The dog I have now is on the smaller side, so people aren't afraid of him as often. When I fostered a rottweiler, however, I could really clear whatever side of the street I was walking on. The poor dog was such a lover, she wanted to cuddle and meet everyone, especially kids. Needless to say, she didn't get to do most of the socializing she wanted to .
And when I had bloodhounds as a kid, people were terrified, which I never got. They were such easy-going dogs. They did search and rescue for local law enforcement. One time, when one of the big males threw his head back and let out a nice, loud bay it actually scared a grown man so much he wet himself.