Paddy Crow,

One guy I hike with sometimes brings his girl friend's dog. We see much more wildlife without the dog. I like to think that I am a fearsome apex predator, but I don't seem to intimidate the wildlife. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I have also had very positive experiences with dogs on the trail. On a 2004 Colorado Trail section hike I was passed by a dog and a woman leading a mule. I was eating a mid-morning snack about 20 feet off the trail and the dog arrived first. I spoke to the dog and held out the back of my hand. It looked at me as if to say "I am a working dog in charge of security and you apparently have me confused with a household pet." I was inspired by the way the dog, woman and mule worked together as a team.

Close to trailheads you are likely to find humans and dogs misbehaving, but in remote areas there is seldom a problem with humans or dogs. High density seems to incease undesirable human behavior.

My experiences are probably part of the reason that dogs are not allowed in most National Parks and are required to be on leash in my local Wilderness Areas. I believe that virtually every dog owner in this Forum is responsible and does not cause problems on the trail.

I think longhair's comments about what the owner needs to do for the dog was on target.