I haven't decided whether to speak with negligent dog owners on the MUP yet. I've been video recording some recent rides just to get a better sense of whether the problem is really that frequent, or whether it's bias confirmation. It might be better to just edit down the videos to short snippets and send 'em to the MUP management, or post 'em to the social media wall of shame.
Without reviewing my videos, I'd guesstimate half the dog owners are careful to keep their pets on short leashes or appropriate leash length for the conditions. If they're walking the paved path, they keep their dogs on very short leashes. On the wider gravel path, a little more free leash. On the grassy areas well away from the paths, they use those retractable leashes and let out more play. Seems appropriate.
Maybe 30% use retractable leashes willy nilly with the dogs having free rein, regardless of conditions. So the dogs aren't really controlled at all. And, worse, the full extended leashes present a tripping/tangling hazard for other MUP users.
And around 20% let their dogs roam freely. Of those, they're divided into to basic categories:
- The mindful dog owners who clearly have some dog obedience training, and are using the grassy areas near the MUP to reinforce good behavior habits.
- The completely clueless dog owners who moan ineffectual pleas at their dogs: "Oh, now, Rover/Spot/Turdbucket, pleeeeze don't jump on the nice man/jogger/children/other dogs!"
It's about the same on the rural roads I occasionally ride for exercise. About half the dogs are behind fences or invisible fences. Half roam freely. Of the free range dogs, the biggest problem I've had is dogs thinking they're parade leaders and I'm supposed to follow them. But the dogs will change speeds, dart around or suddenly stop in front of me. While I don't consider them aggressive, the fact is that normally "good" dogs can turn violent unpredictably so I never relax around them.