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Injured dog walkers could be costing NHS £23m a year (news.sky.com)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Ill sum this up. Research suggests Untrained dogs pulling causes more injuries than expected.

3/4 of injured are female and mostly over 65.

Opinion: 65+ year olds walking dogs are likely healthier than those not. So the 25m number may be rubbish.

But anyone reading this worried about a dog that pulls. The simple way to stop it.

Spend some time when every time the dog pulls harder than you like. Turn around and head the opposite way.

Dogs soon learn that pulling leads to failure to progress. Takes a few days for most dogs to learn. Then takes a rare reminder for the dog to remember you choose the direction, and it doesn't get to assume.

No need to tell the dog off or punish in any way. Just remind it when on the lead. Trying to direct you to move at its speed will always slow its progress.

top 8 comments

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I bet they are saving the NHS multiple times that amount due to having an enforced consistent sleep rhythm and going for walks twice a day.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Walks Def. Plus company desire to play. It was known in the 80s that pets reduced blood pressure. Just from spending time.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Great advice on dealing with pulling on lead. We got a rescue as second dog year and a half ago. He had clearly not been trained at all and was pulling on walks. My wife, who is the knowledgable dog trainer in our house, got it sorted in just few walks doing what you described.

Edit: typos

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Nods saw it on social media so tried it with my little dog.

Was stunned how effective and quick it was.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

"Thieves of Healthcare Damage Society with Their Negligence Towards Pets"

What kind of headline...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Well it's sky so I'm not going to disagree with the intent.

But it's very open to interpretation. Many right wing readers may interpret it that way. But the tittle just questions the cost. Reading the article it seems more like a warning.

"For elderly females that dogs may be a bad pet for them and the NHS."

I worry more that it makes no effort to compare the huge cost saving regular walking of dogs has on elderly heart and muscle health. And companionship has on mental health.

But that's less click baity. And really clicks is all they care about.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Gonna try that method with my dog. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Nods saw it somewhere on social media myself. I have an over eager chihuahua I inherited from an ex.

So gave it a try. Half an hour of doing this he stopped pulling.

I'm far from an expert.