How to Stop a Dog Fight

Dog fights and dog attacks top the list of a dogwalker's worst nightmares. Aside from a dog getting lost or injured, there's really nothing more scary than a dog fight. But they do happen, and knowing what to do can make the difference between a short burst of a shuffle and something that ends up being a tragedy.

The first thing to do is try to stay as calm and in control as possible. You can make loud noises ("STOP!" is easy to remember and something you're likely to say anyway) and this will sometimes distract the or scare the dogs enough to break up the fight, but not usually. Screaming and getting hysterical, however, will only add to the problem and further excite the already volatile animals.

The best thing to do if you've got two committed fighters going at each other is to grab each dog by the back legs and tug them apart. This is clearly going to require two people. If its just you, don't try to pull one dog off another (unless you're dealing with a dog attack, and then you've basically only got one fighting dog). Be ready to jump back from the dog as you're pulling on its back legs, because it is quite common for a dog to turn on whoever tries to pull it out of a fight. It may even be your own dog that bites you -- they are hysterical during a fight and will sometimes bite anything and anyone without thinking.

The other widely agreed upon tactic is to use a spray. Some dog walkers even carry full-on pepper or mace spray and actually have it in a holster they can get to in a moment's notice. This will certainly work, but you will probably also spray your dog. You also need to be very sure you know how to use the pepper spray properly and in a controlled way, or you may end up spraying yourself, or spraying people near you who are down wind.

If pepper spray seems a little harsh, you can also use vinegar in a spray bottle. This will sting the dogs noses and eyes more than enough to get them to back off, but it won't cause the tissue inflammation and temporary blindness that mace or pepper spray will inflict. You can get a small plant or personal spray bottle, empty for about $2.00 at a Target or a Walmart. Carrying one around is a bit of a pain, but you can attach them to a belt loop fairly easily. Just don't be tempted to use it when the dog you're walking is misbehaving... the owners may not appreciate your training technique. If even vinegar seems like too much, using a spray bottle of water can be effective for some dogs, but it probably will not stop anything more than a half-hearted fighter.

While many dog professionals say to never get into the middle of a dog fight, I do have to be honest: Almost everyone I know does the opposite. A friend of mine has a 110 pound Akita that once got into a scuffle with a Boxer, and he simply took a deep breath and reached right in and grabbed his dog and yelled "NO!" at the same time. "Just be alpha" he said describing the incident later. And it did work. Another friend's two German Shepherds decided to get into a major fight at home one day -- the fur was literally flying -- and their owner, a 60 year old woman, simply put on the mindset of being alpha and grabbed both dogs by the collar and gave them a powerful shake while she yelled "STOP!". And that worked, too. If you know the dog or dogs you're dealing with, you'll probably be okay getting into the middle of it, but never take this approach if you feel even a hint of fear -- you could very well get bit.

Dog attacks are a similar topic, and while they are relatively rare, they do happen. It can be a stunning experience. I was walking a dog on a very lightly travelled path on day and a pit bull and a collie mix appeared at the top of a nearby hill, more than a quarter of a mile away. They went into a dead run right at the dog I was walking, and immediately went for the dog's belly in attack. The dog defended itself fairly well, but two against one is unfair. I was yelling at the owner, who was running behind the dogs, to call them off, and she was, but her efforts weren't working. In the heat of the moment I did kick one of the other dogs fairly hard in the belly and managed to grab hold of my dog and get him behind me. The owner had one of her dogs under control by then, and the second dog decided it was not going to take me on, and so the attack stopped.

The dog I was walking ended up with a sizeable puncture wound in its thigh which was immediately treated. The owner of the attackers paid the vet bill. Paying for "damages", by the way, is what responsible owners do. Your dog walking contract should be clear about who will pay (you or the client) if their dog gets into a fight under your watch.

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