So What IS a good way to run off another dog that is attacking yours?

[Penny's Aunt]

Pluto's Lanie (did I get that right?) brought up an interesting thought. Now, I don't like the idea of shooting a dog, even with a BB gun, & unless you got him in the eye, it might not harm the other dog, but how do you find out?

I've heard of grabbing the fighting dogs by their tails to pull them apart, but then there's a danger of the dogs turning on the tail puller while they're still in fight mode. That's not good.

You can grab the collars or their scruffs, but it has the same dangers as above.

I've heard of turning on the hose & blasting all the fighting parties in the face to break up a fight. Pretty good, but dogs don't always fight within reach of a hose.

Pepper spray or mace? Okay if you've got it in your pocket, I guess. I faintly remember something I read years ago about how dogs pepper-sprayed by postal people became MORE aggressive after that. Does anyone know more about this?

What other ways do you know about, or have heard about, to protect your puppers, esp when the other dog is a big one & yours is little, or vice versa?

Any ideas? Opinions? Heresay?

[doxielover]

Hey! What about using a loud whistle and blow it as closely to the dog as possible? Or, taking 2 pots or pans and bang them? Anything LOUD that you can think of. It is true that BB's can (and do!) penetrate the skin, and that's no good. I remember reading of one Rescue from DRNA that had many BB's embedded in the body. That was sad./ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif I would think anything loud would help. How about a horn?

Susan

[WOTANSMUTTI]

When two dogs are in a fight the only thing I've ever seen work (short of one dog fleeing) is water. Grabbing them would be a very last resort and I would get bitten trying to grab my baby if it came to that-but I'm impulsive anyway!

My grandma once tried to break up a dogfight. Her's was on the leash and she got in the way and was bitten in the calf for her trouble. Both these dogs were medium sizes though. A small dog would get the death sentance if a large dog grabbed it.

When our "girls" got in fights back in the old days- we couldn't even break them up with a stick. Whacking didn't get felt in the heat of the squabble. The hose finally did it.

I guess if I had to take walks in a park with my small dog and there was a danger of getting it killed or maimed by a bigger one, I'd carry pepperspray. I might hit both dogs with it, but it might save my pupper!

[Boonech]

Thank you,Penny's Aunt, for helping to garner ideas to ward off an attacking dog. That's what I should have done in the first place instead of coming up with a extreme idea in the heat of the moment.
I probably would have never acted on that idea and hopefully we won't have another attack, but it's good to have some alternative measures to take.

I want everyone on this board to understand that I never wish to harm an animal and I feel just horrible about leaving that impression!

[pluto'slanie]

I don't have an answer to what to use. My daughter got into the middle of a dog fight and she was bitten (not by the other dog, but by ours /ubb/smilies/emb.gif). Since we are city people and Pluto is never off the leash, and neither are other dogs we see, we don't seem to run into this problem. I think pepper spray is a good alternative. (Something this big city gal carries with her regularly. /ubb/smilies/mad.gif)

[Wienergal]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Text</FONT f><FONT COLOR="Green">Text</FONT c>Well, here we go with another of Jean's amazing innovations! Jean, you are the BEST! /ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Boonech, I'm as sure as I can be that you love animals and that it wasn't your intention to encourage cruelty to animals! Peaches was attacked by an insane German shorthaired pointer (who later mauled a child and killed a Weimaraner) when I was walking her on a leash. The dog was psychotic and his idiot owner had him on a plain nylon slip collar, which he easily slipped. When I saw him charge Peaches, I became a person I didn't know. If I had had a gun, I would have shot him. Period. As it was, I had a poopy bag and was unable to do anything but scream as he grabbed my little girl (she was a year old) and threw her into the air. Luckily, he grabbed her rump, so he didn't kill her -- just wounded her. I did what you are never supposed to do and what I never though I would do--I jumped in and began hitting the pointer on the head with my fist. I'm lucky that I wasn't hurt.

I have heard that water is the one thing that will break up a dog fight, but like Lanie, I walk my dogs in the city, so I'm not near water or a hose or anything else. I think pepper spray is a good idea, though. It would cause discomfort and irritation, but no long-lasting effects, and it could save your dog's life.

[2DogsLong]

When Frankie and Oscar went through 3 hellish weeks of establishing dominance, Chris and I tried everything to break up their fights.

The tail pulling did not work. I could have pulled the tails off and I don't think they would have noticed.

I dumped a large pitcher of cold water on them but just ended up with wet fighting wieners and a huge mess. I guess you really need a bit of pressure behind the water to get their attention.

Trying to pry them apart got both of us bitten. Chris almost lost a fingertip.

Noise did nothing to distract them. Well... when Chris got bitten and yelled some choice words, the dogs did tone down the fight enough that I got them separated.

It's frightening enough when you know the dogs aren't trying to kill each other. I'd be afraid to use pepper spray unless I had a clean shot of the other dog. Maybe we should all get catahoulas(sp? -- the only hit I got was catapults) to protect our wieners.

[wireweiners]

The only dog fights I've ever had to break up were between my own dogs. Water has never worked for me, I just had wet fighting dogs. If you had a hose with enough pressure you could spray it directly in the attacking dogs nose and maybe break up the fight but I think the pepper spray would probably work best.

[Mandy]

Okay, as far as the idea of spraying water goes...if you don't have a hose handy in your yard, what about using some type of a water gun like a super soaker? You can get those at Wal-Mart in the toy section. They can pack a little puch without hurting. It might not be the greatest for taking on walks, but you could keep it handy by your door for when those big dogs invade your dachsies space.

As far as BB's penetrating the skin...yes they can. Growing up on a farm, we all had shooting practice (but none of us would ever have shot a living thing). Two of my brothers were horsing around one time and one got in the way of the BB. The BB penetrated his forehead. Luckily his thick skull stopped the BB. But, he had a BB in his skin with blood running down....

<FONT size="4">Hey Jean</FONT s>
<FONT COLOR="Orange">You are wonderful!! Lots of doggies tisses from Henry and Jakey!</FONT c>
/ubb/smilies/jacks.gif /ubb/smilies/wavey.gif

[Krista]

I copied this from another BB. This guy usually does his homework on stuff so probably knows what he is talking about. I believe the company has a website too, you could ask them on the phone.
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OK, one more time...
There have been stories here lately about people and their furkids being injured by dog attacks. Some try to defend themselves by carrying a stick, a squirt bottle or even avoiding the joys of walkies.

Please, seriously consider the Ultrasonic Dog Repeller. It causes an agressive dog to lie down quietly until you can get out of range. It is effective to a range of 20'. I am adverse to inflicting any pain on any animal but I am more than willing to defend myself and my doxies. This repeller is humane and effective!. I have personally used it with great results. It measures only 5"x2.5"x1" and takes two 1.5V AA batteries. It comes with a belt clip for quick access or can be carried in a pocket or purse. It costs $19.99 plus s/h. Call Heartland at 1-800-229-2901 and order #P8-3494 or just ask for their catalog. There is no reason for you or your doxies to fear an agressive dog ever again.
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Hope that helps somebody. They say it is so directional that you can point it at a dog coming at you without it making your dog walking by your side freeze too. With Dachsies you could always just pick them up if they freeze too.

[Mark]

Hi gang,

Ya got the spelling right, Sue.

Yep, Catahoulas are very protective and will take on anything . . . fortunately his size and demeanor towards invaders has been enough to send them running. And the girls aren't afraid to let him know something is amiss.

Without Top Spin, I would probably try the water.

Mark

[Tanya]

Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with aggressive dogs too much, but the few times I have were really frightening. Our neighbor owned two dogs, a Pug and a Pit Bull. The Pit Bull belonged to her boyfriend actually. poor Pug was never really cared for and stayed at our house mostly.Anyway, one day for no reason the Pit Bull grabbed Pug (who was blind in one eye already) by the face and was slinging him around like a rag. Nothing we did would make that dog release Pug. water, car horns, screams...nothing. The dog's owner finally hit him with a broom on the head and he let Pug go. We rushed the poor Pug to the vet because his owner refused /ubb/smilies/angryfire.gif . Pug stayed for 3 months in the hosiptal and lost his remaining eye /ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif . I love all animals and would never hurt one...but if that dog had grabbed one of my babies especially my little Punkin or Josie, I think in a panic I could have killed that dog. It scared me that much! Definately if you can find a humane way to end a fight you should. I like the idea Krista posted from another board. Please don't think I am harsh, but if I thought my dog's life was at risk...I don't know how I would react. Luckily, my dog's haven't been around aggressive dogs and they seem to like one another.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Sometimes it's hard to fathom why a dog does what it does- but they must have some sort of reason...

My big girls used to fight over me. I mean- really tear into each other. We fixed that problem by clearly giving dominance to the older Lab and made the rotti 2nd. It worked.

The saddest and most frightening thing to see is when a bigger dog grabs a little one.I think a few dogs out there are psychotic and want to kill for killings sake.
About 6 years ago this pit-bull type dog was roaming around this area and went for the big old dog next door. Goofy out weighed that dog by some poundage-but the attacker was enraged and wouldn't stop. The owner couldn't get the dogs apart,Goof wasn't very aggressive but was really holding his own here with the help of his big leather collar. That collar ended up saving his life. The sheriff came by and had to shoot the pitbull b/c it turned on him.

We never did figure out what and how that dog came onto our street. Maybe he was dumped ??
Sad end for a dog with no people to help discipline him./ubb/smilies/frown.gif