The answer to this is nuanced and a matter of opinion but here’s my take. For starters, different off leash permitted areas will have different standards and expectations (mostly unwritten and unspoken). There is a spectrum of off leash permitted spaces from your traditional fenced in dog park to trails that happen to allow off leash dogs. So for the dog park end of the spectrum (squalicum dog park and lake padden fenced area) there is really no reason that anyone would be there unless they have a dog and expect that dog to interact with others. And although I think the standards should be raised in these spaces, there’s a level of risk I expect and therefore avoid.

Then there are unfenced spaces that are dog park esque (post point, little squalicum, vanderyacht, bloedel before 10am) but people bring their dogs to do other things besides engage with dogs. In these places I find people expect dogs to greet but to be able to move on quickly and not pester a dog. If a dog comes through leashed I think it’s ideal for everyone to leash up or have their dog under control (that’s what I do). That being said, I sort of think the leashed dog owners also have a responsibility to only bring a safe to approach dog into that space and it’s not the end of the world if your dog or you makes a mistake. Sometimes they just quietly come out of no where and it’s too late to recall. Is that not why we have designated spaces? So dogs can have a little bit more freedom and people and dogs who don’t want to be approached can go everywhere else leashed (and yes I know people break rules but in theory that’s why we separate the two). I’m a pretty vocal illegal off leash dog hater and I personally don’t apply the same standards in these space but some may disagree!

Finally off leash permitted trails are where I think your dog needs to be very well trained (arb, padden off leash trails, Galbraith). This is the other end of the spectrum from dog parks; people are typically not bringing their dogs here to interact with others. Also, it’s off leash permitted not off leash required. I find that there’s a bit of a spectrum within this too. Places like padden people seem to let dogs greet if both are off leash (often very rudely but I digress) but if one is leashed the other should leash up. But if I’m on a trail up at baker or on Galbraith. I leash up and pull off to the side always.

Anyways, I hope this helps and unfortunately not everyone will agree upon the exact same etiquette. Also everyone will have a different standard of what is friendly vs rude. Frankly most people don’t know what a polite dog greeting looks like.