Normative Tolerances and Standards for Off Leash Dogs Jerry J. Vaske Maureen P. Donnelly Colorado State University

Study Context In response, OSMP implemented a Voice & Sight Tag program The presence of off leash dogs at OSMP created potential conflict situations This study applied an indicator / standards (norms) model to understand conflicts with off leash dogs

What is an Indicator? l Definition – Any measure that describes an experience l Examples  Dogs off trail  Dogs play chasing another dog  Owners repeatedly calling a dog  Owners not picking up after their dogs  Dogs flushing birds or causing wildlife to flee Indirect human-dog interactions  Dogs approaching a visitor uninvited  Dogs jumping on or sniffing or licking a visitor Direct human-dog interactions

The Role of Standards l Standards identify the conditions:  Desirable (e.g., Picking up after your dog)  Should not be exceeded (e.g., zero-tolerance for dogs chasing wildlife) l Objective  Link management objectives (type of experience to be provided)  To the indicators in quantitative terms

Linking Objectives to Indicators to Standards Mgmt Objective – Provide quality visitor experiences Indicator 1Dog flushes or causes wildlife to flee Standard 10% tolerance Indicator 2Owner repeatedly calls the dog Standard 2< 10% of visitors experience situation Indicator 3Dog makes physical contact with a visitor Standard 3< 5% of visitors experience situation Indicator 4Owners not picking up after their dog Standard 4< 10% of visitors experience situation

Structural Characteristics of Norms Number of Encounters Acceptability Intensity Acceptable range Concensus Norm curve Standard Deviation or Potential Conflict Index (PCI 2 )

Methods On-site Survey at Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks (OSMP) 951 completed surveys Response rate = 93%

Survey Questions Perceived problems with dog/owner behaviors Normative tolerances –Frequency of observing specific dog/owner behaviors –Acceptability of dog/owner behaviors –Maximum tolerances for dog/owner behaviors Dog ownership No:n = 431, 46% Yes:n = 509, 54%

Dogs sniffing visitor Social Norm curves: Direct human-dog interactions Very Acceptable Neither Very Unacceptable Acceptability Times Observed Dogs pawing visitor Dogs jumping on visitor Dogs licking visitor Dogs approaching uninvited

Social norm curves: Indirect human-dog interactions Very Acceptable Neither Very Unacceptable Acceptability Times Observed Dogs flushing birds Dogs causing wildlife to flee Owners repeatedly calling Owners not picking up Dogs off trail Dogs play chasing

Social Norm Consensus Direct Human-Dog Interaction Very Acceptable Neither Very Unacceptable Acceptability Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs Jumping Pawing Licking Approach Sniffing Visitor Visitor Visitor Uninvited Visitor Non-owners Dog owners 0.07

Social Norm Consensus Indirect Human-Dog Interaction Very Acceptable Neither Very Unacceptable Acceptability Owners Dogs Dogs Owners Dogs Dogs Not Causing Flushing Repeatedly Off Play Picking Wildlife Birds Calling Trail Chasing Up to Flee Non-owners Dog-owners

Personal Norm Tolerances Indirect human-dog interaction Owners not picking up50 Owners repeatedly calling28 Dogs off trail28 Dogs play chasing18 Dogs causing wildlife to flee17 Dogs flushing birds13 Direct human-dog interaction Dogs approaching uninvited35 Dogs sniffing visitor27 Dogs jumping on visitor27 Dogs licking visitor19 Dogs pawing visitor17 % of Time Personal Norm Exceeded

Summary of Key Findings l 9 of 11 indicators reflected “no tolerance” norms (i.e., should never occur) l A “single tolerance” norm was observed for: – dogs play chasing (exceeded 28%) – dogs off trail (exceeded 18%) l Statistical differences between: dog owners and non-owners were minimal l Most serious norm violations: – owners not picking up (exceeded 50%) – dogs approaching uninvited (exceeded 35%)

Recommendations l Given visitors’ “no tolerance” norms, management std. of: “no more than 0% of visitors should have their norms exceeded” could be recommended l BUT this mgmt std. not realistic given current conditions l Consistent with other OSMP standards, recommend: “no more than 10% of visitors should have their norms exceeded” l 10% mgmt. std. currently always exceeded BUT Voice & Sight Dog Tag Program is new

Questions