export_ofoct.com (1)

[00:00.44] “My dog...was relatively new to us.

[00:06.28] He got spooked and got in front of me, and I went flying over the dog...

[00:13.19] I ended up breaking two ribs,” he said.

[00:25.94] There are other dangers in rural areas, said Steven Haywood, an emergency room doctor in Corinth, Mississippi.

[00:26.48] “Getting struck by vehicles,” he said.

[00:29.39] “That’s definitely the most life-threatening injury when people are walking their dogs.”

[00:33.91] Areas like his have many roads without sidewalks or wide shoulders.

[00:40.02] That is especially dangerous when people wear dark clothes with no reflectors or lights and their animal also does not have such protection.

[00:51.18] In addition to lights and reflectors, there are other things that can minimize dog-walking risks.

[00:59.41] During snowy or icy weather, wear shoes with good treads.

[01:04.72] Consider wearing shoes with spikes or studs.

[01:08.97] Maxson suggests using a non-retractable leash of 1.8 to 2.4 meters. “Longer leashes are more likely to get tangled around your legs and cause falls.

[01:24.38] Retractable leashes can sometimes make your dog more difficult to control.”

[01:30.76] They can cause burns when held too close to the body, if they lengthen or retract too quickly.

[01:42.81] In San Francisco, dog trainer Shoshi Parks recommends a no-pull harness with a leash clipped to a dog’s chest rather than their back.

[01:57.14] It gives the walker more control and puts less strain on the dog.

[01:58.21] Parks suggests holding a leash at your center of gravity, near your torso, hip or thigh.

[02:04.85] Put your hand through the loop of a leash and hold it a little lower down.

[02:17.10] She calls retractable leashes “no go,” meaning you should not use them.

[02:17.88] They can cause burns when held too close to the body if they lengthen or retract too quickly.

[02:25.85] For people with problems balancing or moving around, experts suggest seeking help walking a dog, especially in bad weather.

[02:34.08] Helpers could include a neighbor, an older child or a professional dog walker.

[02:46.85] Haywood and Maxson agreed that balance and strength-training exercises, especially for older adults, can help decrease the risk of falls and broken bones.

[02:58.80] And they said working with a dog trainer helps not only the dog but the walker, who can learn to read their dog’s body language better.

[03:09.97] “Even young, healthy, strong people may have difficulty controlling larger breeds that aren’t used to walking on a leash.

[03:17.94] Any exercise to give strength, give balance, is going to help,” Haywood said.

[03:23.78] “Make sure you can control the dog that you’re walking.”