How to break up a dog fight

[MrsMozartleto]

Yes, this carries on from the poor lady who died, but it did get me thinking about how one would break up a dog attack.

I've only had to deal with a couple and those were of the small dog easier to grab type. My gang will respond to my voice, though they've not been in a proper full on fight so I don't know for sure how that would go.

A Google suggests water, covering with a blanket, or something like a klaxon.

 

[AmyMay]

Following.

 

[Sandstone1]

A bucket of cold water. Not always one handy though. A loud noise, Something like a walking stick through the collar and twist until dog lets go. I have even heard of grabbing testicle of a male dog and twisting! I have only ever used the water method myself and it did work. Shouting and screaming will only make things worse and the risk of getting bitten is high. A real full on fight is very difficult to stop.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I've found this one - no gas cannister, it's an airpump instead. I'm thinking of getting one:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/hand-pum...lx7lNOrHvcZrmSWiuU8aAml7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We have a lot of dogs being walked around here, and whilst I walk one Grot at a time and am pretty certain I could on in the case of a dog being an arfff, I'm now wary of others.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

A bucket of cold water. Not always one handy though. A loud noise, Something like a walking stick through the collar and twist until dog lets go. I have even heard of grabbing testicle of a male dog and twisting! I have only ever used the water method myself and it did work. Shouting and screaming will only make things worse and the risk of getting bitten is high. A real full on fight is very difficult to stop.

This is what I'm thinking - water not always to hand, getting close enough to get a walking stick in might not be an option, so it's the loud noise - something to break through the 'red mist' that I'm assuming (rightly or wrongly) has descended on the dogs.

Actually, thinking about it, our dogs hate the sound of the driveway intercom. It's both loud and blinking annoying, as is the fire alarm, so maybe the noise is the thing, but not something that stresses.

 

[SilverLinings]

I've found this one - no gas cannister, it's an airpump instead. I'm thinking of getting one:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/hand-pum...lx7lNOrHvcZrmSWiuU8aAml7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We have a lot of dogs being walked around here, and whilst I walk one Grot at a time and am pretty certain I could on in the case of a dog being an arfff, I'm now wary of others.

It would be a different type of sound (I presume the horn would be lower pitched) but what about a personal alarm? They are small and easier to carry than the horn and give off a very loud high-pitched noise. I think it would distract dogs but I'm not sure whether it would distract them for long enough to pull them all away from each other. Mind you, the noise they make is hideous and as dogs have more sensitive hearing than us maybe it would just make them all run away, which would certainly stop the fight but not be ideal for the owners!

 

[MrsMozartleto]

It would be a different type of sound (I presume the horn would be lower pitched) but what about a personal alarm? They are small and easier to carry than the horn and give off a very loud high-pitched noise. I think it would distract dogs but I'm not sure whether it would distract them for long enough to pull them all away from each other. Mind you, the noise they make is hideous and as dogs have more sensitive hearing than us maybe it would just make them all run away, which would certainly stop the fight but not be ideal for the owners!

Ah, that's good thinking... I've ordered the wee thing from Screwfix so will collect tomorrow. Will have that to hand and will investigate the personal alarms.

 

[stormox]

I think the best thing to do with 2 evenly matched in size dogs is leave them. They rarely kill each other, a few wounds maybe but usually fights aren't too serious - more noise than anything.
Pull them apart and you risk re-directed aggression (towards yourself).
A small dog that's in danger for its life would be different - maybe water if there's some handy, or a loud bang - or possibly try food scattered to distract them. But again beware re-directed aggression, or a small aggressive one diving back in again!

 

[P3LH]

Having always had a pack means having always dealt with squabbles. Some handbags at dawn, some more serious. Dogs fall out, like people. But they use their teeth often.

My current three, mainly the boys, do sometimes kick off over stupid things (mainly about the right to let cock, or over the fact my eldest is blind and a little senile - and I think my younger male struggles to read his body language at times/thinks he’s trying to kick off with him). I don’t usually fuss. I’ve always seen it as a ‘will happen from time to time’ when you’ve got a house full.

Usually my voice (I am loud and all of mine know and have always known when I mean enough) does the job, but once or twice a swat with a cushion or jug of water has been used for more problematic cases.

Only once couldn’t I stop two of my dogs, well one of my dogs. She decided to kill the other terrier and was duly dispatched to new living quarters as every time I attempted to reintroduce over the following five days, ended in blood.

My grandparents had a special stick (huge old walking stick) which would be smacked against the pantry door or nearest wooden surface rather like Gandalf knocking a door, whenever hair dogs got unruly

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I think the best thing to do with 2 evenly matched in size dogs is leave them. They rarely kill each other, a few wounds maybe but usually fights aren't too serious - more noise than anything.
Pull them apart and you risk re-directed aggression (towards yourself).
A small dog that's in danger for its life would be different - maybe water if there's some handy, or a loud bang - or possibly try food scattered to distract them. But again beware re-directed aggression, or a small aggressive one diving back in again!

Probably the way to go. I guess my train of thought was more 'attack' than a 'fight', i.e. how to help if one can.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Having always had a pack means having always dealt with squabbles. Some handbags at dawn, some more serious. Dogs fall out, like people. But they use their teeth often.

My current three, mainly the boys, do sometimes kick off over stupid things (mainly about the right to let cock, or over the fact my eldest is blind and a little senile - and I think my younger male struggles to read his body language at times/thinks he’s trying to kick off with him). I don’t usually fuss. I’ve always seen it tut as a ‘will happen from time to time’ when you’ve got a house full.

Usually my voice (I am loud and all of mine know and have always known when I mean enough) does the job, but once or twice a swat with a cushion or jug of water has been used for more problematic cases.

Only once couldn’t I stop two of my dogs, well one of my dogs. She decided to kill the other terrier and was duly dispatched to new living quarters as every time I attempted to reintroduce over the following five days, ended in blood.

My grandparents had a special stick (huge old walking stick) which would be smacked against the pantry door or nearest wooden surface rather like Gandalf knocking a door, whenever hair dogs got unruly

This is the case with my own dogs - they'll stop any idiocies when my voice means it.

I'm thinking more the attack rather than fight, I just didn't think through the wording properly.

 

[P3LH]

I think, or at least in my experience, not over reacting is key. Whenever I have anything from a ‘piss of’ grumble to a kick off, I don’t have any issues in stopping it as quickly as it starts. My OH and mum, who dog sits, tend to panic and get very loud/panicky shouty rather than a firm ‘I’m telling not asking you to stop’ and it always goes on a lot longer - over the years both have been bitten by squabbling dogs.

 

[P3LH]

This is the case with my own dogs - they'll stop any idiocies when my voice means it.

I'm thinking more the attack rather than fight, I just didn't think through the wording properly.

Apologies - I did think that after. In this case I would, and have, attempt to drag my dog away where possible, and failing all else stick the boot in to the offending animal.

 

[wren123]

When my dog got attacked by two greyhounds the owner had to prize the jaws open of the one that really meant business and wouldn't let go of her, I'm afraid at the time it happened I just froze in horror.
When I was with my husband some sort of bull terrier was trying to attack my on lead dog for no reason, my husband was with me and managed to keep kicking the dog and stop him from getting his jaws into my dog. He luckily had steel toe capped boots! Perhaps that's my tip wear steel cap toe boots!

 

[Clodagh]

Keep calm. Keep calm. Keep calm again.
You can try to prise the jaws open if they have gone for grab and rag but their jaws are really strong and it’s very hard. If there’s 2 calm people (unlikely!) push the dogs so the ragging can’t tear, the actual grip will only cause puncture wounds. I’m assuming 2 even sized dogs there.
Our two male terriers we used to pick up and chuck in the water butt. They rarely fought but when they did they meant it.

 

[AmyMay]

We’ve only ever had to intervene aggressively once when Jack (prior to us owning him) was attacked by a Dalmatian. My OH kicked it hard in the ribs and it let go.

I suspect I’d go for the kick or strangulation method.

 

[wren123]

Clodagh you are spot on despite my elderly lab screaming in pain there were only puncture wounds where the dog bit!

 

[wren123]

Amy I thought I’d kick but I was paralysed in shock!

 

[AmyMay]

Amy I thought I’d kick but I was paralysed in shock!

I can imagine people would be. Not me though. I would react very quickly, and have done at a perceived threat.

 

[Squeak]

I've heard advice that if your dog is being badly attacked (and assuming it's not a fair / even match) and as absolute last resort you should break the tail of the offending dog?

I think the logic was that it would cause enough pain to stop the attacking dog but not be a fatal injury?

 

[Prancerpoos]

This subject was just discussed on Radio 4. The expert said, basically, don’t try and intervene as you will get bitten. If you can safely get hold of the end of your dog‘s lead, if it is still attached, you can try and pull it away, but don’t put your hand in to try and grab a collar. It tremendously helpful but not sure there is really anything you can do.

 

[some show]

I believe if there are two of you you're supposed to (if no water/barrier or it doesn't work and you're feeling brave) each grab the back legs of one of the dogs, up around the thighs, and pull/walk them backwards away from each other. I imagine you'd need to be really confident and not panicking to do this successfully though.

 

[tda]

The only thing that would split my two up was either a hosepipe on full in the mouth of one of them, or unfortunately pick them up by the collar until they both let go, still keep them at arms length or they would start again
Terriers but they will NOT let go
I would advise anyone walking a dog to carry a stick, for your own protection from a wayward dog if nothing else

 

[Patterdale]

I think the best thing to do with 2 evenly matched in size dogs is leave them. They rarely kill each other, a few wounds maybe but usually fights aren't too serious - more noise than anything.
Pull them apart and you risk re-directed aggression (towards yourself).
A small dog that's in danger for its life would be different - maybe water if there's some handy, or a loud bang - or possibly try food scattered to distract them. But again beware re-directed aggression, or a small aggressive one diving back in again!

Two of our dogs sometimes fight (they are sisters and very love/hate). And twice only I have seen them in a full on, blind to all outsiders, wild wolf type fight. Where I thought they might kill each other.

I shouted, whacked with a stick etc, but nothing stopped them so I had to just walk away. One needed stitches but otherwise fine. The other time no one needed stitches but lots of wounds on both.

Once they’ve finished fighting and calmed down, they lie down together and lick each others wounds. It’s bizarre.

They are very kind dogs generally but after seeing them revert to the wild like this, it reinforced to me how you can never fully trust any dog.

 

[emilylou]

Things that may work but I haven’t tried are a hunting whip or a rape alarm.
The only couple of dogs fights I’ve been involved with were broken up by kicking the dogs. Not very safe but I was so worried about the dog I didn’t think of my own safety at all.

 

[millitiger]

I've split up 2 dog fights, I'm not sure if these are the right methods but they worked!

My friend's rottie and lab bitch had a real barny and were still going by the time I ran downstairs, through the gate and out into the yard- I really, really, roared at them and managed to smack the rottie quite hard in the face with a welly I had picked up as I ran out of the door.

Other time, my on lead pointer was attacked by 2 labs.
One I managed to get my hand in the back of one of their collars and twisted it tight into a choke. At the same time booted the other one repeatedly and then dropped my boy's lead and sort of rugby tackled it. My boy bogged off home by himself while I screamed at owner of labs!
Both times I had a few scrapes and bruises but I don't know how much was self inflicted tbh.

Usually my voice and energy when I really mean business is very scary to dogs and animals in general but I don't know if it would work on a pitbull or similar- I hope to never find out!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I did see two staffies one time fight in a park and obviously they get lockjaw, the owner stuck his finger up his bottom. Not ideal but they immediately let go ?

 

[meleeka]

I believe if there are two of you you're supposed to (if no water/barrier or it doesn't work and you're feeling brave) each grab the back legs of one of the dogs, up around the thighs, and pull/walk them backwards away from each other. I imagine you'd need to be really confident and not panicking to do this successfully though.

I’ve read this, but I’m sure it said just to pick the back legs up like a wheelbarrow and the dog will drop
anything in its jaws. A neighbour has a large dog prone to attacking small dogs and I looked it up last time the dog had another in its jaws.

 

[Roxylola]

Back legs up and out of the aggressor works if you've got one being attacked. I'm pretty quick to block "stiff" behaviour from strange dogs with my legs or feet, and I wouldn't hesitate to go in with my feet if one of mine were attacked - as clodagh has said squash down. I'm "lucky" in that with my girls now I'd never be dealing with a fight, they're both utterly submissive in that respect. And honestly I'd rather me get a bite on a leg than my dogs (or my hands)

 

[millikins]

I have broken up a potentially serious fight by putting the boot in when water failed. I don't like the sound of any advice to grab collars, jaws or front legs, it would mean putting your hands, face and throat close to the business end. The woman who ran the kennels I worked at as a teenager always said as a last resort if you can, grab the balls and twist, never needed to try that though.