Hi Toran,
I see you have a similar problem as I have. I also don't like to meet other dogs when I'm on the leash. Especially when they are bigger than me and very especially if they are shepherds. Don't take it personally - I was bitten by one when I was young.
So I'm also afraid of other dogs when I'm on the leash but after long training, my humans showed me that there is not only the way towards the other dogs but also the possibility to evade contact ... at least when they are still far enough away.
Nowadays lead my humans to walk a big round around the other dog if they did not start to walk in the other direction already.
But yeah - if the other dog just appears out of nowhere I still get frightened and overreact. I'm still working on that and with other animals like cats, I got myself really wonder control already.
My humans call it impulse-control ... and I think I'm getting really good at this. Perhaps it's also the age ... I'm not as crazy anymore as I was years ago :)
CU around,
your Marley 🐕
EDIT: Somehow my last sentence went lost :)
I wanted to wish you all the best in your still new family!
Enjoy :)
RE: From the beginning until now ... Skipper's WOOF Story