rests with the human 'in charge' ( notional concept I concede ). But the reality is that responsibility is rarely enforced - instead the dog is repeatedly found guilty of ... well being a dog.
Again - nothing pejorative in what I am saying. But in that dog world of senses, the inputs from someone nervous, disdainful, scared etc generate a wave of information that in all likelihood will be fairly interpreted by the dog in a way that compounds the situation. The net result could be similar from opposite ends of the spectrum - a dog in aggressive mode and one desperate to help you relax and be 'friends' can appear identically threatening in the heat of the moment.
The issue is that the human 'owner' has allowed the dog to be in a position where it feels it must react - that's a human failure, not a dog one.
It's akin to trying to communicate with someone who speaks not only a foreign language but has a different culture.
In terms of deterrents etc - let's be honest; if you dislike and especially if you are nervous of dogs then advice along the lines of 'show no fear', be calm etc are a waste of everyone's time. The best advice I ever heard ( and dog loving caveat above accepted ) was 'talk dog'.
You can go and check what I say here by finding some Youtube of a wolf pack attacking Caribou etc.
1. Generally, do not make direct eye contact. That's not to say dont keep an eye on where the dog is. Just dont get into a staring competition unless you want to be Alpha Dog and are certain you will win.
2. Yawn - in fact YAWN. Make it ostentatious. Yawning in dog language is 'dude, its cool, relax'. Just make sure you are seen to be yawning. Unless the dog in question has a mental issue, the Yawn cuts straight through to the basic programming.
Watch that wolf pack - and you will note wolves that get looked at direct by the prey ( especially if its bigger ) start yawning like crazy. Its subterfuge on the part of the wolf - in effect the wolf is trying to say - 'we're cool, nothing to see here'
3. A very clear - 'Your dog is scaring me, please control it immediately' is also advised for communicating with the ignorant drongo who has let things get that far.
That's it. I've used it on several Prison Service dogs - not in the course of exiting Broadmoor
, several private security animals and two or three hyped up other dogs. Nothwithstanding I'm fine with dogs, it worked everytime.
No gadget to find, deploy etc and you always have these things with you.
But none of the above detract from the negative experiences of those that have posted.