How do you get help if you get hurt while dog walking alone?
If you get hurt dog walking alone, secure the dog first, then call 911 for a head strike, a wrist or hip that may be broken, a serious bite, or any fall you can't get up from. Tell the dispatcher your street and nearest cross street, and that you have a dog with you so responders can plan for it. Then tap SOS or message a Guardian, who can come for you and take the dog home. A live link and return time cover the walks where you can't make the call.
What to do if you're hurt with your dog
01Keep hold of the dog, or anchor the leash
A loose dog near traffic can turn one emergency into two. If you're down, keep the leash in your hand or loop it around a fence post, bench leg or your own ankle. Don't wrap it around your fingers or wrist, where a sudden lunge can cause a fracture. Ask a passerby to hold the dog if one stops.
02Check the usual dog-walking injuries
Most come from being pulled off balance: a fall onto an outstretched hand, a twisted knee on a curb, a hip landing on ice. The NHS says to get emergency help for an arm or wrist that has changed shape, is numb or tingling, or has a bone through the skin. A head knock with confusion or vomiting is also a 911 call.
03Call 911 and mention the dog
Give the house number or cross streets and say you have a dog with you. For example: "I've fallen on Maple Avenue near the corner of 3rd, I think my wrist is broken, and my dog is with me on a leash." A protective dog can make it harder for paramedics to reach you, so responders appreciate the warning and may send someone to manage it.
04Get a Guardian to come for you and the dog
After 911, tap SOS in Holler. Your Guardians get your location by email and push, and the live link shows the exact block. The most useful thing a Guardian can do on a dog walk is arrive quickly, take the dog home and then meet you at the hospital.
05Put a backstop on early and late walks
Dog walks happen at dawn, after dark and in every kind of weather, often on autopilot. Set a return time for longer walks so an overdue alert reaches your Guardians if you don't check in, and consider the optional stationary alert, which asks "Are you OK?" if you stop moving for the time you choose. Set it longer than your dog's usual sniff breaks.
Related questions
What if another dog bites me or my dog?
For a large or deep bite, or bleeding you can't stop, press a clean cloth firmly on it and call 911. For smaller bites, the NHS advises cleaning the wound with soap and warm water and covering it, and getting medical advice if it's on your hand, face or feet, or turns hot and swollen. Get the other owner's contact details. Our answer on what to do if a dog chases you while dog walking covers staying safe before it gets to a bite.
What if my dog runs off after I fall?
Deal with yourself first; your dog will usually come back or be caught by a neighbor. Make sure your dog's tag has a current phone number. Tell your Guardian the dog is loose so they can look while you wait for help.
What does a good winter setup look like?
Say you walk your dog at 6 a.m. on icy sidewalks. You wear shoes with grip, carry your phone in a zipped pocket rather than your hand, start a live link and set a return time 15 minutes after you're normally home. If you slip and break your wrist, you call 911, then tap SOS, and your partner arrives to take the dog. The night dog walking safety answer covers visibility.
Can someone see where I am without an app?
Yes. Holler's live link opens in any web browser, so your Guardian needs no app or account. They see your route on the map and when the location last updated.
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Sources, checked September 2026: NHS: Broken arm or wrist, NHS: Falls, NHS: Head injury and concussion, NHS: Animal and human bites.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.