Should I confront her.

Are these dogs safely behind a fence and gate? If so, you could just say to your DGS that this is the doggy way of saying Hello, and walk him past calmly but firmly. It is important for dogs to be kept under control, especially when children are around, e.g. in the park, but equally children should be encouraged not to squeal/panic/flap around when they see a dog as this gets the dogs more excited.
Unless you can change the route to school, this is going to be unavoidable but should be viewed perhaps as a learning opportunity, as your DGS will encounter dogs of all sizes and degrees of noisiest in the years to come.
Our DD was terrified of dogs so we bought a Labrador puppy when she was 4. Not necessarily recommended, but they remained devoted to each other until the Lab died at the ripe old age of 16. Drastic, I know, but it worked.

If they are safely behind a fence and are barking rather than growling I would carry on walking past (can you go on the other side of the road?), hold tight to DGS and reassure him that they are just being very noisy and are excited to see him but remind him never to touch a dog he doesn't know. You can encourage him to make friends with dogs if you know and trust the dog and you are with him.

We have a noisy little dog opposite here, there is only a hedge with gaps and he has been known to get through and nip ankles of passersby, terrifying the little girl next door.
Neighbours have complained but nothing has changed the situation.

I had the same with my DGS - how I hate it when people allow their animals to make a nuisance of themselves to others!

I do not know what you can do - you say she is an awkward lady, and that goes with the territory - I have many friends with animals who take great care to make sure they do not cause any nuisance - but they are not awkward people!

There is a dog in a house that is on a corner of a main road near here and it shoots out from nowhere and barks at the fence - people leap up in shock and how no-one has finished up under a car I do not know.

Thank you for your replies. They are safely behind a fence but one of them growls. We have tried to get him to make friends with other friendly, placid dogs and we were making progress. He tentatively stroked a dog last Saturday but we are back to square one. However, it is extreme fear of these dogs. He stops quite a few yards away, holds his ears and refuses to budge or runs in the other direction or into the road. Holding his hand is not enough, he will only be carried past, protesting and crying. He is not the only child to be petrified and other adults do not like them either.
As a family we love dogs so it is not learned behaviour. We would dearly love another dog but at the moment that is not practical,

Also no footpath on other side of road.

Is he nervous with other loud noises ? A screaming child or a large truck going past for instance.
Personally I would keep the dogs in at school run time for my own sanity. (Can't stand barking dogs) However, if they are secure on her property I don't see what can be done. If they are a frequent nuisance to her neighbours with regard to noise then they could report her. You wouldn't have much grounds for complaint for the few minutes it takes to walk past.
I do sympathise though.

That's so sad Nandalot .

What a shame for your poor grandchild and shame for the dogs too. That's unacceptable behaviour from them.

I would approach the lady . No need to be confrontational - but tell her about your grandchild and ask her if she has any ideas that might help. For instance could she maybe be in the garden with the dogs at a certain time for a few days , keeping them under control and not barking ? Then perhaps once things have settled down and IF her dogs are generally gentle with children would it be possible to meet one of the dogs in a calm situation so your grandchild can overcome his fear. Small steps.

Ask for her help rather than complain to her. She may of course not be receptive to this but a good dog owner would be. I know if you approached me Id be mortified that my dog was contributing to a child's fear.

If she won't help then I'm afraid its walk on the other side for now but please don't stop trying to get your grandchild to see dogs as more than a set of teeth !! Children and dogs can work wonderfully together. Maybe you could start small - we have a shelter nearby that actively encourages puppy cuddling . You go along with your child and you get a puppy to cuddle, and play with for half an hour. It does wonders for both child and dog.

I do hope you find a solution .

Yes, I think we shall just have to soldier on. I was just so cross this morning that they were out before nine and then in after the children were in school, it just seemed contrary. Yes, he hates loud trucks, motorbikes etc. handdriers in public toilets ( we always have to use the disabled ones so that he knows no one will be using the dryer,) I do think he might be on the autistic spectrum. Spends hours lining up cars etc. but seems to function quite well apart from the noise issue so not going down that route particularly,

Just seen your post Nanaand Grampy. Some excellent suggestions there.

Your DGS sounds like he is intelligent and has a good sense of self preservation. If two dogs are barking loudly, growling and throwing themselves at the fence, and he is very little, he is wisely observing that should they somehow get out, they could injure him. Nothing wrong with that. It's a pity that he was just beginning to overcome his fear, by patting a placid dog (see, he's not paranoid, is he, just sensible) when these other dogs have set him back. Doesn't sound like he has a terrible fear of dogs. The dogs are only doing what dogs do. Protecting their territory. So it's not their fault either and if they are well secured, it's not really the owners, although I would question her judgment re letting them terrify small children; especially as you had already thanked her. Maybe, if she's not very nice, she perceived it as sarcasm. They're probably out more because it's summer and she's got the door open. It sounds as though you live in a small village, so more difficult to cause a rift with a person who seems confrontational. If I were you, I would either drive if you think it's going to cause your grandson issues that could lead to a lifelong fear of dogs. Or, walk briskly past, holding his hand and keeping him on the opposite side to the dogs, so you are a buffer, don't make any eye contact with the dogs at all (eye contact is confrontational and will make them bark and growl more) and keep walking. As you go past, talk about something like Spiderman or robots or something.

Just posted, then saw your reply. Autistic children are very noise sensitive. Have you had him assessed? Seems he is noise sensitive to more than just the dogs. Maybe have a word with the school then and ask them to write to her, or post a letter through her door and explain you have a noise sensitive child. Apologies, I wasn't aware of that when I typed my first reply.

If he is noise sensitive maybe it would be an idea to buy him a pair of ear defenders.

ear defenders for the walk to school sounds an excellent idea , you could make a game of it ,

DGD is very sensitive to noise, and was terrified of dogs and I too am sensitive to noise (and as a child was terrified of dogs) but neither of us is anywhere on the autistic spectrum.

When you are small, dogs, even relatively small dogs, are so big relative to you and labradors are not small dogs.

We have done with DGD what my parents did with me. Avoided dogs where possible and where it is not possible placed the adult between child and the dog and walked calmly while holding the child's hand and talking reassuringly.

When our DC were young they all disliked dogs.They knew that I liked them , and always told them not to touch a strange dog, but not to be afraid of them.We often had to walk past a huge brute of a dog ( behind a glass door where it snarled and slavered) and pawed the door, but although scary, they realised that it couldn't actually get out.Perhaps you could say to the children that the dogs are safely fenced in?Always best not to even look at the dogs but to ignore completely.
It sounds as though the lady in question is allowing the dogs to roam in the garden just to be contrary, as you say.Nobody can tell a dog owner when to let them out into the garden( their own garden after all) so I would not say anything that may make matters worse.

It's not just the noise sensitivity though. The lining up cars is a classic symptom.
I am not for one minute saying he is on the spectrum. It's just something to think about.

Yup, my autistic DGS lined up cars all the time when younger.

Is there a local dog warden who could perhaps have a word with the owner? I have 2 Labradors and no way let them behave in this way. It is anti social to say the least. Is the house hers or is it rented, a word to the landlord might help if rented or social housing.

The law says the dog owners must have the pets under control at all times and that includes in your own garden.

Finding puppies to pet is a good idea and hopefully build up confidence or the little one.

Good luck...

For God's sake report the idiot to the council her mutts are affecting other people on a public foot path - children arent stupid enough to think a vicious dog is a game. Useful saying - 'Evil men prosper where good men do nothing.'

Please tell me what the dog owner is doing wrong. The dogs are behind a secure fence on her land. Dogs bark but it doesn't mean they're dangerous.

Tell your GS that the dogs are saying 'Hello'. Tell him that a bark doesn't mean that the dog wants to hurt him. Stay calm if he gets distressed because if you get stressed that will reinforce that he's right to think something is wrong. Lots of children are scared of dogs. Most grow out of it.

That was my point too!
I do wonder to what extent your little grandson might be picking up on your own nervousness?
These are Labs not slavering Pit Bull Terriers or dangerous guard dogs and they are kept securely on their own "patch".
Dogs bark. End of.
The thought of involving a dog warden or any authorities seems way OTT.

I am not nervous of dogs, we have always had dogs until very recently, all sizes, Labs. Cocker Spaniel and lastly a Yorkie so it is certainly not my nervousness he is sensing. These dogs are well fenced but people do find them intimidating. I just think it would be better for all, including the owner and the dogs if for half an hour in the morning and at end of school they were kept inside. I would like my DGS to love dogs but these are not helping.