How to Break Up a Dog Fight AND How to Avoid Dog Fights!

Learning how to break up a dog fight is unfortunately a necessary skill for every pup parent. While I hope you don’t actually have to use this information, you likely will. In this episode, we’ll break down the ins and outs of dog fights. And while the information can feel startling and somewhat scary, it’s vital to learn what to do if your dog is involved in a fight. Important note on safety. Any time a dog fight occurs and you try to break it up, there is a high risk of you getting bit or injured. Exercise caution and ideally, work with a local positive-reinforcement-based dog trainer to better understand how to stop a dog fight. Here is what we will cover: Why dog fights happen (and how to avoid them) How to break up a dog fight safely What NOT to do What to do once you break up the fight 1- Noise, Distractions & Water When dogs start fighting, they get in a “zone” and it can be hard to get them out of it. One method to stop a dog fight is to use noise, distractions, or something similar to break them out of that “zone”, even if just for a moment to allow you to get your dog and move to safety. Here are some ways you can break your dog’s attention during a fight 👇 Giving a loud clap and/or yelp/shout Dumping water on the dogs (this can be surprisingly effective) Using an airhorn or something similar Banging on a nearby tree/wall/garbage/etc Spraying citronella toward the dogs (NOT condoning this as a normal training method, just for this type of emergency) Blowing a whistle (carrying one on your keychain is great) Those are just some ideas, but the principle is to be as loud and distracting as possible to try and break the dogs’ attention. If you can get a 1-2 second pause, you can likely get your dog out of the situation. 2- Put Something (NOT You) Between the Dogs Another safe way to break up a dog fight is to get something in between your dogs. I understand that you likely may not have anything readily available, but in some instances, you can get creative. The idea is to create a physical barrier between the dogs. Here are some things you could use to get space between two dogs. A backpack or something similar (be careful to not get your hands too close) A skateboard, bicycle, or other similar objects An opened umbrella (again, mind your hands) Once you have an object in between the dogs you can leash/pull the dog away accordingly and hopefully de-escalate the fight. 3- The Wheelbarrow Method for Breaking Up Dog Fights (Can Be Risky) Some people disagree with this method, while others swear by it (that’s life, right?). Generally, the “wheelbarrow method” can be a good way to separate fighting dogs. It requires two people to work in unison, which in a high-intensity situation like a dog fight can be quite difficult. Regardless, here is how it works. Ideally, at the same time, each person grabs a dog by the hind legs and quickly lifts the back legs up (it’s best if you grab above knees, but anywhere works) With the dogs hind legs up, walk backwards (like a wheelbarrow) As you both walk backward, walk in a somewhat circular motion. This motion makes it more difficult for your dog to reach back and snap at or bite you Continue walking the dogs backward to either a safe space (ie on a different side of a fence, etc) or where you are far enough away from each other and you can leash up your dog Learning about dog body language can help you avoid dog fights! Take the Dog Body Language Course (taught by Traci Madson CPDT-KA) here: https://pfrd.site/bodylanguage-course Please leave a review, thanks for listening!