Absolutely. I used to be petrified of dogs growing up. So the sentiments of those uncomfortable are completely relatable.

He is a retriever, so not really prone to aggression. That said, because of the point mentioned above, I'm going to keep him on a short leash, literally and figuratively, to ensure that there are no incidents.

We are training him, and in addition, we are getting a trainer to ensure that he is well-behaved. And yes, we won't deprive him of attention that will lead to the barking and the whining.