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Demonstration of the canine leash tension meter. A l.4-metre-long leash was connected to the tension meter (A) and then was attached to the collar and harness in front of the dog's chest (B). The handler held the metal handle on the other end of the tension meter (C).
Source publication
Leash tension forces exerted by dog and handler during walks affect their welfare. We developed a novel ambulatory measurement device using a load cell and a tri-axial accelerometer to record both the tension and direction of forces exerted on the leashes. Data were relayed telemetrically to a laptop for real time viewing and recording. Larger and...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... dogs at the RSPCA wore a plain neck collar and a chest harness. One end of the leash was connected to the stainless-steel eyebolt of the leash tension meter (Figure 1 and Figure 2) while the other end was attached to both the collar and the harness in front of the dog's chest ( Figure. 1) in order to prevent them from accidentally escaping during the walk. The leash was attached to the front of the chest so as to provide a better control over the dog when it was lunging [14]. ...
Context 2
... The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, MA, United States). All dogs at the RSPCA wore a plain neck collar and a chest harness. One end of the leash was connected to the stainless-steel eyebolt of the leash tension meter (Figure 1 and Figure 2) while the other end was attached to both the collar and the harness in front of the dog's chest ( Figure. 1) in order to prevent them from accidentally escaping during the walk. The leash was attached to the front of the chest so as to provide a better control over the dog when it was lunging ...
Citations
... 14 Body harnesses with either front or back attachment points have been experimentally shown to affect shoulder expansion, potentially predisposing dogs to tendinopathies after prolonged use. 14 Furthermore, Shih et al 28 demonstrated that dogs pull significantly harder using back connection harnesses than neck collars. Head harnesses may be an option for owners of large dogs that tend to pull but require appropriate training for desensitization. ...
The topic of dog-walking injuries has recently gained notoriety through major media outlets in North America, including the Washington Post, NPR , and US News and World Report . In this review, we have compiled data from the main studies published in the past 2 decades that assess the incidence, demographics, and injury patterns related to dog leash walking. The available papers indicate that dog leash–related injuries have increased, particularly among women over 65. The most common causes of injury are dog-pulling behavior, which can result in tripping or tangling, with or without a fall, as well as upper extremity injuries. However, there is a lack of information regarding dog size, breed, training status, the type of leash used at the time of injury, and the role each factor may have in the incidence of injuries. The available data did not allow for evaluation of the impact of weather conditions on injury incidence. Information about the involved dogs, type of lead device, and weather conditions could be useful in identifying risk factors associated with dog ownership and guide prospective pet owners and their families to mitigate the risk of injuries.
... It would be interesting to further investigate if there are identifiable reasons for such difficulties with certain horses, in which case there is a potential for drivers and riders to further educate the horses and themselves on how to minimize any such factors. Also, there are recent studies of leash tension in dogs that suggest that triaxial accelerometry can reveal the relative contributions to leash tension from humans and animal members of the dyad (36). It would be interesting to explore if the same technology can be used to decipher some horse-rider/driver interactions. ...
Horseracing is under public scrutiny with increasing demands to safeguard horse welfare. It is accepted that, as a result of bit pressure and/or equipment, mouth lesions accompany many types of horse use, including racing. However, there are currently no data available on the range of bit pressures in driven trotters. Our aim was to investigate whether rein tension (RT, proxy for bit pressures) differs among gaits, between tempo within gait, between horses and drivers, and between left/right reins. Standardbreds (n = 9), driven by experienced drivers (n = 11), performed exercise tests on a racetrack (cross-over design; total 31 tests, data available from 26 tests). Horses' motion symmetry was measured before tests (trotting in hand). Rein tension, speed and heart rate were measured during exercise. A moving-window filter was applied to RT raw data. Median, maximum and interquartile range for the estimated stride median RT were determined for each rein (left/right) and segment: walk; circling in slow trot followed by transition to faster trot; fast (racing) trot; and slowing down to walk. Mixed models were used for statistical analysis. Least square means for segment median RT ranged between 17–19 N in walk, 34–40 N during circling-accelerating, 51–62 N in fast trot, and 53–71 N for slowing down. Segment maximum RT was between 60–81 N in walk, 104–106 N during circling-accelerating, 72–86 N in fast trot, and 86–129 N during slowing down. Interquartile ranges were between 7–9 N in walk, 28–31 N during circling-accelerating, 8–10 N in fast trot, and 12–18 N for slowing down. Hind limb asymmetry exceeded the recommended threshold in three horses and was associated with higher median (48 N) and maximum (106 N) RT than symmetric horses (29 N and 73 N, respectively, p < 0.01). Consistent left-right asymmetry in RT was more common among horses than among drivers. Rein tension increased with increasing heart rate (p ≤ 0.0006). Rein tensions were higher than those reported during riding or in horses worked from the ground. The findings of high RT, taken together with the high reported prevalence of oral injuries in harness trotters, call for further research into RT, motion symmetry and use of equipment.
... Surprisingly little is known about equipment owners use to walk dogs and why, and the physical and behavioural outcomes of those for dogs that pull. A leash tension meter (see Shih et al. 100 ), which measures lead pulling and whether the handler, dog or both are exerting pressure, could provide an objective means of measuring equipment and training efficacy. ...
Veterinary professionals (VPs) are often the first source of advice for clients struggling with their dog's behaviour, and pulling on the lead is a commonplace undesirable behaviour VPs will encounter regularly in practice. Excluding bites, being pulled over while walking on a lead is the leading cause of non‐fatal dog‐related injuries in the UK. This narrative review investigates lead pulling as a welfare concern in pet dogs, highlighting aspects of the literature of particular interest to VPs.
Lead pulling could negatively affect walk quality, frequency and duration, causing weight gain, while decreased environmental enrichment could trigger other undesirable behaviours. Aversive equipment to prevent lead pulling can cause pain, distress and injury, but even equipment considered humane can have welfare consequences. Punitive training methods could cause dogs stress, fear and anxiety and trigger aggressive behaviour. While these lead pulling outcomes are welfare concerns in themselves, they could also weaken dog–owner attachment, a risk factor in pet dog relinquishment.
Given lead pulling could affect the welfare of patients in a VPs care, clinical implications and opportunities for client education are outlined. Educating clients on humane prevention and modification of lead pulling could make walks easier, safer and more enjoyable, with positive outcomes for clients, canine welfare and the practice.
... What has clearly been shown are the negative health effects of collar use and leash tension forces wielded by dog and owner whilst walking the dog on a leash [10][11][12][13] and a concomitant unnatural gait pattern resulting from subsuming its walking speed to that of the owner whilst on a leash [12]. Undoubtedly, off leash pet dogs chasing wildlife is a sensitive subject. ...
The approximate figure of pet dogs reported in Europe 2020 is 87.5 million. These dogs live mainly either in
enclosed properties or their exercise takes place in form of a daily round of walks with their owner, frequently on a leash. The
importance of regular exercise for dogs is well known and benefits to physiological and psychological well-being through off
leash explorative behavior has been documented. Off leash walks benefit health and welfare because the dog’s individual
natural gait, social transaction ability and exploration behavior are thereby supported. In this study the behavior of free-ranging
(off-leash) pet dogs was assessed whilst walking in familiar and unfamiliar areas with their owner and not being signaled or
called to. Data were collected to measure distance travelled and duration dogs spent away from their owner during the walks to
determine and compare speed and movement patterns of dog and owner respectively. The roaming behavior of the dogs was
measured via GPS. All dogs displayed individual speed and exploration patterns and covered significantly longer distances at
significantly higher speed compared to their owners. The majority of dogs, however, remained within a radius of 150 m of
their owner all the time. Therefore, while it is inevitable for dogs to be on a leash in some situations whilst sharing our urban
environment, safe and enriched areas for off leash activities are strongly recommend to ensure pet dogs’ physiological and
psychological welfare by being able to explore in their own speed and employing their individual movement patterns.
... In many instances, the equipment used while working with dogs, such as collars, leads and harnesses, have not undergone much change in the past decade. The increasing use of pressure sensors, accelerometers and kinematics can offer new insights into how existing equipment impacts dogs when interacting with people [e.g., (71,72)]. Given the emergence of new textiles and materials that may be stronger and lighter than traditional equipment, as well as nanotechnology, and smart textiles incorporating wearable electronics (73), we identify this as a future area for review and development. ...
Working dogs are prevalent throughout our societies, assisting people in diverse contexts, from explosives detection and livestock herding, to therapy partners. Our scientific exploration and understanding of animal welfare have grown dramatically over the last decade. As community attitudes toward the use of animals continue to change, applying this new knowledge of welfare to improve the everyday lives of working dogs will underpin the sustainability of working with dogs in these roles. The aim of this report was to consider the scientific studies of working dogs from the last decade (2011–2021) in relation to modern ethics, human interaction, and the five domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, behavioral interaction, physical health, and mental state. Using this framework, we were able to analyze the concept and contribution of working dog welfare science. Noting some key advances across the full working dog life cycle, we identify future directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary research to optimize dog welfare. Prioritizing animal welfare in research and practice will be critical to assure the ongoing relationship between dogs and people as co-workers.
... In this study, we researched human-dog interactions in an animal shelter focusing on the influence of human demographics and the human-dog dyad when volunteers walked dogs on a leash. In addition to using video recording, a canine leash tension metre was used to measure the tension on the leash, using a three-axis accelerometer to differentiate the directional forces (38,39). ...
... [RobacScience Australia (39)] measured the force exerted on the leash and detected the direction of the pull (handler vs. dog). One end of the device could be held by the handler and the opposite end was connected to a l.4-metre-long commercial dog leash (Rogz Snake Lead), which was attached to both the collar and the harness at the front of the dog's chest [for further details see (39)]. ...
... [RobacScience Australia (39)] measured the force exerted on the leash and detected the direction of the pull (handler vs. dog). One end of the device could be held by the handler and the opposite end was connected to a l.4-metre-long commercial dog leash (Rogz Snake Lead), which was attached to both the collar and the harness at the front of the dog's chest [for further details see (39)]. This article focuses on human demographics. ...
Different people relate to dogs in different ways. We investigated differences between volunteers in their behavioural interactions with shelter dogs when they were walked on a leash. Cameras were used to record and quantify the behaviour of volunteers and a leash tension metre was used to measure pulling by both volunteers and shelter dogs. Effects of volunteers' age, body height, educational level, marital status, and experiences of living and working with dogs, and living with children, were examined. Older volunteers talked to the dogs more often during the walk than younger ones. Taller volunteers had reduced physical contact with dogs, and dogs pulled more frequently on the leash while walking with them. Volunteers with a postgraduate degree more frequently praised dogs and rewarded dogs with food and used more body language in the form of hand gestures and physical contact. Married and partnered volunteers more often praised dogs, while separated/divorced or widowed volunteers initiated more frequent physical contacts. Dogs pulled less when walking with volunteers who had experience of living with dogs, and these volunteers interacted with dogs using fewer verbal and body languages. Finally, those living with children more frequently communicated with dogs using body language (e.g., hand gestures and physical contact). We conclude that shelters should carefully consider volunteers' demographics when selecting them to walk dogs with various behavioural characteristics.
... The body weight of the dogs ranged from 16 to 43 kg [median = 24 kg, interquartile range (IQR) = 7.76 kg]. All shelter dogs wore both the neck collar (plain neck collars of different brands) and the chest harness (Balance harness, Black Dog Wear Pty Ltd, Victoria, Australia) (Figure 1), and the leash was attached to both the collar and the harness in front of the chest of the dog (Figures 1A,C), during their daily walks (18), with a view to providing better control over the dog should they lunge (19). Therefore, all participant dogs were used to both restraint types and wore both restraints at all times during the study. ...
... The leash tension metre (RobacScience, New South Wales, Australia) (18) was connected to the tie-up ring using two carabiners (Anko, Australia) ( Figure 3A). On the other end of the device was a stainlesssteel eyebolt to allow a simple connection with a l.4-m-long commercial dog leash (Rogz Snake Lead) ( Figure 3B) (18). This leash was then connected to the dog (Figure 3C), allowing the dog an ∼1.4-metre maximal movement distance ( Figure 2C). ...
... Recorded data were processed using MATLAB R (MATLAB R and Statistics Toolbox Release 2018b, The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA, USA). For more details regarding the leash tension metre, please refer to Shih et al., (18). ...
Leash pulling is a concern for dog owners and can be detrimental to the health and welfare of dogs. Neck-collars and back-connection harnesses are popular restraint types. Harnesses have been proposed as a better and more considerate option for canine health and welfare. Anecdotally, dogs pull more when wearing a back-connection harness; however, there is no scientific evidence for this perception. This study aimed to investigate how strongly dogs pull on the lead to achieve a food treat or toy under restraint by a neck-collar versus a back-connection harness. A within-subject counterbalanced design was used for the study, involving 52 shelter dogs. A customised canine leash tension metre was connected to the collar or harness to record the pulling of the dogs, including measuring the maximal and mean leash tension, and the time spent pulling. In addition, dog behaviours were recorded using two cameras from two separate directions. The maximal and mean leash tension and the pulling time were greater under restraint by harness when attracting dogs with food treats. No significant difference between harness and collar was found in potential stress-related behaviours (e.g. tail and ear positions, lip-licking, and panting). However, dogs looked at the experimenter more often when restrained by harness than collar in the food treat attraction test. No significant difference was detected between harness and collar with respect to leash tension and stress-related behaviours in the toy attraction test. These findings suggest that dogs tend to pull stronger and more steadily when wearing a back-connection harness compared to a neck collar to reach the food treat but not the toy.
... In our study, a similar concept was adopted to develop a custom-made leash tension meter that measures the leash tension when a dog is walked on a leash. This device also differentiates the direction (dog vs. human handler) of the pulling during the walk, using a three-axis accelerometer (Dewhirst et al., 2017;Shih et al., 2020a). ...
... Dogs showed more stress-related behaviors (e.g., less time holding the tail in the high position, more frequent gazing and lip-licking) when interacting with men than women (Shih et al., 2020b). Other dogrelated characteristics also affect the interaction, such as young (Shih et al., 2020a) and male (Shih et al., 2020b) dogs doing more pulling, more socialized dogs displaying more positive behavioral signals (tail in a high position and exploring the environment); thus volunteers utilized fewer verbal cues and body language when interacting with them (Shih et al., 2020c). ...
... A custom-designed canine leash tension meter (sampling rate: 10 Hz; measuring range: 0-100 kg force; resolution: 100 g force) was commissioned for this project (RobacScience Australia) (Shih et al., 2020a). The device measured the force exerted on the leash and detected the direction of the pull (handler vs. dog). ...
Human personality influences the way people interact with dogs. This study investigated the associations between the personality of animal shelter volunteers and behavior during on-leash walks with shelter dogs. Video recording and a canine leash tension meter were used to monitor the on-leash walking. Personality was measured in five dimensions (neurotic, extroverted, open, agreeable and conscientious) with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Neurotic volunteers pulled the leash harder and tended to interact with dogs using more body language; dogs being walked by neurotic volunteers in turn displayed more lip-licking and body shaking and were more likely to be rated as well-behaved. Extroverted volunteers were associated with stronger maximal leash tension at both the human and dog ends of the leash, and they praised the dog more, often in a high pitched voice. These volunteers eliciting more tail-wagging and body shaking by the dog. Extroverted volunteers were also more tolerant of different dog behaviors. Volunteers with personalities characterized by “openness to experiences” were less likely to verbally attract the attention of dogs, praise dogs and talk to them in a high-pitched voice; however, dogs walked by these volunteers were more likely to pull on the leash, and engaged in more lip-licking but less sniffing. “Agreeable” volunteers liked to verbally attract the attention of the dogs and more commonly initiated hand gestures and physical contact, causing the dogs to pull less frequently; dogs in these dyads displayed more gazing and lip-licking behaviors. Conscientious volunteers were less likely to pull the leash and tended to have more physical contact with the dogs but did not favor verbal communication and did not use a high pitched voice.
... A similar concept is adopted in this study using a custom-made leash tension meter to capture the leash tension when walking a dog on a leash. Moreover, this canine leash tension meter includes an accelerometer in the device which differentiates between human and dog pulling during the walk [43]. ...
... In this paper, emphasis will be placed on how canine demographics and behavioural assessment results influenced the behavioural interaction while shelter dogs were being walked on leash by volunteers. The effect of human gender has been reported [49] and the effects of body size, body weight, age and the behavioural level of dogs on the leash tension, and the relationship between canine sex and behaviour and leash tension were also reported [43,49]. The influence of other human demographics and personality will be reported in a future publication. ...
... The device measures the force exerted on the leash and detects the direction of the pulling (handler versus dog). [43]. ...
Inappropriate leash reactivity is one of the most common problems in shelter dogs, which negatively affects the health of dogs and reduces their adoptability. We explored 370 human-dog interactions, involving 74 volunteers and 111 dogs, in an animal shelter when volunteers walked shelter dogs on a leash, considering the effects of canine demographics and the results of the shelter’s canine behavioural assessments. The interaction was video recorded and coded using ethograms, and a leash tension meter was used to measure the pull strength of dogs and handlers. Results showed that dogs that were more relaxed during the shelter assessment (i.e., when socialising with humans or being left alone in a new environment) were less reactive on the leash, with lower tension and pulling frequency. Moreover, socialised and relaxed dogs displayed more positive body language, such as tail in a high position, gazing at the handler, and exploring the environment. When walking with these dogs, volunteers utilised fewer verbal cues and body language during the walk. In addition to the canine behaviour assessment, there were correlations between canine demographics and the behavioural interaction and humans’ perception. Finally, volunteers perceived the walk as less satisfactory when they needed to pull the leash harder during the walk. This research suggests that the RSPCA behavioural assessment may be useful in predicting the behaviour of shelter dogs when walked by volunteers.
... A custom-made leash tension meter was used to capture the leash tension when a dog was walked on a leash. Unlike the equine rein tension meter, our dog leash tension meter included an accelerometer in the device to differentiate between human and dog pulling during the walk [21]. ...
... The custom designed canine leash tension meter (sampling rate: 10 Hz; measuring range: 0-100 kg-force; resolution: 100g-force) was commissioned for this project (RobacScience Pty Ltd, Blue Moutains, NSW, Australia) [21]. The device measured the force exerted on the leash and detected the direction of the pulling (handler versus dog). ...
... A Windows 10 personal computer program was written for data collection and real-time displays. Recorded data were processed using MATLAB ® (MATLAB ® and Statistics Toolbox Release 2018b, The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA, USA) [21]. ...
Previous studies have indicated that human gender and canine sex influences human–dog interactions. However, the majority of studies have considered the interaction when dogs were off-leash and the behavioural interactions when dogs are walked on a leash have not been addressed. This study investigated human–dog interactions when shelter volunteers take shelter dogs for an on-leash walk. Video records were made of 370 walks, involving 74 volunteers and 111 shelter dogs, and a leash tension meter was used to determine the pull strength of dogs and walkers. Human gender and canine sex had dyadic effects during the walk. Male dogs tended to pull more frequently and created increased leash tensions. Dogs displayed more stress related behaviours when interacting with men than women, with the signs being spending less time holding the tail in the high position, and more frequent gazing and lip-licking behaviours. Finally, there was a greater pre-disposition in women to use verbal commands, and language typically used with babies, while men were more inclined to have physical contact with dogs. This study’s results may be used to match shelter dogs with appropriate men and women volunteers for walking exercise of the dog, and to improve potential dog socialisation efforts by shelters.
