ummm... knny, is there something you'd like to tell us?
Is this your subtle way of coming out of the closet, ...or just an accidental revelation?
g'head... you can talk openly, ...you're among friends here. 
I know exactly what you mean. I've had the exact same situation occur with me many times, and for some odd reason, in my experiences, it was always the women who don't get it. The guys seem to understand they need to get their animals away, or secure them with a leash, but I've always had women dismissively say the same thing, ...oh he's harmless... as their mongrel beasts jump up on you. 
I was once leaving my house, ...and my neighbours dog from up the street came charging across the street up my walkway and straight at me. Unfortunately I had already locked my front door, and put my keys in my purse so I had no opportunity to get back into the house. This thing had me cornered on my front steps, was on my walkway growling & snarling at me, while the dipshit brain dead owner was saying "oh don't worry about him, he's harmless" Harmless my ass! I told her to get her dog NOW! Get him on a leash and the fuck off my property. "oh don't worry he's harmless". I know I'm risking life & limb by saying it here, ...but I told her "Lady, get your fucking dog NOW! If it makes one more move towards me, I'm taking the little fucker out!" That dipshit kept going "Oh don't worry he's harmless". It's a good thing both for her and the dog, that her husband came along just then and grabbed the dog, and dragged him off my walkway, apologizing to me the whole time, and promising to keep the dog on the leash. I know exactly how you felt in that situation Knny, 'cause when it happened to me, I wanted to take the woman out, along with the dog. Why are people so stupid sometimes?
On another note, I had a positive dog experience the other day. I was walking down the street, and approaching a corner. The house at the corner had waist high hedges, so I did not know the guy approaching the corner was walking a huge HUGE mother of a dog. As we approached the corner at the same time, he said I have a dog, I hope you're not scared of dogs. <LOL> I was thinking to myself 'Well bully for you... you have a doggy'. I didn't at first realize he was trying to warn me that he was walking a HUGE dog that I was about to come face-to-face with. We both reached the corner of those hedges at the same time, and I swear I don't know how I managed to keep from messing my pants. I came face-to-face with the biggest, meanest, scariest, looking dog I ever saw. The owner saw the look on my face, and immediately pulled his dog away from me. The poor thing started crying too. In retrospect, he was just a little puppy that was curious about me, and started crying because his owner wouldn't let him sniff me, ...but puppy or no, seeing it come around the corner like that startled the bejeebers out of me. It's nice to know there are responsible pet owners who realize that NOT everyone enjoys their animals jumping up all over them.
Well Judi...I agree with you.
The ignorance of people to say 'don't worry' is what pisses me off.
In some or most cases the owner of the dog is right & there really isn't "worry"...but...NO PERSON should ever be on the receiving end of an unleashed dog. So in my opinion....now there is something to worry about. They never think for one minute that my dog (or me) will or could rip them apart because of the confrontation. Our dog is now a pretty big Rottweiler. Versus another dog that he almost has 80lbs on him...who do you think would be in trouble if my dog (on a leash) lunged & killed or maimed the dog?
I am a dog lover..but if I was confronted on the stairs like you did...I would not hesitate of protecting myself & hurting a dog if it posed a threat. Again..what pisses me off is you shouldn't have to be in that position in the first place & the ignorance of someone saying 'don't worry' angers me even worse.
What the hell ever happened of admitting you're wrong, apologizing & taking responsibility of your own actions?
On another note....most people say 'wow' when they see our dog. There's been a TON of times where people reacted like you did with that big dog & I understand it can be intimidating. We're usually very courteous & either put some distance between the dog, curb, or approaching people.
