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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Walking the dogs is killing my back

27 replies

disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 08:59

A few days ago I slipped on a wet stair tread and fell hurting my lower back. Now in the morning taking the dogs for a walk, their pulling and jerking about while trying to sniff things or other dogs is really killing my lower back and hips.

I just wanted to have casual moan about it

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 08/02/2019 09:02

If I have to do the long morning walk as my husband is away and can’t run the dog, my back suffers later that day. There are a few short on road so on lead sections to the walk and he pulls. I feel for you.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 08/02/2019 09:08

Without wanting to sound catty, this is exactly why dogs should be trained not to pull on the lead.
However in the immediate short term, th zero shock lead from Ezy dog is a god send. It’s still a good lead and doesn’t stretch overly like an extender, but the shock absorber makes such a difference to those little pulls and stop starts.
www.ezydog.co.uk/zero-shock-lead-48

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 08/02/2019 09:20

I've got a fluffy little 5 kg terrier. He usually lags behind rather than pulling forward. I recently held in to my friend's huge rott/lab. OMG I can't believe how strong he is!!! I thought I was strong but I can't imagine walking him for long - bad back or no so you have my total sympathy. If I were you I'd just not walk for a few days give your back at bit of recovery time. I know behaviour can get a bit wappy when they don't get out but probably better in long run. Any chance you could get someone else to temporarily walk ddog?? Neighbour's teen maybe??

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 08/02/2019 09:21

Ooh I see it's plural dogs... Separate strolls maybe??

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 08/02/2019 09:24

My little lightweight ❤️

BiteyShark · 08/02/2019 09:30

Temporary dog walker for next week if your back is still hurting?

How good is their recall? Drive to a place where they can have a good walk off lead instead?

KateGrey · 08/02/2019 09:32

We had a lab who we got at a year old. He used to pulled very badly. We did a lot of training but he still pulled. I feel your pain as he used to kill my wrists and back until I could let him loose on the field.

LilQuim · 08/02/2019 09:33

I would get a Halti head collar (or similar) for now - it will act as a temporary measure to stop the pulling.

CatnissEverdene · 08/02/2019 09:33

Put a Halti on them or some kind of head collar so they can't pull you.

My cocker spaniel is 19kg and solid muscle, I've actually pulled my shoulder where he pulled me so badly. He now has a Halti on or a harness with a clip on the chest at the front so if he pulls, he comes straight round to me instead of going forward.

Our new puppy is going to classes, one puller is quite enough. Hope your back gets better soon.

Wolfiefan · 08/02/2019 09:39

I often drive to places I can just let my dog off lead if I’m struggling with pain.
I also use a dogmatic. Awesome at stopping pulling.

MrsMcW · 08/02/2019 09:44

Loop the lead behind your back. Ie, hold in left hand, pass behind your back and attach to dog walking at your right hand side (or vice versa). That way the dog has a much shorter pull potential, and your whole body takes the strain rather than getting jerked forward on one side.

Original poster
disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 09:49

I'm being overly sensitive about it as the last 2/3 days have been absolutely murder, even bending to clip the lead is hellish. Normally, I wouldn't notice and they have Halti head collars and leads as well.

And as much as I'd love to pass the buck to a temporary dog walker I don't have the bucks to pay for it (bit skint).

OP posts:
Original poster
disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 09:52

A question about the Dogmatic does it stop then from eating fast food garbage they find on the street, such as KFC and Chicken Shack bones, because that really annoys me

OP posts:
LilQuim · 08/02/2019 09:58

As PP said - can you drive then let them straight off lead? I do that when my arthritis is really bad.

fourquenelles · 08/02/2019 09:58

Have you come across Borrowmydog? Rhere may be people locally whi can helo alrhough there is a jiinung fee. When i turned my ankle i put out a plea on my local Facebook and Nextdoor pages and got an older chap to help. He'd just lost his dog so it was of mutual benefit.
Also (puts on armour) if you can play games and mentally stimulate your pooch missing a couple of walks to allow you to recover will not kill them. Short term pain for long term gain and all that.

fourquenelles · 08/02/2019 09:59

Sorry about all the typos.

Original poster
disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 10:02

Don't have a car and the woods are s 10 minutes walk away

OP posts:
weaselwords · 08/02/2019 10:10

I have a dog that is fine most of the time, but will suddenly lunge at things. Mopeds, mostly. I also have a bad back that doesn’t appreciate this. I have a double ended lead and use the dogmatic on one end and the flat collar on the other and use the dogmatic end for back up when I think she’s going to lunge. Controls her head really well but you will need to spot the chicken bones first to get in quick.

Wolfiefan · 08/02/2019 10:13

Would they walk on a slip lead? Thinking not bending to put on lead?
Can anyone drive you? A friend walk the 10 mins holding them and then they can go off at the woods?
To answer a PP the dogmatic isn’t a muzzle so they can still open their mouths. It does allow close control though so there is no way my dog could reach down to snaffle food whilst on it. I keep her close. And the ground is a long way down.
OP Flowers Back pain is shit. Wish you were my neighbour. I would help!

MyFootHurts · 08/02/2019 11:22

Sympathies OP. Bad backs and dogs pulling is a horrible combination.
I use a balance harness (Mekuti, by name). It clips to the front and back of the dog with a double ended lead. The idea is that you put pressure on either the front or the back clip and this unbalances the dog and they don't /can't pull. It's not a quick fix (although for my dogs, it was). The idea is that when they are walking calmly without pulling, you can then reward them.
Difficult to train them together though, as to start with it's a lot easier to have one lead in 2 hands so that you can correctly apply the pressure. But it's something to think about for when you are feeling better, as it does teach the dogs to walk better and that can only be of benefit!

Original poster
disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 19:23

Just come back from a walk and realised it's not pulling, it's stubborn, stopping and sniffing that's the annoying bit.

Even more irritating us the stubborn stopping and not moving because there is a particularly stinky and interesting bit of wall.

For small to medium dogs they have a talent for not moving when they want to

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 08/02/2019 19:52

Ah the sniffathon. The special ninja “move along at speed before suddenly slamming the brakes on” preferably whilst the other dog continues to walk. Or even better zooms off in the opposite direction.
Feel better soon OP.

Original poster
disneyspendingmoney · 08/02/2019 20:05

Trotting along at a happy place tongue lolling and looking around (the dog not me) - next thing I know I'm nearly jerked onto my butt as something particularly stinky has been found and it's a dead stop legs spread anchored to the ground and I'm not moving for any fucker until I've hoovered up the stench.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 08/02/2019 20:24
Grin
dudsville · 08/02/2019 20:26

Wherever iput my back out i struggle ever to walk dogs that don't pull. You have my sympathy.