separating dogs fighting ?

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angelish

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hi another poss stupid question from me :o

after reading a few threads tonight about dogs not getting on and fighting with each other or getting set upon (hope mouse is ok ;) )

is there a right or wrong way to try and part them ?

my friends dog started a fight the other day and i was first to get to them and i admit i find it quite intimidating and i just stood there out of reach of the teeth and hair flying :o

luckily my dog is friendly and has never got into a fight but i'd be interested in your thoughts on what to do if he were ever to be set upon ?

is it just a case of grabbing a tail or leg etc and pulling :o

thoughts ?
 
Restrict the air supply of the attacking dog with a slip lead or belt or whatever, right high up on the neck behind the ears, until it lets go, and only if you have to, in my experience most 'fights' are just 'handbags at dawn' situation' dogs normally sort it out between themselves and while they won't bite each other, they will bite you if you stick a hand in.
Would rather go to the vets than A&E personally.

Would never kick or punch as that can increase the level of fight in the dog.

Having said all that it is easy to say without being in the situation.
 
I broke up a fight last week when a friends JR decided to latch on to Harry's neck. Took a couple of seconds to get a hold of both their collars and another couple before JR let go of Harrys neck and Harry let go of JR's ear, both dogs were thankfully just a bit pink around the edges, so just a face off but the noise was astonishing. Wasnt until I got back to the yard that I realised that one of them had attempted to chew my knee and judging by the indentations it was Harry!
 
angelish said:
hi another poss stupid question from me :o

after reading a few threads tonight about dogs not getting on and fighting with each other or getting set upon (hope mouse is ok ;) )

is there a right or wrong way to try and part them ?

my friends dog started a fight the other day and i was first to get to them and i admit i find it quite intimidating and i just stood there out of reach of the teeth and hair flying :o

luckily my dog is friendly and has never got into a fight but i'd be interested in your thoughts on what to do if he were ever to be set upon ?

is it just a case of grabbing a tail or leg etc and pulling :o

thoughts ?
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aw, Mouse is doing ok tonight thanks. I gave her soft food for her dinner, as her throat is quite swollen now, and she ate it happily. We're having to keep a close eye on her because she started scratching the wound, and it's in an awkward place where we can't put a lampshape collar on.

Good advice about what to do in this situation - i hope it never happens again.
 
One of our clients stuck her finger up the bum of the dog that was latched on to hers! Needless to say it let go pretty sharpish lol xxx
 
A staffy locked onto my older dogs neck the other day, I wasn't there but the staffys owner put his hand in its mouth to prise it open. DO NOT DO THIS!!! I'm pretty sure the owner was worse off than my dog!
 
Depends on breed/size & situation. If an average size dog is the aggressor I'd grab it either by its collar or scruff of its neck. Something that's already locked its teeth round the other dog I'd cut of its air supply. Turning a hose on sometimes works if you blast them. Two massive dogs trying to kill each other I'd want someone to grab the other. As a child we had a temporary rescue pyrenean who went for the other we had, I remember my dad using a brush handle to cut off its air supply & literally wrestling it away.
 
wow loads of interesting advice :D

CaveCanem said:
Oh and high pitched shouting and squealing does not help either!
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thank you :) i'm not a squealer ;) but might be guilty of the high pitch shouting at my dog to stay out of the way i'll remember that if there is a next time though ,i can see how that would eg them on

orionstar said:
I broke up a fight last week when a friends JR decided to latch on to Harry's neck. Took a couple of seconds to get a hold of both their collars and another couple before JR let go of Harrys neck and Harry let go of JR's ear, both dogs were thankfully just a bit pink around the edges, so just a face off but the noise was astonishing. Wasnt until I got back to the yard that I realised that one of them had attempted to chew my knee and judging by the indentations it was Harry!
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oww ,yes there was a lot of noise when these two were fighting its horrible i wasn't brave enough to get too close :o

MissMincePie&Brandy said:
aw, Mouse is doing ok tonight thanks. I gave her soft food for her dinner, as her throat is quite swollen now, and she ate it happily. We're having to keep a close eye on her because she started scratching the wound, and it's in an awkward place where we can't put a lampshape collar on.

Good advice about what to do in this situation - i hope it never happens again.
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aww poor mouse :( hope she doesn't get picked on again

twiglet84 said:
One of our clients stuck her finger up the bum of the dog that was latched on to hers! Needless to say it let go pretty sharpish lol xxx
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lol :D i might not try that one :p

stargirl88 said:
A staffy locked onto my older dogs neck the other day, I wasn't there but the staffys owner put his hand in its mouth to prise it open. DO NOT DO THIS!!! I'm pretty sure the owner was worse off than my dog!
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oww i bet he was sore ,no chance of me trying this i am a complete wimp and def wouldn't get that close but would like to be of some help to my dog if he were ever jumped on

littlelegs said:
Depends on breed/size & situation. If an average size dog is the aggressor I'd grab it either by its collar or scruff of its neck. Something that's already locked its teeth round the other dog I'd cut of its air supply. Turning a hose on sometimes works if you blast them. Two massive dogs trying to kill each other I'd want someone to grab the other. As a child we had a temporary rescue pyrenean who went for the other we had, I remember my dad using a brush handle to cut off its air supply & literally wrestling it away.
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luckily our dogs are just average size nothing as big as a pyrenean :eek: that must have been really scary two of them fighting

don't think ive missed anyone ,thanks again for the advise i hope i don't need to put it to practice but will feel better prepared if any thing were to happen while out and about :)
 
A lot easier if there are two of you! If the main offender has a collar on, grab, twist and aim to cut off air supply....it should then let go and give the other person the opportunity to remove the other dog.

If no collar, improvise using the lead of your dog, a belt, string or whatever.
 
By attempting to separate fighting dogs you risk causing further injury to the dogs and risk being bitten.

I would only attempt to intervene if there was serious damage to one of the dogs.

My old dog was a lout.
Any sign of aggression from other dogs and he'd grab them around the neck and pin them to the floor.
He had about 6 -7 fights in the 6 years we had him and got slightly injured once and never injured another dog.
However, the man who put his hands into my dogs mouth, against my advice, got bitten quite badly ..... by his own dog.

Most dog fights are just squabbles - it's rare for real fights to happen.

My current dog was attacked by a rotty - nothing I could do - just wait for it to be over.
He was injured, luckily not seriously, but if I had intervened I would most likely have been bitten and it could have caused a lot of damage to my dog.

If you do need to intervene remember that if a dog has clamped it's teeth in - pulling/ dragging the aggressor off the other dog can cause a lot of damage that can be difficult to stitch. Try to get the owner of the aggressor to get their dog to release - even if it takes a little longer.
A thumb inside the front of the lower jaw is a good method of forcing a dogs jaws apart ... but is very risky for the owner.

Most of the noise of dogs fighting is shock, it's rarely as bad as it sounds.
 
Deara OP
I have had male bulmastiffs in the past. Many years ago, a man who had spent his whole life with this large breed, told me that if a fight starts throw something over the dogs like a big horse rug, etc. He reckoned that would stop them pretty quickly!
Luckily, I was never in the situation to try it out!!
 
After my episode with maisie, I always carry a small container of pepper! No idea if it will actually work, but was told by somebody if you throw the pepper in general direction of heads will make them sneeze and let go!!

Sorry to hear about Mouse, hope she's ok.
 
I'm really surprised no one has mentioned a hosepipe or bucket of water! Worked a treat when the dogs had a set to at the yard.
 
Constrict air flow, stick through collar and twist - watch your hands though.

Hose pipe - water straight in the eyes/mouth/nose - not nice but I have found this effective.

Rape alarms seem good, the pressurised air/screamer ones, although never seen one in action but can imagine right next to a dog might give a good enough shock - thoughts anyone?
 
If you can, take a broom or similar implement, and push both dogs towards the door of a shed or stable. Get one inside and shut the door.

If you are near the house, go into the kitchen and get the pepper pot....
 
Depends entirely on the circumstance, where you are, the type of fight, I don't think you can for the prepare for the eventuality you will react which ever way you react:p for in that instance, I have split dogs up many a way, I have cut of air supply for dogs with no intention of parting, used object to jam between said dogs or me and a dog in one instance. Used my big gob to make them scatter, I have certainly used a boot (one still attached to my foot): it varies.
 
a staffie went for cara when she was about 8months old. she didn't fight back so it just had her by the face and held on. the owner was too scared to go near it so i knew i had to. I prised its jaws open, i know it was risky but i had to get it off without it pulling back and ripping her. It worked and i got away with it although i know it wasn't the best idea and wouldn't recommend it. evil little **** of a thing.
 
Having had my dog attacked I carry a walking stick with a crooked handle so I could pull off a dog without getting bitten or smack it on the nose the softest and most tender part of the face if I had to.

Never had to but have put the stick between my dog and another.
 
At our club we advise pushing the two dogs together (if you have two people) the action should release the jaws. If you pull they will lock and cause more damage.
 
I was told by a very good behaviorist to use a dustbin lid to force the dogs apart; your hands are then protected and the dogs cannot make further eye contact.

If only thye made a handy folding bin lid for pockets when out walking!

Obviously distracting them works well to avoid a fight - squeaky voice, bottle with stones in it, umbrella etc
 
i had the misfortune of trying to separate a pitbull locked onto my spaniel.

well nothing would work, the pitbull was in the red zone and had switched off to external stimuli.
*i tried a bucket of water in the face - didnt work
*tried to strangle it with a lead - didnt work
*sprayed something called STOP BARK in the dogs face for what seemed like ages (until it made my fingers numb with cold) - didnt work
*held a shock collar to the dog - didnt work

after about 5 mins and i thought my spaniel was on his way out of this world i remembered that sticking something up the bum might work

so i grabbed a wooden spoon from the drawer and stuck the handle up the pits bum. IT WORKED!

the spaniel had to have much stitching and sewing at the vets but survived with some war wound scars.

if all else fails, and panic starts to set in, stick something up its bum, even if its your fingers!
 
The best way to separate 2 dogs is a hose pipe and water. Another is a louse unexpected noise the best way is to keep your dog muzzled if it is normally the one to start a fight on get involved regularly. with a muzzle sutable for exercise it one that your dog can drink and open his mouth to pant etc!
 
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