I didn't know that when I first spotted the dog, and wasn't sure when the dog's owner tried to calm my concerns. It is a bone of contention among hikers, one that is certain to start an argument, whether in a trail shelter or on a chat room. One of the chat lines of the Center for Appalachian Trail Studies has been ablaze with debates about dogs. In some instances, the posts have been downright nasty. Dogs chase wildlife Dogs offer a threat, real or imagined, to other hikers.
Dogs take up space in shelters.
Dogs lift their legs on packs and tents. Dogs leave their piles on the trails and in camping areas. On the positive side, dogs are a companion and source of protection. They are a bridge between man and the natural world. Some hikers say the problem with dogs on the trail isn't the dogs, but their owners.