How To

How to break up a dog fight.

By webDogTrainer, eHow Member Rating
How to break up a dog fight.
Rate: (11 Ratings)

Ever wonder what you would do to break up a dog fight if needed?

Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • You need at least one person per dog.
  1. Step 1

    Dogfights can be very dangerous and you should be extremely careful to avoid getting bitten yourself. You should NEVER reach in and grab a dog’s collar to stop a fight. It is best to have more than one person should you need to break up the fight.

  2. Step 2

    Each one of you should calmly grab the dogs back legs and pick them up (like a wheelbarrow) and begin to walk in a circle away from each other. That way the dogs have to move their front paws away from each other in order to prevent falling on their face.

  3. Step 3

    You then should immediately separate the dogs into different areas and go cool off yourself.

  4. Step 4

    Do not scream or yell, this can cause even more aggression. Consult a trained professional and visit www.webdogtrainer.com for more advice.

Tips & Warnings
  • Be Calm
  • Only attempt if you have help.
  • Separate the dogs immediately.
  • Do NOT scream or yell during a dog fight.
  • NEVER grab a dog by their collar during a dog fight.
Resources

Comments  

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on 3/17/2008 I've broken up several dog fights on my own when spectators have been afraid to act. I think an aggressive attitude, a take charge attitude is necessary. Dogs instinctively recognize humans as the master and dogs can generally be cowed into submission. Read Jack London. The flip side is that all animals sense fear and will exploit the opportunity. My dog wears a harness so it is easy to pull her out (and up) while driving the other dog back. I've found dogs on leashes are far more likely to be aggressive than dogs off leashes. Off the leash they feel they can sniff and figure each other out. A little snapping is not a fight, that is just establishing the pecking order. In my experience two males meeting for the first time are the worst. Some upper body physical strength is required to breakup a dog fight but adrenaline can usually suffice. It is easier to breakup a fight if one of the do

AuntPhyl said

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on 3/4/2008 Good tips! Be especially aware at dog parks. Some people take their aggressive dogs to the parks because they want the dog to interact with other dogs. Too often they do not recognize a dog fight when it happens. They think it is play until a dog is bleeding or maimed. Be sure you know what emergency vets are located nearest your dog park.

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on 2/13/2008 If you are alone, you can still break up a dog fight by pulling one dog away from the other by pulling on his/her back legs. The trick is, you have to pull the most aggressive or the instigator. If you happen to pull the wrong dog back, the aggressive dog will continue to fight, so go around to the other side, and pull that dog back by hind legs. Never reach for collars or put your hands near either dog's mouths.

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