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Injured dog walkers could be costing NHS £23m a year (news.sky.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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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.

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[–] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)

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

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    • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

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

    What kind of headline...

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year 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.

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    • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Gonna try that method with my dog. Thanks!

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