How To Discipline A Dog For Attacking Another Dog

No matter how you determine to protect your canis familiaris, make your plan before taking your adjacent walk.

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How to Stop a Domestic dog From Attacking Your Dog

This is a terrible discipline, and there are no easy answers or guaranteed solutions. Some dogs are submissive and seem to invite assault, so all I can do here is offer a few good things you might endeavor in order to save your dog. Nearly of them work, nearly of the time, but if the attacker ignores your efforts, you lot demand to be willing to do more to save your dog.

Hither are the four strategies that will work all-time:

• Deport a stick
• Behave a collapsible baton
• Employ pepper spray
• Acquit a backpack or thick towel

one. Carry a Stick

If you adopt to bear a stick, it should be at least xxx inches (about 75 cm) in length. A stick is only going to be helpful when yous are approached by the domestic dog and take time to react—anyone who has seen their domestic dog attacked by another knows that there is not ever fourth dimension for this to even piece of work.

• Stand up in front of your domestic dog and challenge the attacker.
• Enhance the stick upwardly in a threatening manner (some dogs are afraid of being hit, some will come across you as a taller force to overcome and be agape of challenging you lot). Some walkers recommend you put the stick out in front end of yous to go on the canis familiaris at bay.
• Apply a firm training vocalisation and tell the canis familiaris "NO", "HOME", "LEAVE Information technology", or whatever else comes to mind.

I take seen some dog walkers acquit larger sticks, like a hockey stick, and every bit long as the walker is able to utilise it correctly the larger stick may be helpful. Unfortunately, a stick is kind of awkward when walking some dogs and when preparation others; it is likely to be left at home. It definitely will practise no good if non carried.

Some writers have also suggested that you can use the stick to pry open up the attacker'south jaws if he has bitten downwards on your domestic dog. This is a terrible reason to carry a stick, but it could salve your dog. That said, other methods are more effective, and by the time the dog decides to release his seize with teeth, it may be besides tardily for your smaller dog.

2. Employ a Collapsible Baton

In my opinion, this is a lot amend than carrying a stick. A baton is lighter, tin can be attached to a belt (even if information technology is less trouble to deport in your hand most of the fourth dimension), and when extended will practice the job to continue a larger dog at bay. The police force baton I carry is fabricated up of a hard material that works equally well as any hardwood.

A stick or baton works best if you lift it up or shove it in the face up of the attacking domestic dog and cause them to dorsum downward and walk away. If the dog goes right around you, and despite your best efforts attacks your domestic dog, there are a few things you can exercise to dissever the dogs. None of them are without risk since dogs that are on the attack oftentimes do non even know who or what they are biting.

• Grab the dog by the tail and pull him towards you, lifting him at the same time so that his rear feet are no longer on the ground. (Some will turn around and bite.)
• Grab the domestic dog by the rear legs and lift him up. (Some will turn effectually and bite.)
• If the dog is a very large breed and you do not have the strength to lift him upwards, pull his dorsum legs apart so that he is off residuum and falls to the basis. (Some dogs will just lie down and keep biting your canis familiaris.)

Practise not try to attain into the middle of the fight and pull the canis familiaris dorsum by his collar. That is well-nigh definitely going to get you lot bitten. You cannot help your canis familiaris if you are haemorrhage.

Simply what happens if the canis familiaris has clamped down on your dog and there is no way to go him to finish?

Using your stick or baton to hit the dog will not ordinarily help. Some writers will recommend that yous carry a canteen of water to spray in the dog's face. Seriously? Many large dogs, specially if they take been trained to exist pain resistant, will ignore this. I have also heard of many dog walkers recommending a vinegar and water mixture in a h2o canteen. A little better, but often not enough. If you take a small dog he might be expressionless before the attacker even bothers to respond to the vinegar hitting his eyes.

Not all dogs are going to give you an obvious warning.

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three. Use Pepper Spray

If you desire to deport a bottle of h2o, a spray canteen of water mixed with vinegar, or fifty-fifty a noise horn, those methods will help some of the time. If your small dog has an lxxx-pound canis familiaris on top of him, however, and his breast is being crushed, is "sometimes works" skillful plenty for you?

Not for me.

I carry a tin of potent pepper spray when I am out grooming dogs on the beach. If i of my students is attacked, particularly if the dog jumps around me and latches onto my dog, I practise not hesitate to give ane or more than sprays correct in the dog's face.

Is it painful to the attacking dog? I take gotten the spray into my own eyes, so I am sure it is. Will information technology make the owner upset when his dog comes back home with red and swollen eyes? Probably. Those things exercise non thing to me. What matters is stopping the fight earlier my dog gets hurt.

If the state or country in which you live does not let y'all to use pepper spray, there are several options simply none of them are good. Y'all can make up your own spray just will have to use it in a spray bottle and it will not shoot out like with the commercial sprays (they shoot out a meter or more so let y'all to stay dorsum from the attacking dog'due south face).

Sometimes the worst thing about protecting your dog from attack is the possessor of the attacking dog.

You may just have ane chance to cease a dog once he is attacking.

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four. Deport a Backpack or Thick Towel

I have besides read others suggesting you conduct a small-scale backpack, full of clothes or a thick towel. If the dog starts to go for your domestic dog yous can shove it between them and the attacker will latch onto the pack instead of your hands. That is a good proffer for when it works.

Ii Methods I Find Unhelpful: Air Horns and Flashlights

I am not much in favor of an air horn. It might piece of work, only if the attacking domestic dog is a Fila, and able to accept down a jaguar, the air is not much of a deterrent. I think fifty-fifty less of a flashlight, which on a bright beach would have little to no result.

You may not remember all you need to know at the time of the assault. If you remember anything, nevertheless, I desire to urge you lot non to scream and make things even worse. A big dog attacking your smaller pet is a horrible thing to watch. Try to stay calm at the moment when your dog is depending on your actions.

Important Note

Earlier deciding on whatever of the methods in a higher place, cheque your local legislation well-nigh conveying a weapon and harming another person'due south canis familiaris.

Stay calm and protect your dog before this happens.

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This commodity is authentic and true to the best of the writer's knowledge. It is non meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should exist seen by a veterinary immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: My Bijon Chitzsu was recently killed past a larger off-ternion canis familiaris. My domestic dog was on leash which was attached to a collar. The dog appeared suddenly, and I had little time to react. My domestic dog pulled herself out of her collar, ran into the woods, was chased, and killed. I feel terrible that I didn't accept time to pick her up. What else could I have washed?

Answer: I am distressing for your loss. I am not certain at that place was anything else yous could have done since your domestic dog slipped out of the neckband and ran into the wood. In the future, when you are using a harness, the best thing to exercise is concord on to your domestic dog and spray the loose domestic dog with pepper spray in the face.

A friendly dog will run off quickly. A more aggressive dog will need more, only in my feel, it does work.

Question: After many loose dog attacks, I now behave a pointed stick on walks with my ii timid greyhounds. I've had people scold me for carrying a "weapon." What should I tell them?

Reply: Tell them that you are in fright for your life because of loose and unsafe dogs. If they still complain, tell them to telephone call the police. If they go on to harass you, call the police. You take the correct to protect yourself!

I have likewise been verbally attacked past irresponsible owners of dogs allowed to run without a leash. I put a list of reasons on why I am willing to defend myself, and a few other ideas on how to deal with these people hither: https://pethelpful.com/pet-buying/angry-owners-...

Question: I take a relatively pocket-size, merely pretty fast Border Collie. If she were attacked, would it be all-time to let her run from the attacking dog? I think she would choose to run instead of fighting or rolling over, and I ordinarily walk her in a large park with which she is very familiar.

Answer: Many aggressive dogs accept a high prey drive. If your canis familiaris runs away, they will chase, and if they catch her they volition well-nigh likely try to kill her. I adopt to stand up between my dog and whatever other 1 that is being aggressive. (Simply practise this if yous have a collapsible baton or stick, and know how to utilise it.)

Question: I have an epileptic domestic dog, 10 years old. Nearly all the bigger dogs want to harm him, I think they can feel he is ill. What can I exercise to protect my epileptic dog from my other dogs? These dogs do not even pay attention to me, and then go directly for him.

Reply: Some dogs seem to requite off a submissive signal and invite attacks from other dogs. I used to work with a Pitbull who was similar that and although he could fight he was abused by a larger female dog in the household and e'er seemed to exist nervous.

The best solution to working with a submissive domestic dog is walking around prepared. You want to do abstention only that does not e'er work. Conveying a stiff pepper spray that is prophylactic on dogs almost always makes them dorsum off.

© 2016 Mark dos Anjos DVM

If your dog has been attacked, what did you employ to protect him?

SUSAN Hunt on Dec 04, 2019:

Excellent commodity and very helpful. In my experience locally, a number of dogs that are running costless have escaped an invisible fence at dwelling. I definitely live in the suburbs. When they have run at my dogs aggressively, I swing a stick and shout the word "BACK" and canis familiaris who has been invisible debate trained knows this word means to freeze or you'll be shocked. Information technology has helped me several times although it sounds rather lame and useless for the wrong dog.

Michael Bromley on Nov 10, 2018:

Excellent article, Martin, and I thank you for publishing information technology.

I have Cavalier Spaniels, which are bred to be submissive and thereby seem to attract aggressive dogs. We have been attacked at to the lowest degree 5 times over the past ten years, which is 5 times likewise much: 1) German Shepherd off lead ran from backyard of house we were walking by; two) German Shepherd on pb, dragged possessor; 3) Off-lead mutt; 4) another off-atomic number 82 whatsoever; five) Pit Balderdash at a Petsmart. And we live in suburban DC, not a place where this is to be expected.

Thankfully, the first iv attacks were thwarted by, every bit you say, getting in between the attacking dog and our own and kicking, pushing, commanding them away. I thwarted a GS attack when I was young by confronting it and commanding it to back off. Worked in each of these cases.

However, the Pit Bull attack was crazy. An idiotic rescue operation actually had this domestic dog in a Petsmart. As I walked my dogs downwards an isle, the handler permit it approach my dogs, maxim "He's so nice!" I told him to stay away simply it was too late: the Pit lunged and grabbed by Cavalier by the entire head, so started thrashing and pulling. The handler stupidly tried to pull its mouth off, while the residuum of the idiots uselessly sprayed water on it (no vinegar, as you mentioned).

I didn't know what to do other than I was not going to let this beast murder my domestic dog. Equally it -literally - lifted my domestic dog past his face, I placed my easily around its head and pushed it downwards to set my own dog dorsum on the ground, so, property my hands on either side of its head, I sunk my thumbs into both its eyeballs. Commencement a chip, then more and it immediately permit go.

I cursed the moron and ran my dogs out of at that place.

So, I humbly advise yous include gouging the attacking dog's eyes as an effective ways of stopping an attack.

Cheers for your advice.

- Michael

Mark dos Anjos DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on June 21, 2018:

Martin, thanks for your great listing. I use avoidance as my beginning line of defence when walking dogs, always trying to veer off when I can to avoid whatever disharmonize before information technology can even happen.

Martin Chase on June 21, 2018:

I take had dogs all my life and I personally think that prevention is better than cure. Using forcefulness against some other dog is not only excessive but tin escalate the problem.

In the 45 years I have had dogs growing up in South Africa I tin tell you the following from experience:

ane. If you dont trust an oncoming domestic dog, put the leash on and make a wide booth around it and identify yourself between your dog and the other domestic dog. E'er go on your eye on information technology as it can assault from behind.

2. In my feel it is not always the brood that is the outcome, it is sometimes the owner. Try gauge whether the owner is careful nearly his dogs mannerisms or not. Is he relaxed, ambitious or pensive?

3. Yes, some breeds I steer clear of anyhow- alsatians, rhodesian ridgebacks, huskies and any other larger brood dogs with a potentially aggressive or dominant nature. Or unless I see them playing with other dogs.

4. If the canis familiaris is showing signs of assailment and if possible, try keep your domestic dog behind yous and step forward in a confident way towards the canis familiaris, facing information technology. This creates distance between your dog and the other- it can also come across as a show of dominance and tin cause the other dog to footstep back or rethink its actions. It also tells the owner you lot not happy with the situation. Some owners will be helpful, others not.

5. Talking in a commanding vocalisation- stop it, no are easy and abrupt to a dogs ears, not shouting in a loud commanding vocalisation can assist equally well. Shouting can raise the alarm cistron.

6. If the dog raises its hackles, bares its teeth, or appears over dominant, calmly move away with your canis familiaris. If you do shout or appear panicked it tin can escalate the problem again.

7. Try learn or watch Youtube to get an idea what are the cues for an aggressive, frightened or overly dominant dog....adjacent fourth dimension you will have a better thought of what you dealing with.

At the cease of the twenty-four hour period at that place is no i way to preclude attacks, the all-time is to avoid dogs that y'all dont feel comfortable with or around. Move away quickly but calmly.

Trust your gut and try enjoy the walk without being too paranoid.

Marking dos Anjos DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Woods, Brazil on March 31, 2018:

Sherry, I promise you lot are both okay.

Sherry on March xxx, 2018:

My baby was attacked last week. All I could exercise was go along trying to choice her up. Once I got her the larger dog kept jumping and clawing on me. It grabbed her by the hind stop and pulled her down. The dog proceeded to shake her like a rag doll. It was horrible. I was not prepared. Thank y'all for your commodity. I will learn and exist prepared.

my rotti was bit by a staff locked on on February 06, 2018:

I lifted the staffs back legs and she released my dog. fortunately the staff liked people and then I did non get chip,staff just did not similar other dogs.

(staffs owner was not a responsible owner had no lead for her canis familiaris)

the water bottle thought is a skillful one , prevention is key in these situations y'all accept to remain warning and know body language to stop attacks earlier they showtime.

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on Nov 10, 2016:

Dr. Mark,

My dog is more probable to attack others :-)

Only y'all accept given some dandy suggestions. I ordinarily comport water spray bottle and take sprayed water directly at the canis familiaris's face up on two occasions and on both the occasions it was my dog.

Regards,

Suhail

Source: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/protecting-your-dog

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