In general, there are two types of dogfighting: illegal dogfighting and dogfighting over a favorite bone or someone in a heat cycle. But stopping a dogfight in any way can be dangerous if the person involved is seriously injured or killed trying to stop the fight, depending on the severity and the breed of the dogs involved. This article will focus on dogfighting in general and offer five tips on how to stop a dogfight without getting hurt.
Tip #1
If the dogfight is between two small to medium-sized dogs, have the owners or two people grab the dogs by their hind legs and pull them apart quickly in a circular or curling motion.
Once the dogs quickly separate completely, hold onto their hind legs at all costs or they will attack the other dog or you again. Each person should take their dog to separate rooms or to their own fenced-in yard while the dogs surround each other simultaneously. Speed is essential.
Tip #2
If he’s alone, stay calm and quickly grab a leash or something similar to separate the two dogs.
Quickly get a leash and wrap it around one of the furthest areas of the dog (around the lower back above the hind leg area). Grab the other dog by the hind legs and pull the dog up. Dogs will still try to attack each other, so quickly move tethered and held dogs somewhere where the leash can be attached, allowing the lead dog to move to a separate spot.
Tip #3
Many trainers advise never using a stun gun, pepper spray, or electric prod to break up a dogfight. Others suggest using a water bottle filled with vinegar, as it will entertain the fighting dogs momentarily, at least long enough to separate them.
What will happen is that the moment the dog feels the prod, pepper spray, or stun gun, it will instantly assume the other dog is the culprit, intensifying the attack.
Tip #4
“A dog can bite only one person at a time”: This may be a true statement, but it sure doesn’t make me feel any better. And you? A dog bite can be avoided by keeping hands and legs away from the fighting dogs head and teeth at all times.
When dogs fight, the last thing on their mind is that last week they learned to “sit” and “stay” while biting their owner on the leg or hand. Little Fido isn’t the sweet dog he was last week… right now, anyway. He is defending himself, his favorite toy or his property, ironically, which may be the hand he just bitten off.
Tip #5
Use a stop stick for pitbull or ferocious aggressive dog attacks as it will be impossible to gain quick control without one. Raising the hind legs of pitbulls or similar breeds to break up their dogfights won’t work as their bites are made to rip and tear.
The jaws of the pit bull and many other aggressive dog breeds use the “lock and hold” mechanism. This makes separation control for dogfighting even worse, since harm to the other dog involves tearing of muscle and skin.
The only way to break up this type of fight is to spread their jaws apart with a breaking rod (required in multi-dog households) while someone else ties up the dogs for control. This can be dangerous as all fighting dogs will redirect their anger and attack when separated as they are still in attack mode. Knowing how to stop a dog fight involves many things, but breeds should always be considered first.