If I had a real fear of dogs, lived in your apartment complex, and had to pass through the radius of Chopper's 50-ft lead, while you were running him, I'd probably not deal very well with the situation. It wouldn't matter to me what kind of training he has, I'd be uncomfortable. So, here we are, two tenants. Your legal rights probably outstrip mine, but isn't it better to look for a solution that doesn't end in one of us moving out?
You know, I've been trying to deal with exactly that kind of situation with my service dog.
Obviously, like you said, I'd lay down my life for my service dog -- and I've seen her do it for me. Pointing out hidden humans in the dark (one time it turned out to be a snowman -- another time, something the police were looking for and I couldn't have been more thankful for her saving me from that situation), doing alarm barks at certain kinds of wildlife (such as a statue of a tiger :P ), lots of stuff.
I know she's safe and so well trained.
But, ironically, I'm scared of dogs. I've been attacked by them, I've seen them attack other dogs, including my dog. I love dogs, but I have such a hard time trusting one, especially if he's barking or running at me.
But I trust my Noodle (endearing nickname of hers) more than anyone.
This weird mix has let me be pretty understanding of situations I've encountered.
There are numerous people who have been in my proximity who needed slight accommodations. In college, I knew another student who was absolutely terrified of my dog. He was scared of all dogs. Several staff members at the university told me in private that unless he was traumatized by a dog, there was no reason for me to accommodate, but that's not true. It really doesn't matter what his reason was -- I could to the best in my ability to not make him have to sit next to that dog. I liked to ask him first what classes we shared, so we could work things out.
Frequently, I have to accommodate allergies. There have been a few people in my area who have horrible, horrible dog allergies. One could work with me fine, but kept his distance. Constantly had his eye on my location -- so I returned the favor and kept away (physically).
There was a student in my high school who was so allergic to dogs that she could die when exposed to them. Once, drug dogs checked our school, and within fifteen minutes she needed a hospital. I'm planning on contacting her before high school reunions happen to see if she's attention (if I am), and if so you bet I'll accomadate that. It'll even weird and make me slightly uncomfortable, but I'd be more uncomfortable if someone died.
I imagine that kind of allergy is incredibly rare.
I did have one person in college overreact a fake allergy because she hated dogs, and was annoyed that one was allowed anywhere. We were originally friends (though she was really, really dude and disapproving of all-things-United States, despite going to school in the US... (the daughter of some Hungarian politician, though her views were so different that she risked being disowned)). But when I began taking my service dog to classes after a serious incident, she began to hate me. She would roll her eyes, get angry, try to tell me I had no rights (she didn't know the laws, somehow?), and declared she had a life-threatening allergy.
At the allergy thing, I thought I understood the intense anger she was having. I was thinking of the high school student. I emailed her through the university system she (copied a trusted dean to witness that I was asking for a meeting), and she ignored them, and all offers to compromise.
If eventually turned out, when she was required by a job to drive me back to my dorm room one night, that she had lied. She insisted that my dog be put into the trunk (it was a big van, my dog just kinda ended up under my seat and she was safe) but clearly didn't not suffer any consequences. She didn't through all our classes and dining hall encounters, either.
So, problem solved. :P
