Do’s and don’ts when dogs are fighting

These do’s and don’ts might provide some assistance when next you find your dogs at each other’s throats.

Do’s and don’ts of breaking up dog fights:

Breaking up a dog fight or separating dogs that are fighting can be dangerous and life-threatening.

Owners often instinctively jump in when they see their dogs being attacked but there are safer ways to do so, which reduce the likelihood of them being bitten.

Do:

• Spray the dogs with cold water. This will give them a shock which may provide time to separate them.
• Bang a noisy object near them in a bid to distract them from the aggressive behaviour.
• Grab the dog’s back feet and lift them off the ground, pulling them away from the situation.

Don’t:

• Panic and scream, as this may agitate them more.
• Pull the dog’s tail.

READ: VIDEO: Know when to hug your dog

Warning signs of when a dog fight is about to happen

A dog’s body language is often mistaken as being similar to a human’s reactions. A dog who is giving what appears to be a wide smile may actually be panting and fearful. And a fearful dog cowering and looking away is not looking for a big body hug – he’s trying to make himself invisible. A dog will lick his lips when he’s nervous. An exaggerated yawn is also a sign of stress.

He will turn away from you and flatten his ears. The dog’s tail may flicker or flag and stand straight out or tucked in. One of the final signs you will see in a dog who is on the threshold of reacting is the ‘whale eye’. The dog will turn his head away from the perceived threat while keeping an eye on it, exposing the whites of his eyes. At that point, things are going to escalate and you should remove yourself or the other dog from the situation promptly.