[messaa]

ok im new to this site and i think its brilliant! that said, i need help. I have a pit mix(Dixie) i adopted when she was a 2mo old. she is now 1yr 4mo and is my favorite thing runnin. About three months ago a stray stafford walked in the house and needed some care(she was skinny as a rail). After a vet check went ok my roomate, (1 of 3) decided to keep her. Dixie was raised with a boxer and a yorkie and loved to play. The new dog(Boo) was scrappy and didnt know play, all she knew was guard her own and bite!
After two minor scuffles, Dixie learned to bite back, not good, but we kept an eye on them. Then there was one big fight(bloody) where both dogs were let outside by who knows, and fought over a bone. After that it seemed Boo(45lbs) learned Dixie(75lbs) was dominant. things were ok till yesterday, two months later, when they were in the livingroom playing around and started to fight over nothing. my roommate ran in to break them up to no avail. while he had a hold of the dogs mine bit him on the forearm, two holes. Im freaked out about this because we could'nt break them up for a good three minutes and my dog has never even growled at a person. she is a sweetheart
I need advice on how to safely break up a dog fight. More importantly how to avoid it! I know to feed them seperatly and no community toys but this fight was out of no-where.

anything will help me feel better
Jason

 

[fawn coffee]

grab them by the collers and pull i would never leave them alone make sure they get plenty of exercise dont let them play fight it will turn in to a real fight at any time if they start stop it yell bang pans togeather crack a belt

 

[angie7349]

Hey sorry to be the 1st to say this but it sounds like Dixie has dog aggression. There is nothing that you can do to keep them from fighting at this point. Your only option is keep them seperated "crate and rotate". I know that I sound crazy saying this but aggression does not always show up when they are young, sometimes they lure you into a false sense of security. Aggression sometimes happens when they are 4 or older, some may never have aggression. It sounds to me like Dixie is aggressive.

Get a break stick,, you can order them on the net. Different people will have different opinions on how to break up a fight. http://www.leerburg.com/ sells a vdeo about how to break up a dog fight.

Welcome to the board and good luck!!

 

[Snoopy]

There may be alot of techniques to use, however the sad truth is that you may probably have to end up giving up your stray.

Since you haven't had her as a pup and don't know her past, introducing this dog has obviously upset the balance in your home.

Unless you can keep an eye on them all the time, and keep them seperated when you can't, then sadly I can't see these dogs getting on.

 

[Chrisnjen]

Safest and easiest thing (and sometimes the ONLY thing) is what people call "crate and rotate" - which means keep one locked up while the other is out with you, rotating them every couple hours.

Beyond that, I think the only other safe advice to give is to suggest that you find a dog behaviorist (not just a "trainer") and have him teach you how to deal with them both at the same time.

When you say you couldn't pull them apart, is it because they both had a grip that they wouldn't let go? This is normal - you need what's called a break stick. Basically, it's just a wedge-shaped piece of wood (almost like a door stop, but with no sharp edges) that you use to pry the mouth open. The way to do it is to straddle the dog at its hips and use your lower legs to hold their butt/rear in place. Grab the scruff of the neck or collar, slide the break stick in as far as you can at a 90 degree angle to the jaw, then use it like a lever to pry the jaws open. Pull back on the collar or scruff of the neck at the same time.

If they're both hanging on to each other, you'll probably need two people and two sticks.

If they're both snapping at eachother, that's a different story and nevermind all of what I just wrote about break sticks.















BTW, what's that preview button thingy for?

 

[Cookies Mom]

Safest and easiest thing (and sometimes the ONLY thing) is what people call "crate and rotate" - which means keep one locked up while the other is out with you, rotating them every couple hours.

Beyond that, I think the only other safe advice to give is to suggest that you find a dog behaviorist (not just a "trainer") and have him teach you how to deal with them both at the same time.

I agree

 

[messaa]

thanks, yall have helped out. "http://www.leerburg.com/dogfight.htm" this guys site is helpfull too. i appreciate it.

 

[angie7349]

Glad that we could help

 

[Stormy]

A few bull breeds love to fight. Storm was attacked from behind by an amstaff when we were out walking once and we couldn't get Storm to unlatch for about 5 minutes and by then both dogs were so excited they were yipping and carrying on to continue.

I'd definitely crate and rotate as well.