Tips to Break Up a Dog Fight

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Recently, one of the scariest things that can happen to a dog owner happened to me: my dog got into a fight. This fight was quickly broken up, but I realized that few people know the safe way to break up a dog fight.

 

So what do you do to safely break up a fight between dogs?

Well first take a deep breath. Your nervousness will be sensed by the dogs and may rile them up more.

Also, do not try and grab your dog by the collar, he may turn around and bite you. Even the sweetest dog will bite their owner if they are in the middle of a fight.

There are a few methods you can use to break up a fight between dogs quickly and with the minimal amount of risk for yourself.

 

Distract the dogs from each other 

This method relies on distracting your dog from the fight so that you can safely separate the dogs. You can do this with a loud noise, water, or something physical.

1. Noise

You can clap your hands or bang pots to startle the dogs, they usually will look up and freeze. Take this time separate the dogs. If you are concerned about fights happening while out on walks, carry a whistle.

2.Water

Most of use do not keep filled up water guns around, however wetting your dog is a great option to distract him from a fight. If you are seriously concerned about your dogs fighting in the house, keep a water gun around in case a dog fight breaks out. You can also use a hose or glass of water, if you have that available.

3. Physical 

While the dogs are fighting do not try and grab or touch them with your hands, this really increases your risk of being bitten or hurt.  The physical distraction method typically involves covering the dog’s head. The goal of this is that the dog becomes disoriented and stops fighting. This can really be anything, a blanket, shirt or other fabric, but most people use a towel. Just be sure to move quickly before the dogs can reorient themselves.

 

What to do after the fight has stopped 

If the fight happens in your home

-Separate the dogs as much as possible and give them time to cool down.

-Check the dogs for wounds or injuries, and perform first aid or call the vet as needed.

-Think about why the fight began,was it over food, a toy or something else. Take steps to prevent the dogs from fighting over this in the future.

-After a fight between two dogs who live together, supervise interactions between the dogs until you can learn how to prevent them from fighting in the future.

The majority of fights between dogs who live with each other tend to be related to resource (food,toys or other things) guarding. An experienced dog trainer will be able to help you and your dogs with this issue and prevent future fights.

 

If the fight happens on a walk or in a park 

-Put as much distance between your dog and the other dog as possible.

-Check the dogs for wounds or injuries, and perform first aid or call the vet as needed.

-Get contact information from the other dog’s owner and check that the other dog is current on shots.

 

Breaking up a dog fight can be very scary as a dog owner, however if done safely and quickly both you and your dog will remain safe.

 

Time for a New Puppy – Tails from a Big Sister

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Guest writer Sidehill Pet Sitter Becky

The calm before the new puppy storm…

Kea celebrated her third birthday on April 18. She still has plenty of energy for hiking and swimming but a solid “off-switch” in the house. Somehow, over the last three years, my baby dog has become mature and collected, an outstanding representative of the Golden Retriever breed and temperament. All of the training classes and socializing trips to Home Depot have finally paid off. I was struck particularly hard by this fact several weeks ago as I was walking with her on a trail in my neighborhood. I removed her leash so she could have some freedom to explore. We worked so hard on her off-leash manners, and there were  times I felt as if we were getting nowhere. Finally I am in a place to say we have succeeded in raising a puppy.

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Somehow I have managed to train Kea to be a good canine citizen. She has been left loose in the house since she was 18 months old and spends most of her days on our bed. She doesn’t steal things from the counter and she doesn’t eat cat litter or drink out of the toilet. She will lay quietly on the sidewalk in Old Town near an outdoor patio while we are having dinner or drinks. She tolerates being primped on the grooming table, having her ears cleaned and her nails dremeled. She volunteers as a therapy dog at a nursing home and a middle school and is polite and respectful of people old and young. Life is good. Life is calm. Life is predictable and orderly.
This weekend, however, everything will change. After nearly a year of searching for the most perfect new puppy to join our ranks, we will be driving 16 hours to retrieve our new Golden Retriever puppy and do it all again. This time, he’ll have a big sister to show him the ropes, and most importantly, to teach him how to chase the cat.
retired greyhound

Colorado Bans Greyhound Racing

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retired greyhound

This week I was proud to be a Coloradan when a bill was signed Monday to ban Greyhound racing statewide.  I grew up with Greyhounds and was even in a newspaper article to show folks that these sweet dogs were usually good with children.  They hold a very special place in my heart and I have kept in touch with rescues over the years.  My family even had Greyhounds until just a few years ago when the last one passed away.

Greyhound racing itself has not been active in the state for years, since the last racing track shut down, but it is good to know that the “sport” will not be allowed to make a resurgence anytime in the future.  There are 7 states that still have active dog racing tracks and I personally hope they are feeling the pressure to close in the near future.  Rescue groups across the country work tirelessly to transport Greyhounds from those 7 states to their own and facilitate adoption locally in order to save as many lives as possible.  Due to the closing of tracks over the recent years the pressure has lightened on other rescues but thousands of these dogs are regularly raced, bred and retired at a ridiculous rate.

Greyhounds are wonderful dogs that are well suited to small spaces such as apartments.  Depsite being fast runners, the dogs really are couch potatoes and are content to lay around most of the day.  Many people are daunted by their size but they do curl up into nice little balls!  Many of them are great with other dogs, kids and cats, although they are all screened before being placed in a home with any of these.  If you have ever had any interest in adopting one of these wonderful dogs, celebrate the ban on racing by getting in contact with a local Greyhound rescue!