Feeling shaky _ dog related

Hi

I'm new to net mums. Joined to ask this question! Please be gentle with me.

I have a dog. He's pretty good. Quite energetic, but otherwise growing out of puppy phase (he's 18months) and he is now v good at recall.

I walk him everyday off lead in an area where lots of dog walkers walk dogs off lead. It's a muddy field only really used by dog walkers. My dog plays with other dogs. If it's a dog we don't know I walk a different way or keep my dog distracted or put him on the lead until other owner signals ok for the dogs to play.

My dog also goes to doggy day care every week and mixes with other dogs without issue.

My husband took our dog for a walk a few weeks ago and said he got into an altercation with another male dog of a similar age. According to my gentle, non confrontational, honest husband, both dogs were equally at fault and I believe him. We'd known the owner of the other dog a while and the dogs had previously got on and I used to chat with the owner.

Anyway, the other day the owner kept following me and eventually I felt I had to stop and speak with him as he clearly wanted to talk. He insisted on getting my number and said we should coordinate when we walk the dogs so they don't meet. I stupidly gave my number as I'm a people pleaser (bad trait), but I explained I've got a hectic schedule and two children and I can't arrange my walks around his schedule, but I'm happy to keep my dog away from his and we'll walk the other way round the field.

Saw said dog and owner today. My dog was happily playing off lead, chasing a ball, catching sticks and being very good. I kept him away from the other dog but the owner kept following me with his dog on the lead and I kept trying to move away. I felt really intimidated and kept changing my route to avoid him and keep dogs apart. Every time I changed direction he followed me. In the end I kind of hid at the far end of the field and played fetch with my dog until I saw he'd long gone and then we left the field, but I spotted him on the path to my house talking to someone else. It felt like he'd been waiting for me. I couldn't avoid him so had to go past (dog on lead at this point as public path). When I got near he accosted me and said "we need to talk about this" very insistantly (kind of like we were in some kind of relationship and needed to discuss the break up. It was weird!) I explained there isn't anything much to talk about, I'm happy to keep my dog away from his. He kept saying we need to talk without the dogs and workout a solution. I said there isn't much to talk about, I'll just walk well away from you and your dog as I tried to do today. He then started a rant about how aggressive my dog is and insisted we get together to "talk about it" (he's a big bloke and I felt really initiated and just wanted to go home). I said I'd ask my husband to speak to him and will pass on the message to my husband.

Told husband when I got home and he said just block him and we agreed I'll try and walk dog a different time to him (I have a rough idea what time of day he walks his now) and if I see them in the distance I'll just turn around and go home. If they join the field after me I'll exit at the end of the field and take the very long winded way home via streets and houses so I feel safe.

I know it probably all sounds really stupid but this man kept following me on the walk today, like he was trying to aggrevate me and my dog.

Not sure what the AIBU is, but needed to get this out!

How would you feel? What shall I do?