Back story
I went on a short walk after getting home from work today and there was a small dog left unattended on a grassy area. The dog started barking at me and ran up to me. I stomped my foot to scare the dog away as I was unsure of the dog's intentions.
The dog's owner came running out and claimed that I kicked his dog (even though he saw me merely stomp my foot) and then he got in my face and it was clear that he was about to punch me in the face. I was considerably taller than him, stood my ground and made it clear that I would call the police if he didn't back away. He ended up walking away whilst calling me all sorts of expletives. I made a witty comment as he was walking away: "Have a good night!"
Question
The reality is that I would never hit a dog and have been a responsible pet owner myself for a long time. At the same time though, I have been bitten by a stray dog before and don't take chances anymore (regardless of the dog's size). I felt that a foot stomp was the best way to deal with this in a way that keeps myself from (A) getting bitten and (B) injuring the dog.
This person lives somewhat close to me (not the same street though) and I am concerned that he will start going around telling people I kicked his dog. How do I deal with any potential fallout and is there a better way to handle this sort of situation in the future?