I agree.

Every year at least one or two dogs go over a cliff in the Columbia River Gorge and are killed. The dog gets too close to the edge on the Eagle Creek Trail and the edge crumbles, or he gets running around up on something like Angel's Rest (very cliffy place) and goes over. Keeping the dog on a leash (required in the Gorge, although too many people disregard the law) will keep him from getting too close to the edge or running around.

There are so many loose dogs on the Eagle Creek Trail that I rarely hike it any more. Loose dog going after my dog on leash on cliffside trails has led to some really hairy situations, where only by the grace of God did Hysson and I escape going over!

Hysson is occasionally off-leash, but I make him walk on the trail behind me on those occasions so I can grab him if someone else comes along. He is also extremely good about coming to heel on such occasions.