How to Break Up a Dogfight

Breaking up a dogfight can be dangerous. Depending on your size and abilities, choose from the following options.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brooms
• Dog Bones
• Dog Food
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Treats
• Garden Hoses
• Muzzles
• Dogs
• Air Horns
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fire Extinguishers

1. Avoid hitting the dogs or getting your hands anywhere near their mouths. Hitting could make the situation worse and could cause the attack to be redirected toward you.

2. Enlist another person and separate the dogs by grabbing their hind legs and walking them backward (like wheelbarrows). Secure the dogs away from each other before releasing them.

3. Spray the aggressor with a water hose or, if necessary, a fire extinguisher. If this doesn't make a difference, aim for the nostrils.

4. Hold a broom between dogs to separate them.

5. Use a noise-making device such as an air horn to drive them apart.

Tips & Warnings

• Some dogs behave differently than others when in a fight. Dogs that were bred for fighting, such as pit bulls or rottweilers, may not be easily distracted and require stronger intervention techniques. With male dogs, for example, you may need to grab the testicles to get their attention.
• Be extremely cautious. Do not place yourself between the fighting dogs.

[davelopan]

on 3/5/2009 "walking them backward (like wheelbarrows)". That would be a hilarious sight. Nice job.

[MARCUS]

on 2/12/2009 nice article

[MacDonald]

on 11/28/2008 Rottweilers were NOT bred or used for fighting, any time in history.

[brandy1123]

on 11/2/2008 goodadvise

[flutedogs561]

on 11/1/2008 Likestohelp mentioned pouring hot or cold liquids on the dogs' heads. NEVER pour hot liquids on the dogs' heads as this could permanently damage their eyes. Pardon me for saying this, but how stupid! You want to distract the dogs, not injure them permanently!