Those with big/heavy/unwieldy dogs

[some show]

Do you ever wonder what you would do if your dog collapsed or hurt itself or basically anything incapacitating happened out on a walk, and you were a distance from home/the car?

This is something that's worried me ever since getting a big dog (39kg and all gangle-legs so impossible to pick up) especially as I'm single, so am most often out on walks on my own. I'm curious to know whether anyone is in a similar boat and has clever contingency plans! I should note that I'm in quite a rural place so often walk without seeing anyone. The closest I've come so far is when he was stung by a few wasps on the leg and we had to hobble home at snail's pace for half an hour, stopping every now and then (he's a greyhound so a bit of a wimp!), and one time he ran and hurt his foot and we had to sit in the field for 10 minutes til he decided he could walk on it.

It's making me consider whether my next dog should be something smaller, which is a shame, but it would be so awful to be helpless in a bad situation.

 

[ArklePig]

I don't have an overly unwieldy dog, but I have seen backpack things with a harness on them that hikers use in case of needing to bring their dogs down in an emergency. If you could carry him on your back something like that could be an option (sorry this sounds very vague I can't even remember where I saw them but I'll try and find a link).

 

[fankino04]

It is something that would occasionally cross my mind when I had the malamutes. I had a mobile vet service in my phone and my OH can actually carry one if needed so always knew I had a choice of who to call if something terrible happened.

 

[sbloom]

Our 78kg Dane did his cruciate while on a walk with me, we were about 1/3 mile from home, thank God he was able to walk, very slowly of course, and we rested but yes, it's such a risk. OH mostly walks him and is a big strong lad, but even he'd struggle.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

My brother had a long plastic sledge and a groundsheet with corner handles that he easily carried on his back when his dane x mastiff was getting more infirm when elderly over the last month. He only had to use it the once tho but did the job.

 

[some show]

I don't have an overly unwieldy dog, but I have seen backpack things with a harness on them that hikers use in case of needing to bring their dogs down in an emergency. If you could carry him on your back something like that could be an option (sorry this sounds very vague I can't even remember where I saw them but I'll try and find a link).

Yeah I've seen those too, I don't think they'd work for a greyhound though, they're too weird of a shape/legs are too long. I might be wrong!

 

[Clodagh]

I’d try not to worry too much. If you have a horse you are used to being out with something you couldn’t carry in an emergency.
The what ifs can drive you mad.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

My only worry is if they’re bitten by an adder: I’ve seen grass snakes and I know there are adders around. There’s no way I could carry any of mine, maybe little Goose, but I’m lame, so can’t go far. Bear came up lame as far as possible from the car a while back so I just had to go really slowly.

 

[some show]

My only worry is if they’re bitten by an adder: I’ve seen grass snakes and I know there are adders around. There’s no way I could carry any of mine, maybe little Goose, but I’m lame, so can’t go far. Bear came up lame as far as possible from the car a while back so I just had to go really slowly.

Yes, I saw an 'infograph' about adder bites in dogs and it said 'no.1, wash the bite with cold water, no.2 call ahead to your vets, no.3 don't let your dog walk, carry them'...and I thought, oh dear! Luckily mine's pretty much always on lead so less likely to get into that situation, but he's been stung on three occasions by bees and once by three wasps so doesn't have the best luck. How much do your lads weigh?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Yes, I saw an 'infograph' about adder bites in dogs and it said 'no.1, wash the bite with cold water, no.2 call ahead to your vets, no.3 don't let your dog walk, carry them'...and I thought, oh dear! Luckily mine's pretty much always on lead so less likely to get into that situation, but he's been stung on three occasions by bees and once by three wasps so doesn't have the best luck. How much do your lads weigh?

Goose is 16kg, Mitch is 29kg, Bear is 25kg, I just couldn’t do it!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have men I can ring.

One was on three legs after slicing his pad underwater and we hobbled back with me holding him up by the big broad flat collar. He would have been 30/35 kilos at the time.

 

[Caol Ila]

This story doesn't help if you're out in the bush or need to move a big animal any distance. But if you're at home or in civilization....

A couple years ago, my mom heard a knock on the door and answered to one of the neighbours, who asked if my dad was around. He wasn't, but Mom asked if she could help. The neighbor was after a man because her Great Dane had collapsed, and she couldn't lift it into the car to take to the vet. Mom went with the neighbour to their house to find the huge dog sprawled on the driveway, not in good shape. My mother is only 5'1 and would have been almost 70, so she wasn't picking up a Great Dane, but she is a retired nurse practitioner and Red Cross disaster nurse, so she knows ways and means. She asked neighbour to find a sheet, and then they slid the sheet under the dog. There were a few other people trying to help. Enough for everyone to grab a corner of the sheet and hoist the dog into the car. Sadly, it did not survive.

If you need to move a stricken large dog a short distance, like from your house or yard to a car, then putting a sheet under it with enough helpers to hold the corners of the sheet will work. Neither you nor your helpers need to be strong enough to actually lift the dog.

If you are up a mountain or out in an otherwise remote area and your (big) dog gets ill or injured and can't move -- and there is no way you can move it yourself -- call Mountain Rescue. Honestly. I have heard of and read many reports of them stretchering dogs off hills. They would much rather do that than rescue *you* off a hill because you b*ggered yourself attempting to self-rescue your dog.

 

[PurBee]

Our 78kg Dane did his cruciate while on a walk with me, we were about 1/3 mile from home, thank God he was able to walk, very slowly of course, and we rested but yes, it's such a risk. OH mostly walks him and is a big strong lad, but even he'd struggle.

When i was a kid, our dane used to fake a sprained ankle! It was always after going over a wooden slatted humpback bridge over a narrow part of the river Nene near us, which he hated going over, despite learning it wasnt going to harm him. Anyway, he’d come off the bridge and hold up his front paw, limping back, so my (well-built!) dad, truly thinking something was wrong (maybe the first time he did it there was a real issue) picked him up like a massive suitcase clutched to his chest, and marched back with him, having rests along the way!
That dog did it a 2nd time, then 3rd….we would avoid the bridge just to not go through him limping. We knew it was fake because when we crossed the threshold of home he’d all of a sudden walk fine and run like a loon in the garden! He evidently quickly learnt if he’s hurt he gets carried back, and rather liked it!

 

[toppedoff]

never occurred to me really, we have a cane corso along with our mutt - mutt is lighter and lean yet tall so easy to carry. we got the cane corso in January but its worth noting that my mum wouldnt of taken the offer if she wasnt strong enough. we also have a field across the road where we walk the dogs and emergency contacts by but i will 100% take on board what Coal Ila has said! so thank you Coal

 

[gunnergundog]

Years ago I purchased a collapsible garden trolley that I kept in my vehicle when I had a dog (34kg) that would collapse without warning in his latter years.....conscious and not stressed outwardly but prone and wouldn't move. I did modify where I walked; stayed closer to the car but still in places where I wouldn't expect to meet anyone else. I reckoned that he wasn't going anywhere and I normally had at least one other dog with me that I could trust to stay put with him whilst I went back to the car to collect the trolley. Although I never had to use it in a crisis I habituated him to the trolley by pushing him around the village in it, just confirming to everyone that I am totally barking!

It turned out that the dog had a splenic tumour and he would collapse whenever it had a bleed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Foldable-Garden-Trolley-Wagon/dp/B0831BHZBC/ref=asc_df_B0831BHZBC?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80127011779339&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726549027006&psc=1

 

[fiwen30]

I’ll admit, this is something which worries me, especially as my lad gets older. We walk alone, I don’t have someone at home I can immediately call, and my boy is around 20kg. While I can lift him with some effort, I don’t think I’d be carrying him far by myself.

We mostly walk in urban areas now, with plenty of doors to knock, but if we ever got stuck by ourselves somewhere then it would be a case of calling and waiting for friends to arrive. Not ideal - might have to start doing more weight-work!

 

[spacefaer]

I think I might take my coat off and try to roll the dog onto that, so I could drag it. Might wreck the coat but it'd be worth it if it was such an emergency

 

[poiuytrewq]

This has occurred to me. I had a terrier who one day collapsed out walking, he was easily carried home but at the time I did think thank god it was him and not the big lab we also had at the time.
Now I think I’d call the gamekeeper at the farm to come out with the gaiter or daughter/OH if home with my little van as I only really walk the bigger dog on private land so it’s easy enough.

 

[some show]

If you need to move a stricken large dog a short distance, like from your house or yard to a car, then putting a sheet under it with enough helpers to hold the corners of the sheet will work. Neither you nor your helpers need to be strong enough to actually lift the dog.

If you are up a mountain or out in an otherwise remote area and your (big) dog gets ill or injured and can't move -- and there is no way you can move it yourself -- call Mountain Rescue. Honestly. I have heard of and read many reports of them stretchering dogs off hills. They would much rather do that than rescue *you* off a hill because you b*ggered yourself attempting to self-rescue your dog.

I've been wondering about carrying some sort of folded up tarp or sheet in my dog-walking bag, I think I'll do that! Thank you.

Years ago I purchased a collapsible garden trolley that I kept in my vehicle when I had a dog (34kg) that would collapse without warning in his latter years.....conscious and not stressed outwardly but prone and wouldn't move. I did modify where I walked; stayed closer to the car but still in places where I wouldn't expect to meet anyone else. I reckoned that he wasn't going anywhere and I normally had at least one other dog with me that I could trust to stay put with him whilst I went back to the car to collect the trolley. Although I never had to use it in a crisis I habituated him to the trolley by pushing him around the village in it, just confirming to everyone that I am totally barking!

It turned out that the dog had a splenic tumour and he would collapse whenever it had a bleed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Foldable-Garden-Trolley-Wagon/dp/B0831BHZBC/ref=asc_df_B0831BHZBC?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80127011779339&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726549027006&psc=1

That folding trolley is a great idea! Holds a good weight too.

 

[MissTyc]

My late 45 kg GSD x Rottie got a serious cut on a walk many many years ago (likely glass - deep & bleeding bright red though not spurting). I was able to fashion a pressure bandage out of my socks and then I sort of carry-dragged her using my t-shirt and the lead ... we made it to the main road just as my husband pulled up with the car so we were able to bundle her to the vet. I really don't know what I would have the done in the middle of a field if she'd fully collapsed. I carried my 10kg terrier 2km home (uphill) recently and it was only because I am fit, strong, healthy, etc that it was possible. I was proper huffing and puffing and aching all over quite quickly

 

[Sandstone1]

I carry a small first aid kit. If dog is still able to walk you can make a sling with a coat or jumper to support rear end. There is probably some kind of harness you can get too. A mobile phone would probably be your best bet with really big dogs.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'll just pop this in here... May 2023.

Scafell Pike: Dog carried down mountain by rescue team https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65594528

 

[Jenko109]

My late whippet broke her leg when we were out in the middle of the forest.

She was probably only some 17kg or so but my god, carrying her for over half an hour to get back to the car was absolutely killer!

 

[malwhit]

I am starting to look for a new dog, but due to my health issues I am downsizing

In a perfect world, I want a black female Labrador, but know it would be impractical.

I have thought about loads of breeds but trying to find one that fits my "needs" is difficult. Basically what I need is a Labrador in miniatur - dog friendly, trainable, short/mid length coat and 12-16 inches.

Whippets fit a lot of my criteria but are at the top of my height limit and their fragile legs scare me

 

[some show]

Whippets fit a lot of my criteria but are at the top of my height limit and their fragile legs scare me

I've been walking my neighbour's whippet this weekend and he's a little bruiser Really stocky and powerful and definitely not fragile! He's great, will walk for miles and miles but can 'switch off' in the house for hours on end, is dog friendly and really cuddly with people. I'd love a whippet myself, but don't have time (out at work too much) for the puppy stage.

As Jenko says, they can still be pretty hefty if you have to carry them though! Definitely lighter than a lab though

 

[Caol Ila]

I'll just pop this in here... May 2023.

Scafell Pike: Dog carried down mountain by rescue team https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65594528

View attachment 114587

Yup. I read about that one. Dog looks quite happy. "I don't have to walk off this bloody mountain!" There's always a few dog rescues every year.

There was one a few years ago where a German shepherd ran off from its owner near the top of Helvellyn. Presumably they'd hiked up the tourist path. The dog ran down Striding Edge and got itself cragfast. Whoops.

And another where two huskies had to be stretchered off a hill near Keswick. One ran over the edge of a cliff, then its mate followed. They both ended up injured at the bottom.

I once passed someone descending a mountain carrying a lab around his shoulders, the way farmers carry stricken sheep. The lab had hurt its leg. The owner was a big guy, though, and the dog was very cooperative. If that was me, by myself, I'd be stuck making the MRT call because I could not carry a dog of that size down a mountain.