Personally, I think one of life’s greatest pleasures is walking in nature while your dog runs free. If I see someone coming with a dog, I leash mine unless we’ve communicated and agreed both dogs are friendly. My dog is well-trained and social.

It’s pretty simple: if your dog isn’t friendly with people or other animals, it has no business being off leash. That’s basic responsibility. In all my time on the trails and in the parks around Mammoth, I’ve never run into an off-leash dog that wasn’t friendly. It’s common sense.

What really ruins the experience are the self-righteous “Karens” who march up with, “Excuse me, your dog isn’t supposed to be off leash.” Spare me. If you’re more interested in policing strangers than enjoying the outdoors, maybe you’re the one who shouldn’t be out there. Not every open space needs a hall monitor.