A groundbreaking study led by Alexander Peebles, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), brings new insight into an everyday activity: the impact of dog-leash pulling on the person at the other end.
The research, published in Annals of Biomedical Engineering, is a first-of-its-kind examination of dog-leash pulling forces during routine walks and how those forces affect human gait and balance.
Among the study’s most striking findings: a quarter of participants experienced leash forces of 45 pounds or more, and half recorded at least 28 pounds of force during a typical walk. Walking with a dog also significantly increased gait variability — a known risk factor for falls — compared to walking alone.
Peebles’ interest in topic was sparked while walking Guinness, his energetic German Shepherd / Husky / Great Pyrenees mix and noticing how his back pain was aggravated when Guinness pulled on the leash. Around the same time, his mother was pulled off balance while walking a dog, hurting her knee in the process.
So, Peebles began reviewing the existing research on dog walking and found plenty of injury statistics but little insight into how those injuries actually occur.
“There are published guidelines for many everyday activities that often cause injury, such as lifting,” he said. “But we don’t currently have any recommendations for what dog pulling behaviors are safe and when intervention is required.”
Working with student researchers Michael Bennett, Samantha Morrison and Julio Ramirez-Reyes from UDC’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, Peebles designed a lightweight, wireless measurement system that could be used with any leash, collar or harness. The system simultaneously recorded leash tension and human movement during real-world walks, then compared those results to the same walks taken without a dog.
While walking intensity did not change in these different scenarios, balance demands did. Participants showed increased stride-to-stride variability when walking with a dog, suggesting that even routine dog walks can subtly challenge a person’s stability.
This study represents an important first step towards reducing the incidence of dog walking injuries. With a relatively small sample size, the researchers emphasize that the goal is awareness — not alarm. The findings help identify risk and point toward areas for further study, including dog training practices, leash and harness design, and considerations for people with joint, balance or mobility concerns.
Going forward, Peebles plans to continue the research in two directions: 1) collecting larger datasets across different dog sizes, breeds, and equipment, and 2) identifying the specific force thresholds at which leash pulling meaningfully alters human movement. Ultimately, the team hopes the work will help people better understand — and avoid —potential injury risks, allowing them to focus on the many positive aspects of walking their dogs.
“Dog walking is something millions of people do every day,” Peebles said. “It offers physical and mental health benefits, such as companionship, activity and routine, which are especially important as we age. If we can better understand the forces involved, we can reduce unnecessary risk and make an already enjoyable activity even better.”