Just happened to be going through some pre-Covid articles in the National Association of Interpretation’s Legacy magazine and I ran across one titled Sit, Stay, Conserve - helping dogs and their humans protect natural areas. Immediately I was intrigued!
I had just come back from walking in a favourite local natural area where I had encountered many “dog walkers.” I have never “owned” a dog but really like them and have dogsat for friends. On this occasion, there were several instances of dogs on leash and not on leash and they were all well -behaved, which is not always the case.
Courtesy Bill Reynolds
I have been accosted before, as in suffering an unwelcome and intrusive approach, by large dogs unleashed and by leashed large dogs, not under control by their owner. I have had to deal with loud and aggressive barking on the trail aimed in my direction. Even cute overexuberant dogs excited to jam their nose into my crotch has been experienced.
You may or may not have had to deal with similar situations, but we need to minimize these types of occurrences for everyone’s benefit. There are even many people on the dislike dog side of the spectrum who have a low tolerance for dog interactions. I have overheard them mention- “why don’t they go to the dog park.”
That’s why I was so interested to read about how they were attempting to attain all visitors with and without dogs enjoying together a “space of solace.” That’s one way the public engagement authors AJ Chlebnik and Charlotte Norville described an outcome. Full credit to them for some clever sub- headings like the one that follows and the one “pawsitive partnerships” I pilfered for the blog title.
It was the caring attitude approach versus enforcement techniques that caught my eye in the sub-heading: Who Helps the Dogs Out? {who-who-who-who}.
It is not just human -dog interactions but also stressful dog-dog negative interactions and dog-wildlife interactions, that we need to be concerned about and manage. Right? It is about reducing the impact dogs are having on the visitor experience, as well as on wildlife, and on ecosystem health! At the same time, it is about how we improve the nature experience for these ever - expanding number of visitors with dogs?
To a certain degree the existing approach has been dominated by a no dogs policy which amounts to banning these visitors, or a leash policy that is just waiting to be violated.
Courtesy Bill Reynolds Conversational rule awareness
What I have noticed over the last few years has been a significant increase in people visiting natural areas with their dogs. It appears that if you don’t have a dog, you don’t have a reason to go outside and reconnect with the natural cycles of life.
Dogs are the motivating influence we need to capitalize on. This article spoke to me about setting all visitors (even canine ones) on the proper path to issue resolution. What stood apart was this park’s understanding of behaviour training requirements and the proactive undertaking of its implementation.
They decided to embrace this visitor type. I am often surprised when I see a lone individual or “couple” or family WITHOUT a dog these days-they are the minority.
That is why the Legacy article leaped out at me, like a hyped-up, hormone-infused male dog. It was going to talk about co-existing with, not banishing dogs and their owners. Several times when I have talked to dog walkers, I am hearing people say that they would not be outside nearly as often if it was not because of their dog. This appears to be a growing phenomenon and if we want people to enjoy natural areas more and to want to protect them, then we better make their experience with fido and for others they meet, a good one.
The article by Public Engagement Specialists, AJ Chlebnik and Charlotte Norville working for Fort Collins, Colorado Natural Areas Department, explained about two programmes they implemented -one to reach visitors before they came to the park and one to reach them on the trail.
courtesy Bill Reynolds The stats & scare approach
Dog-related regulation offences are one of the most frequently ticketed offenses in their natural areas. They created four videos that can be accessed from the trailhead on a mobile device or from a home computer. Each video was created with a different purpose, and each was designed to avoid “leashed resistance.”
#1 Introduction to Natural Areas with your Dog: why your dog is welcome and the benefits for you both.
#2 Dog Regulations: what are they and why are they good for your dog and the Natural Area?
#3 Trail Tips: dog behaviours for a successful trail buddy.
#4 Trail Hazards: how to prepare for and avoid harmful situations
This Trail Savvy Dog series was produced by a local dog trainer with the purpose of aiding owners and their dogs to have better outdoor adventures together.
The second approach, inspired by the National Park Service, was titled the BARK ranger communication campaign where BARK stood for:
Bag & carry pet waste
Always wear a leash
Respect wildlife
Know where you can go
Bark rangers are trained and certified volunteers who with their dogs serve as ambassadors promoting stewardship ethics and act as good dog behaviour role models on the trails. Extra leashes, poop bags and Bark pledge stickers are carried and supplemented by periodic materials being available at trailhead tables.
Courtesy Bill Reynolds Dogbone dreams
The benefits of this pawsitive programme need to be extolled far and wide as these dog- based interactions I am convinced are only going to increase. A little awareness of the benefits of behaviour training using an accessible format can open the dog door for natural area stewardship and expanded interpretive opportunities.