Generally, there are two types of dogfighting: illegal dogfighting and dogfighting over a favorite bone or someone in a heat cycle. But stopping a dog fight in any way can be dangerous, as the person involved is seriously injured or killed while trying to end the fight, depending on its severity and the breed of dog involved. This article will focus on dogfighting in general and will offer five tips on how to stop a dogfight without getting hurt.
Tip No. 1
If the dogfight is between two small to medium-sized dogs, have the owners or two people grab the dogs by the hind legs and quickly separate them in a circular or curly motion.
Once the dogs are fully separated quickly, hold down 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 their own in the yard, as the dogs are in circles simultaneously. Speed is essential.
Tip No. 2
If you are alone, stay calm and quickly grab a leash or something similar to separate the two dogs.
Quickly obtain a leash and wrap it around the dog’s back area (around the lower back above the hind leg area). Grab the other dog by the hind legs and pull the dog up. Dogs will keep trying to attack each other, so quickly move leashed dogs to a location where the leash can be attached, allowing the dog in hand to move to a separate location.
Tip No. 3
Many trainers advise never to use a stun gun, pepper spray, or prod to end a dog fight. Others suggest using a water bottle filled with vinegar, as it will mislead fighting dogs momentarily, at least long enough to separate them.
What will happen is that the second the dog feels the prod, pepper spray, or stun gun, it will instantly assume that the other dog is the culprit, intensifying the attack.
Tip No. 4
“A dog can only bite one person at a time”; This may be a true statement, but it sure doesn’t make me feel better. And you? A dog bite can be avoided by keeping your hands and legs away from the fighting dog’s head and teeth at all times.
When dogs are fighting, the last thing they think of 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 that just bit.
Tip No. 5
Use a brake stick for pit bulls or aggressive and fierce dog attacks, as it will be impossible to get quick control without one. Raising the hind legs of Pit Bulls or similar breeds to break up their dogfights will not 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, as damage to the other dog involves tears in the skin and muscles.
The only way to break this type of fight is to open their jaws with a breaking rod (necessary in multi-dog households) while another person is tethering the dogs to control them. 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.