July 13th, 2009
|
Always carry a bottle of water to the dog park or run. You can often break up a fight by squirting the two dogs. They’ll stop long enough for you to pull your dog out of harm’s way. It also works when dogs get nuts while playing and need a quick time out to keep the play from escalating. |
Good tip! I would like to add that a dog attack can happen anywhere. Raja was attached at midnight in Zermatt, Switzerland outside a restaurant by an off leash macho terrier. I love the spray bottle tip and am going off to fill one right now.
Raja – I hope your pup wasn’t hurt badly!
So far, on the few occasions when my dog, BennyBix Ochman Labradoodle, has been in harm’s way, a quick squirt has done the job. Sure beats putting your hands in the middle of two snarling dogs! The key is just to stop them long enough to get your dog out of there.
I also have found carrying a pop up umbrella is a good choice we have been chased by stray dogs or dogs who have managed to get out of their yard and my fella will fight not run. I put the umbrella between the 2 dogs to keep them from seeing each other and the pop up scares them so you have control of the situation.
Patty- Whew! we live in New York City, so we don’t encounter the same situation.
Here, dogs play in dog parks and runs, and over-crowding is what sometimes leads to issues. We are lucky to be able to go to Central Park where there is plenty of room for the dogs.
But even among friends, dogs sometimes get a bit over-excited. I guess I should add an umbrella to my gear :>)
l have found that with my 2 a min schnauser, and a bichon frise, ice water works better cause my bichon is a little stinker(not want l want to call her lol, being polite)l keep a sqeeze pump trigger bottle,(dollar store) works great.
oh do not squirt the face the end under the tail works best.
Jenny – agreed! i wouldn’t squirt in the face! I find anywhere works – it’s the unexpectedness of it that seems to do the trick. :>)
I have admit that I’ve never had much success with using water to break up dog fights. I once lived with a Great Pyr. and a shep X that were very jealous of each other (the shep came first, the great pyr was an adoptee). The two could fight at the drop of a hat over the littlest things if the owner was around. One afternoon while I was cleaning stalls (the owner was not home) I heard them start at it in the yard so I grabbed a full water bucket and doused them, intent on pulling the shep into the tackroom. It didn’t work, they didn’t even pause. So I grapped a hose and sprayed them anywhere I could reach (except the face) but that still didn’t work. Finally I managed to wrestle the pyr off and grabbed the shep and bodily had to lift her and carry her into the tack room to keep them from going after each other again. I only point this out for one reason. Some dogs, in some situations, will not pause for anything. Have a back up plan and another set of hands.
Nothing works all the time in every situation with every dog!
Agreed that another set of hands is a help.
@dogster says the best way to break up a dog fight is with a squirt bottle: http://bit.ly/I0hWp
i personally do not agree with using water to control your dog. it will make the dog scared of water, hoses, water bottles, wading into water, baths etc..how would the dog react to the bratty kid that squirts the dog with a squirt gun? proper training and spending quality time with the dog and knowing comands eliminates dog fighting and social issues…not it being frightened by water
fred – when another dog attacks my dog – something that has only happened once or twice – i’ll do whatever it takes to get the dog away from my dog.
My guy LOVES swimming, drinks out of a water bottle, loves his baths – in other words, no ill effects.
We spend off-leash play time in Central Park every single day, come hell or high-water, he’s passed his CGC, and is an all-around happy, well-adjusted, well-trained dog whom I adore.
can’t figure out how to subscribe. Can you add me to your list?
and again, citronella oil in a small cannister is what i carry to help me protect my very vicious, but small, Chihuahua who seems to think he can take on the neighborhood Mastiff.
sorry to hear you have a viscious dog. have you tried working with a holistic trainer? socialization of your pup would make both of your lives much more pleasant.
Nancy – you can subscribe to daily tips in the top right column, to the right of the logo :>)