I had a stroke in October but have had 2 falls so im about 3 months behind in recovery and ive lost confidence and am still unsteady on my feet until I get going. I want to walk the dog safely. He is 9 and quite steady on the lead. What are your experiences. Any tips?
Diana
Hi Braid1563-- I hate to be a downer, but my minister, who’d had not had a stroke and is quite steady on his feet, took his dog out for a walk a couple of weeks ago, got tangled in the leash or something and took quite a bad fall, was quite baged up, nothing broken thank goodness. Admittedly, the dog is only a few months old, so not as sedate as yours, but still… My personal feeling is that if you’re unsteady on your feet, it doesn’t seem quite safe to be “attached to a dog”. A siren could blare, a cat run across his path, etc. and he could startle, and perhaps cause you to fall. Maybe it would be ok if your dog was very small, old and sedate and not prone to startle. Well, that’s all I can offer. Maybe someone else will know more . Wishing you all the best in your recovery. 
Jeanne
Are there any dog friendly walking groups in your area you could join? I know some here will accept dogs if they’re the quiet, sedate kind. There’s a guy in one of my groups who brings his dog occasionally and it just walks quietly by his side, until he gives a signal for it to run.
Personally though, unless you can get someone to accompany you, I’d leave him at home until you are more confident in walking. And if you don’t care to use a walking stick, you would benefit from a hiking stick at least. I never go walking without mine now 
Last year I fell over 20 times with a cane.
Thanks f0or all your comments. I’m going t
Thanks for all your comments. Am going to work on my walking with stick till im much steadier, and try to find someone to walk with who will walk alongside me with the dog on a short lead. Would using a wheelie be any safer than a stick do you think?
My husband has a wheelie (not for a stroke, for a congenital back issue) and warning - dogs seem to hate it. I don’t know if its the wheels going round or what it is but he’s often been the cause for one to start barking or even to try to attack it.
I don’t have a dog but my daughter used to have two and I did take them out for walks before my stroke. Now (even 20 months on) I’m not 100% as stable on my feet but I find that I enjoy taking one small dog for a walk (the other one has moved away). He walks on a harness (he’s a small dog) with a short lead. Thanks for the tip on the extendible lead I shan’t bother with that. I avoid traffic and livestock (we live in a farming area) and although we walk on our own stay within shouting reach of people “just in case”
Well I never heard of it here in Memphis TN Shelby County
@braid1563 don’t run before you can walk as they say firstly I would get someone to go with you, then the more steadier you get the less you will need a chaperone as such. I found that if I walked really slow my dog whose a feisty fast cocker spaniel would slow done to my speed. I use a lead to take him out I think it’s called EZY LEAD
Hi Chris that’s really helpful. I live in a village. Everyone’s busy and don’t want to be tied down but I’m working on it. 30 houses and 26 dogs in the village. As you say I need to build up stick confidence. Have been referred to an exercise specialist today to improve stability. 20 miles away. Thank goodness I can drive again after my latest fall down the stairs in my home. 3 fractures. But now my fractures are sorted I am beginning to improve again. But I won’t do anything rash. My dog is half dachsie and half jack russel. 9 years old. A rescue of 18 months but listens to me now most of the time. Diana
Took my daughters dog out today. He’s a miniture Dachshund so not big. He was as good as gold but a great big Alsatian jumoed over a fence to attack him poor thing - he slipped his collar and ran home but is still a little shaken, as am I
Not sure who is more traumatised, me or the dog and I can’t help feeling that I should have been able to do more, although it was really very little to do with my stroke. I couldn’t run after him very well but he knew where his home was
So glad you both stayed safe. What a horrible thing to happen. Some years ago a cow jumped over the fence when i was out walking in a field with my dachsie. I ran for the gate and my dachsie lay prone for 20 minutes while the cow stood over her and then eventually backed off and my dachsie was able to get up and come to me. What a fright. You must have felt terrified. What a brave and sensible dachshund you have.
We have take baby steps
You are so right. Have decided to focus on walking with stick and not rush walking dog until I’m much steadier. Difficult to be patient though.