Dogwalk Dangers: What's Hurting Agility Dogs?

Key Findings:

• 15% of agility dogs fall off the dogwalk.
• Nearly 30% have close calls.
• Almost 4% get hurt due to these incidents.

Risk Factors

• Taller dogs and those with more experience are more likely to fall.
• Older dogs and those competing at higher levels handle it better.
• Border Collies, taller dogs, and those with inexperienced handlers are more likely to get hurt.

Study Details

• Sample Size: Over 1600 Finnish agility dogs.
• Time Frame: Data from six months before a competition rule change.
• Findings: The rule change did not reduce falls or injuries, suggesting current dogwalk design may be unsafe.

Statistics

• Falls: Approximately 2.6 per 1000 dogwalks.
• Injuries: Approximately 0.6 per 1000 dogwalks.

Conclusion

The study highlights the need for more research to make the dogwalk safer for agility dogs. While the study focused on Finnish dogs, the findings could apply globally. Ensuring the safety of the dogwalk is crucial for all agility dogs.