Common Mistake Pet Parents Make While Walking Dogs Has Led to Dramatic Surge in Injuries

A new study points to a common mistake pet parents make while walking dogs that has led to a big surge in injuries, but it can be avoided.

On September 14, 2024, reports of injuries related to dog walking has taken the spotlight, and the most common way pet parents injure themselves, too. Here's what you need to know.

According to the Associated Press, injuries when walking dogs have been on the rise, surging in number over the past twenty years.

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"From 2001 to 2020, the estimated number of adults seen at emergency departments for dog-walking injuries increased significantly, from 7,300 to 32,300 a year, lead researcher Ridge Maxson told The Associated Press.

Johns Hopkins University researchers note that over the past 20 years, the most common injuries while walking dogs for both kids and adults have been head traumas, sprains, and fractures.

Of those, most people who visited emergency rooms after an injury from walking a dog are women (75%) and adults between the ages of 40 and 64, who account for 47% of injuries.

“We know that a significant number of people might seek treatment at primary care, specialty, or urgent care clinics for their injuries,” Maxson shared.

A previous study, published in August 2023 by Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, highlighted a similar rise in injuries related to dog walking, noting that "injuries increased by more than four times during the study period, from about 7,200 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2020."

That study found that dog walker injuries that were most common included traumatic brain injuries, shoulder sprains, and broken fingers.

Why Are There More People Injuring Themselves While Walking Their Dogs?

The Associated Press says that the best way to protect yourself while walking your dog to reduce injuries is to stop trying to multitask. More specifically, put that phone down.

“You can’t really afford to relax when you walk a powerfully built dog with the torque of a small tractor. You have to pay attention,” said Noel Holston, a dog owner, who spoke with the Associated Press. He had injured himself while walking his dog in early 2020. “Off balance and struggling to keep my footing, I stepped into a hole," he shared.

Maxson says another way to help reduce the risk of injury is to make sure you have the right footwear for yourself and leads for your doggo.

“Longer leashes are more likely to get tangled around your legs and cause falls. Retractable leashes can sometimes make your dog more difficult to control,” Maxson said, suggesting using a non-retractable leash of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters), according to the Associated Press.

The authors of the April 2023 study suggested that when walking with your dog, you should use "retractable or short leashes." They had a few more suggestions, stating that you need to "pay close attention to their pets, stay aware of the surroundings, and avoid distractions for both themselves (such as texting) and their dogs (such as busy areas that might inspire a leashed pooch to take off running)."