Ive had this happen with one of my mastiff x great danes. All, bar one, (she was a rescue and had been shot), were either goofy or wonderfully social dogs.
Great around other dogs and people.
One even let a kitten with a broken paw play with her head at the vet once....so funny... the kitten could have fitted three times in her mouth .
I've had my dogs used at a school to help desensitize children about big dogs..... they suffered while preschoolers crowded around them and poked and patted them.
But they have also suffered stigma like yours .
- the worst was from a couple walking their precious in a lead free area...some little terrier i think it was.
It srarted squealing and barking and tried to charge. (They had it on a leash).
My two, trotted over to say hello
...the woman snatched up her snapping amd growling fur baby....amd then went on full rant at me , while both my dogs stood politely two meters from her....looking confised at her dog doing its nut in her arms.
She accused me of having dangerous uncontrollable dogs.
I looked at her, her dog, and said "hey" , nodded my at my girls, and they trotted back to my side .
Her dog was wriggling and still freaking out in her arms .
My older dog actually looked at me and at it, and was worried over the poor little Guy.
The most dangerous thing in that situation - was the owner.
She was teaching her dog to live in fear.
And fear breeds aggression .
Its not the dog......its the people who own them tjat turn them bad.
Ive met many a staffie, pittie and masstiff who are as friendly and gentle as all get out🤗
But some people get them to look tough.
And they are the people who shouldn't have a dog😡
