Normative Tolerances and Standards for Off Leash Dogs

Jerry J. VaskeMaureen 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? Definition – Any measure that describes an experience

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

Indirecthuman-doginteractions

Dogs approaching a visitor uninvited Dogs jumping on or

sniffing or licking a visitor

Directhuman-doginteractions

The Role of Standards Standards identify the conditions:

Desirable (e.g., Picking up after your dog)

Should not be exceeded (e.g., zero-tolerance for dogs chasing wildlife)

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 1 Dog flushes or causes wildlife to fleeStandard 1 0% tolerance

Indicator 2 Owner repeatedly calls the dogStandard 2 < 10% of visitors experience situation

Indicator 3 Dog makes physical contact with a visitor

Standard 3 < 5% of visitors experience situation

Indicator 4 Owners not picking up after their dogStandard 4 < 10% of visitors experience situation

Structural Characteristics of Norms

10 3 5 7 9 15 20 25 100

Number of Encounters

0

1

2

3

4

-1

-2

-3

-4

Acc

epta

bili

ty

Inte

nsi

ty

Acceptable range

Concensus

Norm curve

Standard Deviation orPotential Conflict Index (PCI2)

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 ownershipNo: n = 431, 46%Yes: n = 509, 54%

Dogs sniffing visitor

-2

-1

0

1

2

Social Norm curves: Direct human-dog interactions

VeryAcceptable

Neither

VeryUnacceptable

A

ccep

tabi

lity

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Times Observed

Dogs pawing visitor

Dogs jumping on visitor

Dogs licking visitor

Dogs approaching uninvited

Social norm curves:Indirect human-dog interactions

VeryAcceptable

Neither

VeryUnacceptable

A

ccep

tabi

lity

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Times Observed

Dogs flushing birds

Dogs causing wildlife to flee

Owners repeatedly calling

Owners not picking up

Dogs off trail

Dogs play chasing

-2

-1

0

1

2

Social Norm ConsensusDirect Human-Dog Interaction

VeryAcceptable

Neither

VeryUnacceptable

A

ccep

tabi

lity

Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs Jumping Pawing Licking Approach Sniffing Visitor Visitor Visitor Uninvited Visitor

Non-owners

0.18

0.27

0.380.33

0.50.39

0.3

0.18

0.23

-2

-1

0

1

2

Dog owners

0.07

0.09

0.210.24

0.38

0.54 0.43

0.12

0.35

0.41

0.2 0.19

0.26

-2

-1

0

1

2

Social Norm ConsensusIndirect Human-Dog Interaction

VeryAcceptable

Neither

VeryUnacceptable

A

ccep

tabi

lity

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 interactionOwners not picking up 50

Owners repeatedly calling 28

Dogs off trail 28

Dogs play chasing 18

Dogs causing wildlife to flee 17

Dogs flushing birds 13

Direct human-dog interaction

Dogs approaching uninvited 35

Dogs sniffing visitor 27

Dogs jumping on visitor 27

Dogs licking visitor 19

Dogs pawing visitor 17

% of TimePersonal Norm

Exceeded

Summary of Key Findings

9 of 11 indicators reflected “no tolerance” norms(i.e., should never occur)

A “single tolerance” norm was observed for:– dogs play chasing (exceeded 28%)– dogs off trail (exceeded 18%)

Statistical differences between:dog owners and non-owners were minimal

Most serious norm violations:– owners not picking up (exceeded 50%)

– dogs approaching uninvited (exceeded 35%)

Recommendations

Given visitors’ “no tolerance” norms, management std. of:“no more than 0% of visitors should have their norms exceeded”

could be recommended

BUT this mgmt std. not realistic given current conditions

Consistent with other OSMP standards, recommend:“no more than 10% of visitors should

have their norms exceeded”

10% mgmt. std. currently always exceededBUT Voice & Sight Dog Tag Program is new

Questions