XXX Racing is sponsoring the Lincoln Park Criterium this Sunday. The race will take place on the loop in front of the Dog Beach between Wilson and Lawrence, and will run from 8 am until 5 pm. The Dog Beach will be open during the event, but there will be no parking by the beach or along the race path.

This race will be a little different than what we're used too. It is a speed and endurance race, and will last all day. It's vital for the safety of the dogs and riders that all dogs be kept on leash in the race area

Visit the XXX Racing site for aMore info.

http://www.xxxracing.org/index.php?/pages/lincolnparkcriterium/

There have been some inquires about how to send Audrey a donation to help cover Willy's vet bills. Here's a link to her paypal account.

The Dog Beach is open year round, during all regular Chicago Park District hours.

The Survey results are finally tabulated. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Click here to see Survey Results.

Here's the bulk of the comments from the end of the survey. There were a lot of  great suggestions and comments that deserve responses so we'll try and address the common themes in seperate pages. Thanks again to everyone who participated!

I think the Mondog volunteers are awesome and fabulous.

A cafe is not needed and a waste of time, resources and parking.

It would be great to have the area more partioned off for dogs of different sizes.  The place is almost too big for me to keep control of both of my dogs.  I had to start rotating them off the leash while I was there.

I loved mondog during my 4 years in the city.  When I relocated this winter, having a similar exercise venue was paramount for me and my pet.

One of my dogs likes to swim far out into the lake, then swim south, past the DFA area.  I would pay to have someone help me retrieve him from Montrose Harbor walkway.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Can we have some organized Ironman" swims for the dogs?  I'm serious.  Maybe for charity."

Thanks, Mondog volunteers!

In terms of the smaller dogs, they should be encouraged to go to Foster Beach.

I would like to see more attention to no pooping in the water.  So many dogs do it & it is not uncommon to poop floating in the shallow water.  We need to make it uncool" to let your dog do this."

My Border Collie and I LOVE Mondog and drive in from Berwyn once a week (Sat or Sun early morning) since we found out about Mondog at Bark in the Park 6 years ago. We'll be the ones playing frisbee....Thank you Mondog!!!! Chuck Martin and Cap

Idgie and I love the dog beach! Don't get there much in winter, but take full advantage in nice weather. I prefer to go in early morning because the dog owners are much more responsible. The later it gets, the less attention some owners pay to their dogs. Seems to be social hour. You do a wonderful job of keeping up the dog beach. Thank you!!

There is another option of a dog beach down the street which is smaller.  We actually frequented that beach more this year becuase it had less people

You all do a great job!

We have been going to the beach for 6 years. It is the only thing my dog, Sophie looks forward to having 3 small kids in the house. It is our one on one time with her and we love it!

I think you need more patrolling of DFA tags.  I do not live in the city but was able to get the tags for my dog.  Others should do the same no matter where they live.  It's only fair!!

Some of the dogs are not socialized as in all dog parks - ignorant owners think it is funny when their dog displays dominant behaviors.  I would like to see a park monitor there that has the authority to throw someone out and who knows and understands how dogs show dominant tendencies.  It would be nice to report this to someone before the dog actually starts a fight.  I would love to use the beach more often but I am in the south suburbs so it is a haul to get there and back.  ALso, if you provide drinks - maybe some restrooms would be nice.  Ones that are big enough to take your dog in with you since I usually am there alone with my pal I don't dare drink anything because I have nobody to leave him with to use a restroom.

Train the owners

Why would a cafe have to be in the parking lot?  I think you are doing a great job.  This is my favorite place in the city!"

The DFA dog tags should be mandatory, and checked upon arrival at the beach.  Let's make our beach safe for friendly dogs and owners.

If the dog beach becomes too restrictive, people will just take their dogs elsewhere.

If this is a dog beach, I am concerned with people that are bringing small children to this beach. It is very dangerous and I think they should be asked to move to the other side of the fence, and NOT the dog beach. It makes me very nervous when small children are around these playful dogs.

I think the cafe is a disaster waiting to happen. You need to focus on keeping the beach SAFE and CLEAN (and fixing the fence!), not giving people a place to buy more overpriced coffee, which they will then throw on the beach. Plus, we need those parking spaces, and the entrance should be a safe place for dogs, not a place for people to hang out eating sandwiches. People are already too distracted when they are supposed to be watching their dogs! PLEASE do not go forward with the cafe.

"There should be some type of enforcement to make sure that the dogs that play at the beach have their rabies shot and DFA tag. 

I think that there should be some type of black book or some way to ban voilent dogs and their owners.  Either by having thier picture posted or the police called on them.  "

Aggresive dogs should not be allowed at the beach and the owners should be aware of their dogs and their behavior, it's as simple as that.

Keep up the good work, thanks for the opportunity to say something.

My only comment has to do with the unsupervised, aggrssive dogs that are not socialized.  It has become more common since I started taking my lab to the beach 3 years ago.

We LOVE going to the dog beach in the summer - it's one of our favorite places in the city! Keep up the great work!!

I think a small dog area would be a good idea. My dogs are large and though very friendly with other dogs, can intimidate little ones, just because tt's hard to stop them sometimes from greeting" little ones. I think it would make small dog owners much happier."

"area for small dogs---maybe, probably.

Additional Question---have I donated to MonDog. Ans: No, I am bad. Easy to keep putting it off. Meet me at the front gate and let me use my credit care. (sorry) Huntington has rule handouts designated for first time visitors; rules walking dog to water's edge for first visit to show that others dogs are friending and note that dogs who go to the dog beach live longer, one Flagstaff dog park asks for no dog treats; last summer at Montrose, 2 buses filled w/ dogs and owners were dropped off (from Schaumburg---some group's annual trip to Montrose...); most had water fountains for people and dogs. Separated area for small dogs in Pasadena was very peaceful. Based on my road trip, Montrose Dog Beach is a gem and somehow if many visitors realized that they may treat it as such."

That's an interesting idea. Thanks for the great work you all do. My cocker spaniel doesn't like the water but my former rescue loved the water and we were there often. I think it is very important that you maintain the beach. I did worry about the aggressive dogs, especially as the beach became more busy, and children started to come, children who were smaller than some of the rambunctious big dogs.

I think the small-dog-only area is a must. I have large dogs, and I'm often made to feel self-conscious by their owners. Also, aside form a potential patio as part of the cafe, there seems to be a need for a section of the beach for folks who want to sit and spectate, w/o the danger of getting their food sniffed for or belongings peed on. Either that, or a strict no-picnicing rule should be enforced.

If you are going to a dog friendly area your dog must either be socialized or become socialized. I have a 120 lb dog and a 20 lb dog. Where am I supposed to go if you try and cordon off an area for smaller dogs? What will the consequences be for an animal 'crossing the lines'. The problem is un educated dog owners, and having to coddle the ones who treat their animals like they deserve more than anyone else.

"With the increased usage/popularity comes an increase in general lack of common sense.  This includes, but isn't limited to: people who picnic at the dog beach, tiny dog owners who don't pay attention to the fact their dog looks like a squeaky toy, an increase in un-neutered male dogs that cause problems, and just people who don't understand dog behavior in general (dogs ARE going to take toys from other dogs).  Unfortunately we can't legislate common sense.

You don't see a lot of this during the winter months when its just the hard core users.  But warm weather brings out the clueless.  I've gotten to the point where I stop taking my dog to the beach during the summer months except maybe in the later evening hours b/c I can't stand the crowds and overall stupidity of the people who are there. 

I don't think we need a small dog"" area.  Small dog owners need to watch their dogs and police their behavior just like big dog owners.  If they want a smaller beach experience, there is Foster or  Belmont Harbor.  """

I would definitely be willing to pay a fee in order to fund someone checking tags. Large aggressive breeds should not be allowed on the beach.

I don't come to the Beach much with my Dog due to him not liking the wavy water, but I think this is a good idea !!!!!!!!

Enforcing the DFA tags is also an issue that could be alleviated if you charge a yearly fee for use and must show proof of these city-regulated tags.

i have a big-ish dog but think the little dogs should have their own space... seems like they take the brunt of abuse.

I wish there was a guard on duty for non-DFA tags. Why should only some people pay and not others. Yet their dogs are the ones causing the problems. There is also a problem of owners not being able to control their dogs.

I'm so happy to have the beach.  My dog would go crazy without it.

I love the beach but on the weekend its full of poorly trained dogs or people who take their badly behaved dogs out for some much needed exercise.  Stronger enforcement and regulation should be required. 

My primary issue w/ the dog beach is that it isn't fully & completely & securely enclosed.  I don't feel comfortable taking my dogs off leash there because it's a high traffic area &there are many ways to escape.  I won't use the dog beach at all unless this is remedied.

Regarding small/less active dog area, unless it has no water access, it seems very difficult to prevent other dogs from entering. People with less-rambunctious dogs already self-segregate to the north end of the beach. I'm not sure quite how you'd enforce this.

Not sure what could be done, but after 3 years of attending the beach, my dog and a friends dog (both at the beach that week) got horrible bacterial infections.. anyway to keep it cleaner?

Normally I would not suggest or support a separate area for small dogs but an increased number of dog owners are not taking responsibility or looking out for their dogs behavior. This puts all dogs and owners at risk but small dogs are more likely to be killed or seriously wounded by a large aggressive dog. The beach has become an area where I no longer feel safe taking my dog to run and play. Unfortunately we have been going much less frequently than we used to because of this. I don't believe enforcing the purchase of DFA tags is going to change the behavior of people who bring dogs with anti social behavior to the beach. If people have to pay to use the space and that money is used to supervise the area at peak hours we may see less of the people who currently abuse the use of the beach and those owners who allow dogs with anti social behaviors to run the beach. I sincerely hope you are able to develop a solution to the current problems so the beach can be a place we can go to have fun.

A small dog area is critical! New owners do not always know how to care for their dogs/puppies do not realize how active they need to be in caring for their dogs in this open area.

There are no dog problems only people problems. People problems come with living in the big city. If can't legislate away stupidity.

I thoroughly enjoy the dog beach and am impressed how (most) people are very courteous and conscientious.

I would love to see some more regulations put in place.  I think it has got out of control especially on the weekends.  Just because your dogs are free to roam does not mean the owners are free to take a nap on the beach.  Owners need to stay with their dogs.  I avoid the beach on the weekends because if the regular beach is crowded then people move to the dog beach and set up camp.  This increases the population on the dog beach and makes it more difficult for our dogs to run around.  These people usually have food with them and it is hard to keep dogs away.  I would love to see something put in place where it is DOG BEACH ONLY! There are plenty of beaches in the city that these people can go too.

We have a problem of litter and dog owners dumping ediables on the sand because they their belife is that the dogs will eat.  I hate this and it's annoying as well.  thank you, Rick/Navada

I think it would be a really cool idea to have a little flea market in parking lot every 1st Saturday. Charge people for spaces. Have it it the morning and out by 12. Could make some good needed cash!

Last year it seemed like it was easier for dogs to get around the fences.  Is there any way to expand them on both the north and west side?  Maybe my dog is just more crafty than when she was a pup but I have seen other dogs get around the fencing on both sides and I worry for their safety. 

Dog beach needs work on the fences after all the snow and ice.  Like everything, the beach is becoming so popular it is having issues. Having enforcement of the rules is always a good thing.  I would buy a tag if it was offered at the MonDog cafe and I would even pay a premium as part of a MonDog owners package.  Such as a contribution to MonDog or if it were part of the fee to be a MonDog member. Just a convenience thing. I do not have one because I do not use a vet in the city.

I'm feeling rather badly because I found a job and am sad that I won't be able to bring Max to the beach this summer. I would not go on the weekend because of the crowd and the number of people that don't watch their dogs. I just started working after 2 plus years without a job and my biggest concern is not being able to bring my dog to the beach. Sounds crazy - right? He loves it and I love seeing him have such a good time - we'll both miss it a lot.

Comment to #14.. most all dogs of all sizes and breeds seem to get along.. but if an owner if a small dog wants to have a designated area I would support that. (My dog park by my house has a separate small dog area.. some play on both sides some stay on the small dog side.

on #14, it probably isn't a bad idea to have a restricted area for small (minded) and less tolerant OWNERS. they can take their dogs there and the rest of us don't need to hear them whine. at least most of us roll our eyes at them :)

People with small children should not be on dog beach!!! Garbage cans should be on beach not just at entry.  

thank you for this survey we love the dog beach it is the only place where a dog can be dog and have fun and enjoy the weather

I wish the fencing could be improved at the water's edge on the righthand side (when facing the lake). 
With regard to a small dog area, I think maybe owners of small dogs, or dogs who otherwise feel uncomfortable with the active environment at Mondog should go to the Belmont Harbor beach instead, or Foster (but I've never been there so unsure if it would be appropriate).

Extend the fence line in the water out further so dogs cannot run around it and run away.

i and my dog LOVE dog beach.  we are very lucky to have such a nice recreational area to play in.  i love playing with the other dogs and my dog gets to burn energy and make friends at the same time.
The Beach is for everyone!

Thank you!

Love the beach, and all the work you all do.  It is a very special place and one of my favorite parts of the city.  Thanks for everything.....especially you Beth Smith.

a bathroom near the beach would be great

The fencing needs to go all the way into the water until it's decently deep... as it is now the dogs can just walk right out if they want to.

I would whole-heartedly support a cordoned off area for smaller dogs. The larger dogs are certainly good-natured for the most part but they can't help but trample the smaller ones.  I would come much more often and hang out longer if I didn't have to watch over my dog so closely to make sure that he is not run over.

This beach is amazing and well kept.  I also enjoyed the hotline which you can call/text to see if there are any warnings for bacteria. 

Summer water contamination signs would be GREAT. I subscribe to the park district Facebook feed but there isn't signage that warns of a potential issue. Also an issue that requires more volunteer help!

We love the dog beach! I wish there was a small area to rinse dogs off though...even just a hose!

Would love an area for small dogs. The beach is so big--it seems like this is a no brainer! Please, please set up a small dog area!!

Having Mondog is a privilege and more people need to help out with the beach clean-ups. What if there were Volunteer Dog Handlers, keeping an eye out for the bad owners? Dog scuffles happen but when the same dogs keep getting in bad fights, that's a problem too. Thanks for all of your hard work.

I love the dog beach! The one thing that I would really like to have is some sort of wash area for the furry friends. Sometimes with all the sand and water they get a little messy. It for sure does not stop me from enjoying the beach!!

I have bought a beach tag for my dog every year and have never been asked for it...

We are new to the dog beach since Nov. 2010.  Who maintains the area? is there a Spring cleanup day?  We would be happy to participate. Maybe the DFA tagging should be enforced.

With more people using the beach, you are going to have more incidents.  The biggest issue is people who come to the beach to socialize and not interact with their dogs.  As a result," their dogs are not being supervised and are more prone to get into trouble.  I also think it would be wise to prohibit intact males from using the beach."

my bigger concern is some of the dog owners that are there(specifically in the summer) abusing there dogs.   I have seen people whip their dog with a leash, hit their dogs, have choke chains on there dogs and not let the dog off the leash etc.   People who are going to treat their dog like that should not be allowed at the park.

I miss going to the dog beach.  I enjoyed seeing my dogs play and explore but I don't see how requiring an additional permit prevents disease or aggression.  Bad dog owners are everywhere and that is usually the root of these problems.  When I hear about an increase in aggressive dogs I am almost glad that I cannot afford to bring my dogs to the dog beach.

Please install some benches/ places to sit down. 

I'm afraid a small dog area would lessen the huge space which is the best part of the beach. If dog owners would go all the way to the north end of the beach, there are hardly any dogs there. 

I love the dog beach, but I have 2 small dogs and I worry about their safety. I only go about 3 times a year during the summer months. I mostly attend supervised small dog playtimes. I would be much more inclined to go if there were a small dog area and I would be happy to pay a small fee to use it.

Pity to break-up the area, but it might be good for smaller, shy or older dogs.

Please keep people out of the water!

Overall I think Mondog is a great place to go. Very few other metropolitan cities can claim to have such a nice beach. It's a pity that a relatively small group of irresponsible dog owners have to ruin it for the rest of us...

Bottom line it boils down to the safety & security for the dogs. I've stated this many times that people need to know who is in charge & that the rules are enforced. Peer pressure works only when there are enough peers around to make it work. The presence of staff is required during the summer months. Especially the weekends. The Park District need to empty the trash cans more often in the summer.  The south fence needs repair & extended. The north fence needs to be extended. Maybe hold some sort of a benefit at a dog friendly establishment to help raise funds for these and other improvements.

This is such a great feature of the city and I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into maintaining such an incredible space.

small and less active dogs have lots of other parks to go to, montrose dog beach is one of the few large area parks where big dogs can really run around.

It would be great to have showers and hoses to not only wash off the dogs but ourselves.  Many people I have talked to agree.

I believe there should be a per person limit on the amount of dogs. Most issues of aggression i have seen are from dog walkers with multiple dogs and unable to control them

I love the idea of a smaller dog area.  My dog is 14 pounds and does love to play with all sized dogs, but I don't feel like I can count on owners keeping an active watch on aggressive larger dogs at the beach.  I would probably go more frequently if there was an area designated for smaller pups.

I love the dog beach its great free fun. I really wish you could put a fence so the dogs don't run on to the people portion of the beach. I saw so many people getting yellied at for that ast year & life guards going off on people because their dogs ran off to the other side. A fence would be GREAT!

Keep up the great work, MonDog!

I love the dog beach!  I want it to stay safe and dog friendly for us to use.  I think the cafe could be a big problem and takes the focus away from the main purpose and benefit of having  a dog beach.  There are dog friendly cafes elsewhere! 

After a few visits to the dog beach, our dog experienced diarrhea.  Does the park district test for high level of bacteria in the water? 

I have had very positive experiences at the beach for the most part.  Most people and dogs are friendly and obey the rules.  One concern I have is at the south end of the park.  The fence does not seem that secure.  The other concern I have is people who do not keep a close eye on their dog.

No cafe. One more step toward pushing the dogs out

Please provide a separate area for small or less active dogs. My dog is small and is always chased out of the dog park by the big, scary, aggressive, untrained, disobedient dogs. We no longer go to the beach b/c of these dogs. We use the smaller dog beach on Foster beach b/c the dogs are much better behaved.

"We love the dog beach and use it fairly often. We try to go at times we think it may not be too crowded.

My one criticism:  We've encountered a  number of dog owners who use the dog beach and the other dogs there as their personal dog sitter"".  They seem to let their dogs off leash and check out. On several occasions we've encountered dogs who were pushy and a pestering to my dog who wasn't interested in playing with them and their owner was no where to be found."""

This should just be a dog beach for owners to bring their dog. Owners should have control over their dog(s). We don't need cafe's to increase foot traffic and attract people that don't have dogs.

I think the beach is great the way it is!
s
mall dogs are the most active and most aggressive!

I believe a cafe near the DFA is a terrible idea and brings in the wrong kinds of activity and garbage that respectful DFA patrons do nit appreciate.

Small dog areas are great however it should be a plays like" small dog as some small dogs are too much. "

I love the dog beach and understand its efforts in preserving the beach and protecting the responsible individuals using it.  I just hope you understand that issuing rigid and restrictive measures to control the envirnoment contradicts the actually nature of freedom that we dog owners want to provide for our dogs.  We want them to be able to run around free to socialize and be with their kind.  I worry how this survey instills fear to sway our opinion for a more policed environment. 

We love the dog beach just as it is. Thanks for your efforts!

As a suggestion, perhaps a much larger sign could be posted at the bigger gate (opening onto the beach) that states rules - especially picking up poop, not having food on the beach, and removing  your pet at the first signs of ANY over aggressive play or behavior. Maybe developing a system for reporting aggressive dog (or owner) behavior. I would support paying a reasonable annual fee($25-$50)for the use of the dog beach - perhaps with a Mondog dog tag to enter. Although the idea of a cafe seems kind of nice, it would add to the parking lot congestion in the summer and I fear more people will take food onto the beach. Food on the beach is one of my biggest complaints since I have a lab and he is fixated on any type of food. 

An area of smaller dogs would be great. Some of the larger dogs like labs run and chase after objects so fast, they trample smaller animals. The beach is a great place for active, water loving dogs but it would be nice to have a safe zone" for the less active and smaller dogs. "

I think the cafe is a terrible idea.  There is another cafe walking distance from the dog beach.  This will bring traffic to already overused area.  The focus should be on great ideas like paying an annual fee for use that could in turn be used for enforcement of the beach rules and to make sure the dog beach that we are lucky enough to have stays safe and fun for all users.

In regards to question 14, please see my comment on question 11.  I would gladly pay a fee if the small or less active dogs had their own area!

The fences that go into the water on either side need to be stronger, higher and go out further.

In the list of dog etiquette rules, please remind owners that if they go to the dog beach, expect other dogs to try to socialize with their dog (duh!). We have encountered a few dog owners who don't want other dogs approaching their dog! 

Please please PLEASE help us get a designated area for smaller/less active dogs! Mondog is really too crowded with large dogs that can accidentally harm smaller/older dogs. Those of us with little guys would really like to be able to make use of the lakefront too!

People need to understand that this is a DOG beach, not a beach to lay out on your towel with your snacks, chairs, etc.  I have encountered one two many people who get annoyed or angry when a dog invades their" space or eats their treats/marks their territory, etc.

The fences need to be fixed.  I'd be happy to pay a fee for use if the beach was better kept.

GREAT THING,. WISH THERE WERE MORE DOG PARKS
Thanks!

I love the beach -- I wish more ppl pi picked up after themselves and dogs

its a great place-could use a restroom

My dog is small and does OK with all dogs.  But, some small dogs are frightened by bigger dogs. 

Would be nice to have that option.

I love this place!

I really enjoy my time at the park. Recently, I was really impressed with the improvements regarding the fence, cleanliness, dog bags & signage
 
I am stongly advocating for safety, and an area for smaller dogs or less active dogs is necessary for that.

The best part of the experience is all the great dogs and dog people we've met there! We have made it a point to not to go on weekend afternoons, when it's the most crowded, in order to avoid random people with poorly behaved dogs. We do usually stop and get coffee on our way, so I think the cafe would be a nice addition, as long as it's proprietor manages it properly.

Many thanks for the work you all do! It could also be a time of day for smaller larger dogs rather than designated area - Monday nights are small dogs or something...

this is the best place to take a dog in chicago. thanks for keeping it in shape and also redesigning the web site. it's also a good place to educate bad dog owners on how to be more courteous to others. the dog owners in my neighborhood never pick up their dog poo!!!

Once again, I must say that people need to ALWAYS be within sight and in control of their dogs. Even a mellow, mild mannered Lab like mine has gotten testy with another dog.  Who knows what sets them off?  Keeping your dog under close eye and being able to control them if they do get aggressive will of the utmost importance.  Maybe there'll be fewer dogs taking a shit in the lake as well.  PS: as to my response in #14, there's plenty of aggressive small dogs!  

Sanitation issues need to be addressed at MonDog.  Our dog has twice gotten giardia from the lake water (giardia is typically spread through fecal material in water (i.e. water-pooping")) with vet bills totaling over $3000.  This issue seems even more timely if you plan on introducing a food stand. "

"NO babies/little kids.....

it is a DOG beach.. not a kid beach!!!!"

"This survey should not lead to immediate decisions.  Rather, you should convene a public meeting to discuss further the above issues.  But, yes, action needs to be taken to make MonDog a safe and enjoyable environment for dogs and people alike.  I would gladly participate: especially in regards to actively enforcing DFA rules, such as checking for tags, asking individuals to pick-up their dog's poop, policing aggressive dogs (from my experience, many of those aggro canines are in-tact males).

Thanks, John"

An area designated for small and less active dogs is a wonderful idea and would probably be a great way to lessen the incidents of dogs being hurt and/or attacked since oftentimes these occurrences happen between larger and smaller dogs.

Another idea - a designated area for dogs that just want to play with their toys and not other dogs.  I have an aussie shephard who needs the space at the beach to exercise, but is always being messed with by other dogs.  She ignores them, but it is still very frustrating.  My other major issue - cleanliness.  My dog has gotten several infections (giardia, etc) after being at mondog.  I don't bring her here anymore because of this.  I watched one dog poop in the lake every morning for weeks while the owner did nothing.

"My biggest concern is that the dog beach area isn't entirely closed in.  The fencing needs to extend further into the water, and the double-gate system needs to be updated to automatically close.  There have been several incidents of dogs running through the gate or around the fence in the water.  Please.

I am willing to pay upward of $1000 per year for my dogs to use the beach.  I think it's an amazing area, but I really want to see the upkeep of this space taken seriously, with the first focus being the safety of all the pets and people.  I am more than willing to put my money where my mouth is -- are you guys willing to step up for it?"

designated area": owners CAN keep track of thier dogs, less active or small. Fencing in another areaand mixing small dogs AND less active does not ensure safety. Small dogs are normally just as active as other dogs so putting them w/older dogs would not benifit the older dogs. Bad Idea. Cafe: No Way! Why distract from the dogs and take up precious parking space. I can only see this as added TRASH, more fees and a WASTE of parking space. We have al been well bringing our own coffee and keeping food OUT of the dog areas. The sumer traffic is conjested enough..please do not support the "cafe" idea. Shaded areas added to the actual beach i would prefer. "

Most parents will not bring their children into a bad neighborhood if they could help it. Bottom line, we have to keep our neighborhood up and respected.

A bathroom for people and a shower area to hose down the dogs would be useful. It's annoying having to deal with sand in the car and having to leave because I have to go potty.

There really needs to be enforcement similar to Skokie Park. 

My dog was not attacked, but my friend's dog was attacked very badly with stitches needed. I love the dog beach, but have been very afraid to go with my dog now.

The problem is not the size of the dogs it is the fact that people bring dogs that are aggressive. It would be nice if there were an effort to discourage people from bringing aggressive dogs to the beach and some way to ban them once they attacked another dog.

We dont need to segregate dogs by size.  Many large dogs are docile nad well behaved.  The beach needs people to use cell phones and have witnessess to go after scofflaws.  Also owners should have MONDOG memebership ID on a lanyard so that we can tell who should and should not be there.

This will increase maintenance costs.  Not needed.

My one criticism:  We've encountered a  number of dog owners who use the dog beach and the other dogs there as their personal dog sitter.  They seem to let their dogs off leash and check out. On several occasions we've encountered dogs who were pushy and a pestering to my dog who wasn't interested in playing with them and their owner was no where to be found

"Other " comments from the survey

A certain percentage of dogs are aggressive because of poor training or intentional training. More dogs overall means more aggressive dogs. Learn to identify the problem before it starts and leave the area.

THe majority of dog/dog owners are pretty well behaved. There have been incidents where the owners are more the cause than the dog. I know there have been issues with dogs, but  I've been fortunate to not have been at the beach during those times.

Don't know

There are sometimes dog owners who don't watch their dogs at all and are irresponsible.
I've never seen anything happen but have heard on more than one occassion that is has been a problem there.

i have heard and read about them online.  my dog was attacked at a suburban dog park about 5 years ago.  it was terrible and I no longer take him there.  I am very careful at the beach and keep him on a 30 foot lead so that i can always be right there.  if it ever comes to where I feel unsafe I will no go to the beach anymore.   Ignorant owners ruin it for everyone.

Not in the early or late morning. There was a tension in the hair regarding normal, but rougher" dog interaction that I did not see at the other parks I visited."

i have not witnessed any aggression

I think these are more on weekends when there are more dogs--sometimes I think too many dogs for the space

Occasionally, and it think it IS a problem.

I've seen days when everyone's gotten along, and days when I've seen several fights.

Not a big problem, just concerned bc i have a small dog

I wasn't at the beach this past year. Also, one of my dogs can become aggressive if provoked- so I think often fights stem from inappropriate behavior from the non-aggressive" dog. Ettiquitte means your dog does not run up on, steal toys repeatedly from, etc. Let's be honest about what "causes" skirmishes. "

I feel like it is mainly in summer when it's newcomers and more than just the regular folks.

I avoid going during peak times and we choose to not be near all the other dogs.  Owners not being near their dogs and not paying attention is a huge problem

I hear rumors, the worst.
I just started going over the past few weeks

I have not been aware of this

I haven't seen this, personally

doesn't happen often but when it does it is extremely serious and dangerous for smaller dogs

not here enough to know

Dog's parents should look for the signs and beware of their child issues. I was not there in 2010 personally but there should be a trail of abuse. Also some dogs with toys and food do not play well. Parent up when you know this is case.

I do not visit enough to notice but I have heard stories. I heard that a dog was killed because of a fight.I am concerned for the safety of the dogs but i am also concerned that too much policing will discourage people from coming.

I do not know.

It's not the fault of the dogs - the owners need to be more careful.

No more than other DFAs the same size.

When reviewing the comments as a whole it's apparent there is a general misconception of how the Dog Beach works so we'd like to start off with a short refresher, or DFA 101.

First off, Montrose Beach is on Chicago Park District (CPD) property. It is regulated and maintained by the CPD, not the City of Chicago, but like Chicago has to abide by Cook County laws, the Park District has to follow both City and County regulations, as well as having it's own set of rules, and it's own governing board.

Funding for the Park District comes from a variety of public and private sources including, but not limited to, Cook County Property Taxes. Tax revenues are down everywhere, and the Park is hurting for money. The direct effect of that can be seen in the cut back of Life Guards, shortening summer swimming hours, and cut backs on trash pickup including eliminating weekend pickups. Additionally the CPD is no longer provide matching funds for Dog Park construction or improvement projects.

Montrose Dog Beach is an official Chicago Park District DFA (Dog Friendly Area). Mondog is the community advisory group that organized and petitioned for the beach's DFA status. Dog Beach patrons have to follow Park District rules which are located on the big green signs at the entrances of all DFA’s. These rules are enforceable by Park District Security, and to some extent Chicago Animal Control. Park District Security is a mythical department with a secret phone number and they never seems to come when you call them, but we are told over and over to call them if there are problems.

We also have a DFA tag rule that was instituted by Cook County Animal Care and Control (CCACC). It requires CPD to maintain a DFA Tag system to prove dogs are immunized. The CPD gets the money from the 5$ tag fee which mostly covers the cost of producing and administering the tags. As far as we are aware,  none of that money goes back into the DFA’s in any discernible amount. Currently Cook County Animal Care and Control are the only ones who can enforce and ticket for not having a DFA tag. It’s been several years since CCAC has shown any interest in enforcing their tag rule, and because of their budget problems there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different.

The Chicago Police Dept. tend to enforce rules that overlap City laws, like being off leash outside the DFA, people fights, not cleaning up poop, etc. Unfortunately dog fights in a DFA are usually seen as subjective, dog are property under the law, and dog parks are "use at your own risk" so calling the police often does not give the desired results. They usually don't ticket for anything unless there have been complaints.

The CPD is in the business of providing recreation opportunities for all Chicagoans. They strive to make the Parks as accessible to everyone as possible. Mondog is not permitted to make rules that specifically exclude people beyond what's in the rules already. We can't ban children. We can't ban intact male dogs or specific breeds. We can't ban "stupid" people. What we can do is make safety rules that apply to our special circumstances, like no food on the beach, and no pooping in the water.

The CPD Life Guards are on the beaches during the summer swimming season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They are charged with keeping people safe and enforcing general beach rules. It is unreasonable to expect them to anything more than that. They are not trained to deal with dogs, nor do they have the power to enforce any DFA rules.

Last but not least, the fence. The same CCACC ordinance that makes us buy dog tags also forced the CPD to fence in the Dog Beach. Mondog agreed to pay half the cost of the fence to keep the Dog Beach open. We have been fortunate in that the CPD has graciously continued to extend and maintain the fences as we continue to collect donations to pay down our financial obligation that resulted from fencing in Montrose Dog beach. There is no financial incentive for CPD to keep our fences in tip top shape, and they are in no hurry. This work is done by the CPD's maintenance and trades department. We report it to them and get put on the repair list. Spring fence work is typically done in May before the swim season starts. We expect that to be the same this year. Mondog does minor repairs to the gates. We can't fix major fence damage like what occurred this winter. We will not support running the fence further into the lake because of safety issues, water quality, and the constant maintenance it would require.
Watch your dogs, train your dogs, or go somewhere else.

 Have you and your dog had any problems with overly aggressive dogs or has your dog been attacked in the last 2 years?  Please Explain.

In addition to these comments there were 89 "No" responses, and 9 "yes" responses.

No, cause I quit taking my dog there everyday

Couple of close calls where I packed up and left.

No, but it seemed every week there would be an aggressive dog whose owner was not paying attention to their dog.  But as a whole I was always pleased with my experiences.

Yes. Only because an idiot dog owner brought food on the beach.

Not by dogs.  

There was a pit with a muzzle running around once. He pinned a dog even though muzzled.  We turned around & left & I called 911.

Never but have seen brief scuffles with other dogs.We have more trouble with holes dug by dogs. We try to fill in if smaller. visited the vet for xrays

I find the later in the day, the more aggressive the dogs are. There is one dog that grabs my dogs neck and doesn't let go. When I confronted owner he thought is was fine, just the way his dog plays.

no.  again i try to go during times this wouldn't be happening.

No but I make sure to stay at the far north end with med small dogs

None. I heard about an incident from others.

once, not bad. As long as the tag is enforced I think there wouldn't be such a problem

No, thankfully!

i've had to speak to a Rott owner who thought it was funny that her dog was saddling up to my dog every time he ran out of the water - he was showing his dominance with that dominant stand they do and she didn't either understand it or didn't care.  i finally complained so much that she moved to the other end of the beach - to pick on some other dog.

I have thought some dogs to be overly aggressive, but my dog and the others have seemed to work things out"."

Yes, he was attacked and received puncture wounds by an aggressive dog. It was a doberman that I have seen and experienced his aggression with other dogs at Wigley Park.

Yes, my dog has gotten into incidents with 2 overly aggressive dogs, and there is one dog in particular who harasses her every time we go.

My dog has never been attacked but gets annoyed by dogs trying to steal his ball because that dog's owner is laying on the beach or on the cell phone not watching their dog.  

Yes, I have had a few instances with aggressive dogs trying to steal my dogs toys while their owners don't pay attention or try to intervene.
yes, some people are not abiding by the rules,they do not monitor there own dog let alone others and fights escalate very fast

No. We've witnessed some scuffles," but thankfully haven't been involved in any!"

Not overly aggressive.

No.  Sometimes they have to be broken up, but it's no big deal.  

I've had a problem with 3 dogs whose owners never knew where they were and were not neutered. They followed my dog all over the beach antagonizing him, trying to mount him and being pests. This went on for over an hour until he finally snapped at them and I approached the owners and requested they keep their dogs under control.

Yes. We have had 3 instances of aggressive behavior towards our pug. On 2 occasions the owner was not supervising their dog and we felt uncomfortable and left the beach. We now come very early when only a few dogs are present because she is now afraid when too many dogs are present.

Not at the beach, thankfully but he was attacked 2 years ago at Wiggly. We understand the occasional nip when playing gets a bit out-of-hand but attacks and bites should never be tolerated.

No, but I also keep a very close watch on my dog. When my dog is playing with another dog, I look for the owner immediately to make sure they're around.  I own a pug so I am careful.

Big dogs that don't leave the small ones alone and no owners to be found several times I had to yell at other peoples' dogs.

Yes, a very large dog (appeared to be in the bulldog family) charged full force and tackled" my dog, pinning him down and refusing to release him. I had to intervene and carry my dog away from the area. While it may have been in play, no dog owner EVER appeared to take responsibility or even seemed to be paying attention. I have noticed over the last couple of years a large decline in the dog owners cognizance of their pet's activity. There is a huge difference between being off leash and simply "running wild.""

No. We stay away from the large crowds. This just comes with people not knowing their dog is aggressive, which unfortunately can sometimes only be determined at a location like this. There are some people who can't handle their dogs, and that responsibility falls on them to be good dog owners.

My dog can hold her own, but I have noticed a lot more aggressive or annoying dogs.  There have been plenty of times I've asked owners to please get their dog away from mine.. as it clearly was annoying her.

Yes, I have witness numerous fights where dogs will not release the other dogs.  The last time the aggressive dogs owner tried to leave but 4 or 5 other people chased him down and made him stay.  

I'm very cautious.  We haven't been attacked, but have gone all the way down to the dog beach (from Schaumburg) & turned around & went home w/out ever letting the dogs off the leash because there were aggressive dogs present.

No, but I've preemptively picked up my small dog a number of times last year and I've either left the beach or moved to the other end of the beach on several occasions.

YES.. there was a grey wolf there harassing everyone! Almost called 311, poor thing just wanted to play and didn't realize he should be in the wild instead!

no, but we have left the beach at times we felt uncomfortable

No but I have been taking my dog less frequently than I used to because of the behavior of both dogs and owners at the beach.

No more than would be expected.

Not personally, but I have seen a few bigger dogs attack other dogs.  Owner are usually no where near their dogs when this happens

Yes, my dog is only 20lb's and has had to defend herself by overly aggressive dog and owners.  

no, my dog prefers people

Yes, a couple of times (my Dog) has been attacked and the owners act as though nothing is wrong. Or they say they are just playing....ummmm blood does not equal play.

Yes. Other dog owner's fault for not watching their dog.

i've definitely noticed more irresponsible and inexperienced dog owners making bad decisions.  it's lead to a larger mess and more anxiety in general.  

No, I have not had issue nor have I witnessed any issues on the beach.  I will say that there are some dog owners who are hypersensitive to normal dog play and think it is aggressive.  The times I go there are usually very good dog owners who know the difference between play and aggression.

No, but I have seen some dogs or owners with issues.

My dog was not attacked because I was aware of another dog acting aggressively toward him and I left. I think one of the problems is that many people come to the beach to socialize and forget about their dogs. I bring my dog for us to have fun together but it's all about him - his saftey is my utmost concern when we're there.

nope. but have been around scores of uptight owners whine about play. really, some kind of education needs to happen for these people or they need to leave, they make being there a complete waste.

Not my dogs, but have been uncomfortable with dog owner who do not supervise their dogs properly and bring aggressive dogs to beach. Try to go early to avoid them.Have also witnessed dog fights on beach.

yes last year a white shepard came at me barking and then took off after my dog we own a rottweiler but he was not raised to fight he thinks every dog and person is friendly even though i know he handle himself i don /t want him feel a need to he is there for exercise and fun not fights

No, but we've been close to some of these events.  Our dogs have a great recall so we immediately get them to our side and out of harm's way.

Not personally, but once an owner realizes their dog is not having fun at the dog beach, they should be responsible and leave.  It is best for their dog and the safety of every person and dog there.   Just take the dog for a walk and spend quality time with the dog one on one, not with 60 dogs running all over the place annoying it to aggression.

My dog was badly hurt a couple years ago and occasionally has an issue with a dog--usually it is an unneutered pit bull-type.  There is a female now who just started coming and is getting into it with everyone.

See the previous note. My dog has given warnings to other dogs that continuously steal toys, run up and bump from behind, etc.

Yes definitely.  It led to an altercation with the owner of the other dog.  Once again this was a case of the owner not paying any attention to their dog.

yes, a dog kept going after my dog even after we left the immediate area, the owner (of other dog) didnt seem to care

No, but the inadequate fencing is a problem.

Yes, my dog was attacked because a moron brought chicken breast to the beach and a dog got food aggressive.

Yes. My dog was attacked by an aggressive dog (unregistered, unlicensed, and out-of-state) TWICE within 5 minutes.

Yes 2 different occasions of being attacked.

no.my dog is a lab mix and mostly is in the water fetching his ball or playing with other fetchers.

We recently had some trouble with an un-neutered male who was aggressive and my dog got upset back. I find this happening more and more and summers are a nightmare! Making owners responsible for their pets behavior would be huge blessing. But I still LOVE this beach and overall people are WONDERFUL!!!

No, but my dog sometimes gets cranky where there are too many other dogs and not enough space--that's why I don't usually go on weekends. Sometimes people don't watch their dogs,also.

We have had more problem with aggressive adults vs. aggressive dogs.  

Somewhat. Mostly that owners are not watching their dogs closely enough and my dogs may get annoyed at another dog persistently trying to hump them or play with them.

No, but we do have a small dog (about 30lbs) and try to keep him away from the bigger, aggressive dogs.
Yes, multiple times.

Yes, it's typically the non-neutered male dogs with owners who are unaware that they are aggressive or simply lack responsibility. I have seen an increased amount of owners with bully breeds, probably used for breeding. They are not treated well and the owners do not have a handle on them.

Yes, there was a man with a dog who brought a chair and sat there with his dog on a choke collar and short chain.  Every dog that tried to go up to his dog, the chained dog would get upset and the man would yell at everyone else.  Clearly he was making his dog aggressive, and what was he doing at the dog beach if he didnt want his dog bothered?

I think I've had more problems with new dogs who aren't socialized to the beach.

Owners think that they can have their dog inside all year, take their dog out in summer and have it not be a problem. It's not the dogs fault, it's the owner not knowing their dog.

I've only used the dog beach thus far when dog sitting.  I have now adopted my own and plan on becoming a regular.  No problems the few times I had been there previously.  

Yes, it seems that there has been in increase in dogs acting aggressively. It seems that these dogs are being handled by people who are not what I would call 'dog' person. They are casual owners who do not train or spend anytime working with their dog.

No. My dog generally just retrieves balls from the water and doesn't interact a lot with other dogs.

no, my dog is a loner and sticks with playing with a ball or chasing a ball in the water and she stands her own, she is a mixed shepherd," 44 pouinds..."
Very seldom," mostly our female dog has been chased and humped by horny male dogs"

nothing out of the ordinary

Yes, there is a German shepherd there in the mornings and its owner allows its big dog to attack my 30 pound dog each time and says that it's playing.  I have gone to dog parks and the beach for 3 years and know the difference.  He is a terrible dog owner and rude.

No, however I saw a young child attacked.

Yes. There was a guy with 5 boxers - apparently a regular" there, who had no control over any of his dogs, and who was not watching where they went or what they did. Two of the dogs charged at mine, and I had to kick them to get them off..."

I had a problem which I reported last year.

No, but I think my dog self-selects herself away from aggressive dogs. I think all dog-owners who use the beach need to be conscientous about what their dog, whether big or small, is doing.

today a dog walker with 7 dogs, 2 aggressive ones harassed my dog

not attacked, but I do wish owners would mind their dogs a bit more

Yes, today as a matter of fact monday 3/7/11. A dog went after my one dog & when my other dog came to help her, he was pinned down to the ground yelping as the other dog had his mouth around his neck viciously attacking him. Luckily I ran to the situation while the other dog owner was far in distance and it took me about a min or two to get the other do off my dog. Thankfully no blood was drawn but my dog was in shock & some pain.

No, but a few close calls.

We have not had any issues personally, but I have witnessed other dog fights. I believe all the fights have involved un-neutered dogs or bitches.

no - stay away from them or leave

No, but I've had to leave the park on occasion because I was worried about a dogs behavior and didn't want to wait for a fight to start.

no we leaveat first sign of trouble

The only problem I had was with a dog repeatedly barking and harassing my dog.  In and of itself this wasn't a huge concern.  My concern was that the owner was no where to be found.  I even asked several people if they had seen the dog's owner with no luck.  

Some aggressive dogs, problem lies with owners who do not supervise or have little off leash control.

Yes, and it was handled by me and the other owner and they put their dog on a leash.

I am new to the beach, but haven't seen or experienced any overly aggressive dogs since I've been going, which is a couple weeks.

Yes, but the owner was very responsible and close by keeping watch and broke up the aggression. Very refreshing.

Yes, we have small dogs and they have been targeted in the past. However, the owners of the other dog were close by and came to take their dog away

One incident isn't a problem for me, but I've been a victim where my cousin got snipped on the face by a dog.  Sadly I didn't know what to do. At the time I wish there was a policy/procedure to follow.  I feel that there is always a risk no matter where you go.  Today I'm comfortable speaking up if there is a problem and asking questions.  For instance, I should have asked for the owner's identification or phone number.  Found out if the dog had his shots.  Held the owner responsible for the dogs actions.  I was distraught and was focused on getting out of there and attending to my cousin's wounds without finding out pertinent information.  I hope that most people understand it the owner -not the dog- irresponsibility that causes the aggression.

Yes,my dog has been bit a few times with one serious injury. However, we go to the beach every day and, percentage wise, these incidents are very low.

I've witnessed owners with aggressive dogs, not paying attention or ignoring their dogs' behavior. I've seen a few bites.

no, but I know people whose dogs have been attacked.

no, but we came pretty close.
I am there often, and it is extremely rare - any incidences I've witnessed were luckily mild and put under control quickly. On this note, adding food smells to the beach will only increase aggression between dogs....

Yes, about 2 years ago my dog and another dog got in a mild tiff, blood was on my dogs coat and not sure where it was from.  Full disclosure, this was in the winter, we were the only two dogs on the beach and the other dogs owner left quickly thereafter.  

I wish there was a separate area for smaller dogs than for bigger dogs because the two are not always comfortable mixing, which for me (and a few other dog owners) can be the most frustrating element of the beach.  All of the dogs should have equal enjoyment, which can be difficult is someone's little dog is getting trampled, or someone's big dog trips on a little dog.  

There have been some aggressive dogs that made me a little nervous.  Fortunately, I have a bigger dog who can usually fend for himself.

only once

We have never encountered any aggressive dogs at this beach

Yes only a few times.  Have had to separate other peoples dogs.

Not seriously attacked, but one scary incedent with an aggressive rottweiler.

Yes, there was a pit mix and our dog got a puncture wound.

yes, a young pit/pit mix

At times. I have smaller dogs and they are at times targeted by the bigger guys.

Yes, in summer of 2010 a larger dog would not leave my chihuahua mix alone. He was moreso aggressively playful than he was aggressive, but he followed us the length of the beach and would not heed his owners calling.

No my husky is now 9yrs old, never bit or gotten bitten... I think it's the owners not the dog.

Our sheltie was aggressively pounced on by a couple of larger dogs, and now she won't socialize with the other dogs anymore. Fortunately other people pulled them off her pretty quickly, but she's been traumatized by it. She still loves going to the beach!

We have not been attacked" or had a problem, but I have certainly witnessed dogs playing rough without needed intervention or acknowledgement from owners"

No, but I did observe a pup getting killed.

No, but I did observe a pup getting killed.

no but seen an aggression attack- could have been prevented if owners paid more attention to subtle issues with the dogs and their play.  they did not response well to my advice prior or during attack.

Sometimes... usually the owners will curb their dogs.

Yes. My dog was bitten badly.

No, but I've witnessed scuffles between other dogs and they've always been resolved quickly and with no major ill-will.

Yes, a couple of times, and once mine (who is normally shy to passive) get aggressive.  I was on it immediately and left the beach immediately.  The real issue is people who aren't in sight or control of their dogs.  

Yes on multiple occasions

my terrier is feisty.. it has gone both ways.. I IMMEDIATELY intervene

Not at the beach but at other dog parks in the area, yes. And though I personally might not see it happen all that often, I know that it does happen and that can be very scary for both the dog and the dog owner.  

No - please don't make more of isolated situations than necessary.

Yes.  There is one dog at the beach every morning that growls and barks at my dog for no reason.  I know this dog has bitten other dogs at the beach.  I have stopped taking my dog to mondog, partly because of this dog.

I leave as soon as an aggressive dog arrives

I used to come to Montrose 2-3 times a week in the summer.  I rarely go now because of the fights I saw, as well as the terrible stories I read on the Mondog website about attacks.  Although my dog has never been attacked, its not worth the risk.  I usually stick with the small Belmont beach now.  I wish Montrose would go back to how it was 3 years ago when it was much safer!

Yes. I have a 15# dog who was attacked by a pit bull. The owner was absolutely no where to be found.

yes, there have been a few scuffles.During those incidents the other dogs were at the beach a long time...this contributes as summer is HOT and the stress of being ovewhelmed i believe is what contributed. Many owners DO NOT stay by their dogs side but rather lay on the beach or seek human interaction & neglect to play w/thier dogs. Shame.

no..I have seen a couple mild skirmishes

My dog and I have only experienced play fighting. Never been attacked.

No I leave if it seems like it could be an issue.

My dog was attacked by another boxer and pushed under the water.  My dog was helpless without us by the side.  the owner did nothing and never even disciplined the other dog that initiated it.    

yes.  overly aggressive dogs and overly aggressive owners!

not personally but a good friend has

"Yes, My dogs have been seriously bitten and needed stitches 4 times in the past two years."

Not attacked because we step in but there are a lot of poorly socialized dogs who do not have proper tags to be on the beach. Owners scoff when confronted with dogs behavior and are disinterested and don't take responsibility.

not in the last 2 years