So this is more a rant than photography related but because of issues like this I wasn't able to get to the photography part of my day. So the family and I decided to head up to Eklutna Lake to spend a bit of time relaxing and enjoying the fall colors. What started off enjoyable soon became stressful. We had decided to bring our two pups to enjoy this partly sunny day along the lake. Now I am the first to admit that my dogs don't get out and about nearly as much as they should but they know how to act on their leashes and they stay there because I want everyone to be able to enjoy their time out and about. Much to our frustration that was not the case with others who had brought their dogs. Within just a few minutes of starting our walk we had to two dogs approach our dogs, which caused quite a ruckus. The dogs' owner? Hanging out down the trail completely out of sight of their dogs and only came up the trail after the dogs laid into each other. Unfortunetly this wasn't an isolated incident, we had four different incidences where dogs approached ours without the owners anywhere in view. One when we were sitting on the beach a good distance from the trail two more dogs bounded up to us and after spending time trying to shoo them away. I waited to see if they owners were coming for them, they showed up on the trail above us quite awhile after their dogs finally left us alone. I watched as these same dogs got into disagreements with two other sets of dogs that were on leashes. The exact rules in Chugach State Park are,

"Pets must be on leash at all campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots and trailheads, and under complete control (e.g. voice) in the backcountry."

While I understand that many feel that they can keep their dogs in line with voice commands, allowing your dog to be out of view in no way falls into the "being in control option" since if you can't see them you don't know what they are doing. Please, please, please get better control of your pups. I love dogs and if it was just me and my hubs and your dog was friendly on approach I probably wouldn't think much about it but when I am constantly having to prevent a canine conflict rather enjoy my walk it becomes a problem. You have no idea whether other dogs are good with your dogs, or whether there is a person who may be afraid of dogs. It is not alot to ask to keep control of your dog. If there are alot of people around please help  everyone have a good day by keeping your pups controlled, happy and safe so that we can all enjoy our time out and about.