Owners usually know their own dogs best, but do have a bit of a blind spot when evaluating other people’s responses. She may have had problems in the past with unwanted strangers coming up and petting the dogs without invitation. And this could have led to trouble. But if the doggo came up to you of it’s own accord and interacted, I can’t see the problem. Unless the doggo had a bite history but you didn’t and don’t know that though she probably did.

Could also be paranoid about strangers so prefers an empty beach (and big scary doggos for companions).

Bitiest doggo I’ve ever come across was a little white mini-poodle - who was clearly completely over having complete strangers rush over and smoosh it or wallop it over the head while gushing ‘oh how cuuuuuute’. Very lengthy bite history, which I reckon was not at all the doggo’s fault. Particularly the face bites. Belonged to a past neighbour who ended up putting on a muzzle and a placard round it’s neck reading ‘I BITE - LEAVE ME ALONE’ whenever it was taken on walks or to the shops, which reduced the problem but didn’t stop it. Nice enough dog in it’s home environment, but not nice at all outside it’s home. And it had learned to be that way from other people’s complete lack of respect for boundaries. It wasn’t afraid, rather it was quite willing to be pro-active to protect itself.