Excellent parallel comparison. I work with a canine rescue and we've seen many very good dogs come in needing only socialization and human contact/interaction. In general I trust canines more than I trust unknown humans because canines do not lie.

In the OP, I see a typical pack that has not been socialized with humans outside the pack (the owner being considered part of the pack, not necessarily the Alpha), encountering a human that is not part of the pack. That's fine for guard dogs (junk yard dogs) which are geographically controlled, but not so much for dogs running loose.

If you are going to have a dog or dogs, you really need to be a strong leader (Alpha) so that there is no doubt who is in charge. Having dogs as strong and physically capable as Rotties, Dobies, German Shepherds & Pit Bulls is all the more reason to be in control and aware of what your dogs are doing. From what I read, it seems this owner was not in charge.