do animals sense the human Alpha M. ?

so a little background:

i was bit by a german sheppard when i was like 10 years old. since then ive been traumatized by it and ive feared dogs. if a dogs is approaching me growling and sh1t, ill run like a pussy. im not ashamed of it.

so today i was fixing my car and i had to walk to the closest auto part. on my way back i mas passing by car dealership. there was two dogs, strays sleeping. a little after i passed by them the got up and started running, barking and growling towards me. the one that was running ahead looked like it was possessed by the devil himself. The motherfarker was looking very very scary.

It happened fast, i turned around facing them, let out a confident heyyy and the dogs stopped short, the one behind put his tail between his legs and was running back to where they were sleeping, the possessed dog had his teeth out and looking at me and i stood there looking at him like i was going to tear him apart and a few seconds later he just turned around and went back like sniffing and making noises.

If this had happen in 2009 i would have run like forest gump did in the movie.

Could this be that ive finally internalized some of the confidence, alpha traits and the dogs felt it?

I don't think so, dogs can smell fear. Since u just stood there and gave them no reason to attack u they saw no purpose on messing with u. U handled totally right!

If u would've turned around and ran the dogs would've seen u as pray but now that u stood ur man they saw you on an equal level.

100% for sure. Dogs can sense fear. If you stay calm and relaxed you'll see a difference.