3 Dog Park ProposalCITYOF
CHANHASSEN
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Park & Recreation Commission
FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director
DATE: August 4, 2004
SUB J:
Recommendation Concerning Dog Park Proposal at Minnewashta
Regional Park, Carver County Parks.
On July 27, 2004, representatives from Carver County Parks made a
presentation to the Park and Recreation Commission proposing the creation of a
dog park at Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen. A number of residents
were present at the meeting, all speaking in favor of the idea of a dog park.
Carver County Parks has identified a 15-20 acre site in the northeast quadrant of
the park as a "potential" location for an off-leash pet area. More detail
regarding this site is printed in the attached excerpt from the Lake Minnewashta
Regional Park Master Plan.
The County anticipates an initial investment of $40,000 would be necessary to
open the off-leash area. The County is suggesting that cities within the service
area of Minnewashta Regional Park partner with them by providing funds to
cover these start-up costs. Chanhassen Park and Recreation staff support these
types of partnerships and is of the opinion that this arrangement would be
beneficial to our residents.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend the
City Council include a $20,000 contribution in the city's 2005 Park and Trail
Capital Improvement Program to be used towards the creation and opening of an
off-leash dog park at Minnewashta Regional Park. This contribution to Carver
County Parks would be contingent upon the receipt and authorization by the
City Council of a joint powers agreement between Carver County and the City
of Chanhassen concerning the proposed dog park.
Attachments
c: Marry Walsh, Carver County Parks Director
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We would like to have a dog park in the
Excelsior/Chanhassen area
W,~: wouh:J like to have a dog park in the
I~>:,,:elsior'/,¢har~ha~ss,~n area
We woul(Jr lilke '1:o hove a dog pork in the
E:.x,ce, lsior/Chonhossen area
We would like 't'o h,aw; e dog perk in the
E?xcells[or./Cl'len~hassen area
We would like to have a dog park in the
Excelsior/Chanhassen area
Unacceptable Behavior for Dogs'
Anythi~3g~that makes another dog (or its
owner) fearful or anxious is unacceptable in
an Off-leash park. Says Nash: "Unacceptable
behavior is the behavior that another dog
owner is asking you to stop." Even if you
think your dog is playing well with another
ddg, thc other dog's owner may not be
comfortable with the level of play. If anoth-
er dog owner asks you to stop your dog's
behavior, stop the behavior!
conduct for people and
their pets at dog parks
ay
Charging--Running, full-bore, up roa dog
or perso~n as they enter the park.
Body~slamming~FulI-speed body-slam-
mtng inw another dog or a human being.
Predatory behavior--Defined as one dog
treating other dogs (or even a child) as prq,
chasing them and trying to bring shem down.
~rritorial behavior--Includes growlinX,
snapping, or barking incessantly in an
w ptay in the park. Do this at home before
you leave for the park and again in the
parking lot at the off-leash site.
Redirect your dog's unacceptable behavior
by calling it and walking away or by giving
it the command it does best (such as "sit')
and then reward it for doing something
right.' If Your dag pershts in unacceptable
behavior, take it home. yyou take it home
promptly when it misbehaves, your dog will
learn that it gets to stay at the park only if
it behaves.
]fa doggie exchange is heating up, squzr&,
the dogs' faces with a water boule, or throw
a jacket over the dogs. Never wade into the
Use the leash as a temporary control to
remove your dog j%m a tense situation or if
another owner asks you to remove your dog.
But do not normally leash your dog in an
off.leash area.
A long, lightweight line with a knot on the
end is/a training tooK if you insist on vhit-
ing a dog park without a reliable recall. Let
~he dog drag the line. Step on the line if the
dog runs 'away. The knot will keep the line
j~om slipping out,om und~r your foot.
Bring treats to hblp redirect Y°ur dog's
behavior (but dispense them away j%m
ober dogs arid wear them high on your
body).
If you are concerned about how another
dog is treating yours, speak up! You need to
say to the other owner "This isn't working.
Please call your dog away."
Misinterpretation of Dog Behavior
Some people misinterpret what's going on
in an off-leash area and become overanx-
ious. Trainer Christi Madison emphasizes
that you must look at each situation with
this question: What happens next? Does a
dog that seems to be getting the worst of it
in wrestling with another dog keep going
back to the same dog for more? If so, then
the play is probably fine.
l0
Behavior that May Be Acceptable at
Home but Not at the Dog Park
Some behaviors that are OK at home and
with other familiar dogs may be inadvis-
able, particularly in busy off-leash areas,
with unfamiliar dogs.
Super-noisy play Nosh says: '7 have two
Dogs that growl or snap at other dogs that
come too close or are too energetic are not
necessarily aggressive -- they are often cor-
recting a rude or persistent dog that has
come too close or is too playful for their
taste. Keep these dogs moving and keep
space between them.
Don't allow unattended children to go to
rJr-leash parks, ]f you see unescorted chil- ~
dren in an off-leash dog park, ask them to
leave and explain why.
Don't chase your dog when trying to recall
it. When you chase the dog, the dog thinks
it's a game. Instead, call the do, and then
tu~ around and move AWAY J~om the dog.
· Don't letyour dogger out of sight.
Don't call your dog only when it's time to go
home. And don't send mixed si~nah to your
dog. A dog owner may be saying, "Come,"
but his or her body language and voice are
Pinning and holding other dogs. Behavior
Analyst Linde Brodzik says, "My bull mas-
tiff is bred to pin and hold. I can control
him, but an off-leash park is just not the
place for that behavior."
Acceptable Behavior for Dogs
Acceptable play behavior in an off-leash
park includes wrestling (including wrestling
on hind legs), chasing, and pouncing.
Growling and mouthing can also be a part
Of dog play· However, all dog interactions
need to be closely supervised with an eye to
possible escalation or injury.
for Humans
Off-leash dog parks are for dogs and their
owners. Remind others who are using the~
Park in other, incompatible ways--biking,
jogging, Skating, skateboarding, skiing-7-to
take their actiViiies else~vhere because it
C0uM b~: d~g6r~us forthern and others.i
Other rules for hunians include:
Don't keep your dog on a leash in an ofi-
leash park unless ir's under temporary con-
tro/ to redirect its activities or to {ead your
dog out of the park.
Never ever drop off a dog and leave it at an
off-leash park to play.
3aylng, .... ~ · !?,~ ,3 .%;.: i
7m going to kdlye~iii~ ~' .-
Keep moving. The potential for rowdy and
offensive behavior escalates when dogs mill
around in one small area. Don't just plant
you,elfin one spot for the ~ire time.
If an incident happem' in an off-leash park,
"chill out. "Breathe slowly and use a calm
voice to your dog if the situation gets tense.
Don} scream. That just excites the dogs fur-
ther, As mentioned earli~ don't make it a
big deal to your dog or get overly sympathetic.
Off-leash areas are safe for the most part.
They can be made safer by b'e'ifi~ alert for
unacceptable behavior, knowing how to
halt it, and telling others how to keep their
dogs and themselves safe.
Phoenix, an Australian shepherd j%m the
Aussie rescue group, takes special care of
Ginny, a j%elance writer whose article on the
problems and ?~&la (dog ow,e,h~p w~ll be