Most dogs are relatively smart, and will generally not get in the way of cyclists. I wish I could say the same of people walking dogs.
In order of descending level of danger on cycle paths I'd say:
People with pushchairs and prams
People with dogs on leads
Small children
Dogs
I've met any number of pushchair and pram pushers who are wandering along oblivious to the world about them, talking on the phone, staring off into the direction opposite from where they are going etc
Dog walkers with extending leads are almost as bad.
Admittedly, you have to be careful of small dogs, especially in the autumn when a small brown stealth dog amongst lots of brown leaves can be a challenge to spot, but most of the time they aren't a big problem.
Cycle paths have to be treated like roads, or even more so, ie you assume that people and/or things are going to do the most stupidly dangerous thing that they can, and most of the time you'll be wrong, but occasionally it saves you, and other people from a world of hurt.
Hitting most digs isn't going to be a pain free event, they aren't always that small an object, and that's aside from the fact that I really don't want to injure an animal who has done nothing wrong, unlike all to often, it's owner.
