Yeah, I always use the poles like that too. It's the occasional mutt that gets testy about it and tries to get through the poles and to me that I'm talking about.
One time I walked past some people breaking camp. I heard a scream and turned just in time to see a mad looking dog running at me and about ready to launch. My poles don't have baskets on em, and I was fully ready to skewer the bitch. He stopped at the last minute. I swear I would've rammed my poles as far into him as possible. I love dogs at home; hate em in the mtns.