How to break up a dog fight

Posted by: Tommy on 01 Dec 2009

It can be very dangerous and risky to break up an ongoing dog fight. However, sometimes you are forced to step in and stop dogs from fighting, in which case you’ll need to know the right way to do it. Here are some useful tips on how to stop a dog fight the right way.

  • Be sure that you are safe; it is not worth interrupting the dogs if you risk getting hurt. Even though your dog is part of the family, your life is worth more.
  • See if you can use some kind of item to use to separate the dogs, it can be a piece of cardboard or a net. A bucket of water or a hose should also work well and means you can stand back from the fighting animals.
  • Try to use whatever you can find to separate the dogs from each other, if you are in a room and find yourself able to separate those fighting, grab your dog, take them into another room and shut the door.
  • If you are out on the street or in a park, you should, after you have separated the dogs, put your dog in your car to calm down.
  • Buy some pepper spray and carry it with you. You can use this to break up a dog fight if there is nothing else around to use.
  • If the attacking dog already has his teeth in a locked bite, place your palm on the dog’s nose and with your other hand squeeze just behind the nose. The pooch will be forced to open his mouth to breathe. It is important that your act quickly and forcefully. Pull back your dog and your hand when the open its mouth. If the dog bites you, do the same with your palm and pinch just behind the nostrils. The dog will open its mouth. Pull away and leave. This is a risky act that must be done with skill, precision and force. If you do get bitten, make sure you check in with your doctor for any necessary shots and wound dressing to ward off infection.

This should help you if your dog does get into a fight – but just remember to be safe yourself. The first thing you will want to do is rescue your pup but take a moment to look at your surroundings and check for anything that will help you stay safe.

Have you had to break up a dog fight? Don’t hesitate to share some more tips on how you stopped it.

4 Responses to “How to break up a dog fight”

Rik says:

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Sorry to say, but some of this advice is not all that great. Using Items to try pry the dogs apart or tossing water at them, in most cases, will just agitate the dogs more and intensify the fight. Also getting your arm that close to a dogs muzzle while they are fighting is definitely not a good idea, even if you are fast, the dog is faster and you could find yourself with some wounds that need suturing.

One of the better techniques requires 2 ppl to pull each dogs back legs up into the air and to move backwards at the same time. This causes the dogs to lose balance and forces them to try regain balance, while the moving will stop this from happening. Found to be one of the most effective and safest techniqies

Valerie says:

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I have 2 male desexed litter brothers Lhasa Apso/Maltese/Silky who are very jealous of each other. One in particular tries to lord it over the other and after a while the intimated one will attack. Mostly the first aggressor will stand with his head down and submit, but lately they have gone into a full blown fight, my 18 month old grandson was nearby and copped a bite on the forehead the other day. These 2 dogs are great with the children and the bite was not directed at him, he was just caught up in the frenzy. Any advice would be great. (They sleep and eat together, most of the time they are great, it is when I am around Jesse starts to give Toby the evil eye).

dukits says:

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Hi Valerie, my advice to you is to be the top dog, don’t let the behavior continue. My neigbors dog a border collie kept attacking my boys they are far bigger than her but a very kind animals. I stepped in and let her know that she would have to deal with me it she was going to behave that way. It has worked and they all can be toghether now. If she wants my attention she has to be nice to my boys. You should be in control of the situation and not let the intimated dog get so threatned that it has that much fear it does something. Goodluck.

Julie says:

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Val to begin with the dogs having 3 different breeds in them is a problem. I could be bias in saying so because i do not like cross breeding, a breed is a breed and should stay one of a kind. I’d never ever accept a cross breed unless in a rescue life situation. all the best

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