could i make a suggestion (if i may be so bold)??

how about going to a dog class where they are under the control of a trainer and seeing if that helps??

also if you choose to actually buy a dog then perhaps it would be a good idea to go for something smaller and calm - in my opinion something like a short legged springer spaniel would be the ideal way forward?? all the better if you actually bought a partially trained one - as they are trained to be gun dogs if you searched for one that had done the basics i think you would be pleasantly surprised (these dogs can be extremely gentle as they are trained to retrieve pheasants etc)....

anyway good luck with it!!!!

I don't dislike them......... I have a phobia of them.
I was bitten quite badly all over my right arm, by a 'lassie; dog when I was 4 and since then I really cannot stand being near dogs, especially those of that breed.
It is that bad, once I was coming home from work, I walked up the hill and on the left of me, on the little patch of grass, was one of those dogs, thankfully the phone box was just a few feet away, and I called my neighbour to come and get me! The bad thing was, I only lived 6 houses away from the telephone box! But when you have such a severe phobia, it isn't funny.

I can understand the fear, but... what was the dog doing offlead? Owner's responsibility, not the animal.

Probably should be just as fearful of irresponsible pet-owners as collies.