Specifically adreessing  big agresive dogs, I have notice over the years of riding in the Wiss, that a lot of Dog owners tend to be apathetic and laxidasical in their attitude of curbing their dogs when they are obviously startling other persons sharing the trail, which im sure most of us have experienced, its not the majority of dogs encountered.

 They think they know their dog won't bite, have already made the decision not to leash the feroucious dog, and therefore are ignorant to peoples natural reaction when the not so tame- four legged monster goes rushing up to riders approaching and attempting to move past the beast in a peaceful manner.  They know the dogs are a nussance, expecting the dogs to breifly trouble everyone the come accross on their walk, other peoples feelings are secondary to them(at most) to the breif freedom the dogs expeirence being unleashed in the woods, we are obsolete to the owners minds, and can't be acknowledge by the owner so they don't have to deal with the situation directly.  Essentially putting themselves as a innocent observer, rather than being courtious toward us riders, they belive that since dogs are on the trails, its our problem to deal with, not the dog owners.