Barking Up The Wrong Tree

How To Safely Stop A Dog Fight

Never step in between fighting dogs and grab their collars to try and stop a fight or you are very likely to get badly bitten.

When fighting, dogs are in survival mode and do not see you as their loving owner. They will bite because they’re not thinking clearly. Here is one of the safest ways to do it, no matter what the size of dog:

With Two People
The best way to stop a dog fight requires two people. Each goes behind a dog and grabs its back legs, rather like a wheelbarrow, and the two dogs are pulled apart. The dogs must not be released too quickly or they will start fighting again. To stop the dogs from curling round and biting, the two people must each move backwards and turn slowly in a circle. To avoid falling on the chin, the dogs must sidestep. Do not release the dogs too quickly, or they may turn and bite the person who was holding their legs. Before releasing the dogs, one must be put in some sort of enclosure so they cannot get to each other again.

With One Person
If a fight starts and you’re on your own, leave them to fight whilst you get a dog lead. Fighting dogs are nearly always locked to each other. Thread the lead through its handle, walk behind one of them and loop the lead round one of the dog’s waist (between his ribs and hips). Drag the dog backwards and tie it to something.

Now walk round the back of the other dog and grab his back legs as in the first method and walk backwards. Remember to turn and circle as the two dogs come apart to avoid being bitten. Drag the dog into an enclosure before you release him.