Leashes -increase- the potential for aggression in dogs. They transmit owner angst, and they confine the dog, making 'flight' impossible, thereby increasing the chances of 'fight' if it gets scared. I far prefer to come up on an unleashed dog.. except the itty bitty punt-kick dogs. Small dogs tend to be 'babied' and I think they never learn that it behooves them to get the heck out of the way of something large and fast bearing down on them. "I'm a princess! It will stop for me!" The dogs I've come closest to hitting have been toy breeds, headed towards their owner even when that meant getting directly in my path.

I've owned a chihuahua, and she was spoiled and babied too, but I didn't let her wander on bike paths! My current dog (a medium sized working breed) is used to me riding and pretty much ignores bikes; on or off leash. Good thing, since he is reeeallly fast. I let him run free in a canyon that borders the same MUP I ride to work on. I keep a watch out, and make sure no rider would ever have cause to even -think- he would end up on the path. If he ever did.. guess whose fault THAT would be? As I tell my wife whenever he does something.. hmmm... how to say it... 'unpopular'?

"Handler error." :-)