wahidahsg, no offence but instead of making such a big fuss & subjecting the dog owner to unnecessary trouble & heartache, why couldn't you have just gone up and told the owner to pls leash up his/her dog or bring the dog out of the compound? I'm sure the dog owner will oblige.
I myself have seen dog owners bring their dogs down to the playground whilst i was there with my kid. I always reassure my kid there's nothing to be afraid of and then ask the owner whether the dog is fierce.. if not, i'm fine with it. If my kid displays fear, I usually go to the owner and explain my kid is scared, can they pls bring the dog away... so far none have ever rejected or displayed any poor attitude.
As much as dogs may be a pain to you, they may be a great source of joy to someone else. We should all practice tolerance. There're more children who scream and yell that are more of a pain in the ass than most dogs I've encountered.