Dogfight!!

[Carina43]

- and how one smallish woman broke it up...a good trick, maybe.

Long story, but I have two males who hate each other and are kept seperate. They can be in the same room only IF we each have one on a leash & play distraction games; otherwise one is either crated or outside/in the garage. Anyhow -

So this afternoon I screwed up and did not make sure the back door was properly closed Enter Cooper, coming face to face with Dutch in the dining room, and before I knew it they were on each other, chairs & a bookcase going down, and the scary thing, they were both quiet, no snarling. I swear they fought for a good 2-3 minutes, and I was trying to seperate them with a chair, no way was I going to lay a hand on either one...

About the time I thought I was going to have to drag the hose through the window, I had the bright idea to throw a blanket over them. When they couldn't see, they stopped long enough for me to pull them apart and haul one out the back door while fending off the other with the chair.

The amazing thing is, neither appears hurt - barely any blood drawn, I checked both thoroughly. I thought I was going to have to take at least one to the vet for ear reattachment. I think I dislocated my thumb in the melee, it's swollen already, and it took me about five minutes to stop shaking. Man that's a scary adrenaline rush. :(

I am glad no vet visits, and if any of you are dumb enough to get into this situation...the blanket trick really worked.

[LavenderRott]

I am glad to hear that you and the boys are ok. Will keep the blanket trick in mind for the next time my cats go at it.

[roadweed]

Sorry to hear about your situation. It must have been very scary, and I am glad one did not get hurt.

[Rottnlove]

What a scarey situation!!!

I'm so glad you and the dogs are ok!!! It could've been worse. Good thing you thought about the blanket idea!

[Chyna-Lynn]

I owned two males who could not stand the sight of each other and one day I found myself in the same situation...Scared to death, I might add.

Hubby grabbed the hose trying to cool them off after what seemed like an eternity it finally worked...lol...no vet needed
here either but Hubby had a sore back from me beating it.

I honestly didn't realize I was doing it until it was over with
his exact words were " I could have broke them up a HELL
of alot faster if I didn't have you beating the crap out of me"

Sorry Honey didn't seem to help matters either.

[WorkinDogz]

Carina....

This is the problem with "rotating" dogs..... Occasionally there will be the oversight and then POW.

If you're going to keep both males, please think about kennels. It's too easy for someone to leave a door open or forget that one is already in the backyard etc.

I had 3 males at once (2 of which dreamed of any opportunity to rip each other apart) and 1 who didn't care but was disliked by both of the others. I'm very familiar with the rotating dogs thing and kennel runs were the saving grace.

I gotta tell you though... be glad they're males and not females... male fights are kids stuff compared to the viciousness that the girls will go at it with.

[Tri-Star]

OH YES females are much worse. I couldn't get two apart by beating them with a shovel over their heads or hosing them down.
I almost gave up and figured I was going to watch one die. Than I thought to go in the house and empty my kitchen garbage, run the water until it got HOT and then put in as much hot water as I could carry. I went outside and dumped it over their heads

That seperated them enough for me to play like a lion tamer with the garbage can. I yelled at one to get in the kennel while holding the can and yelling at the other one to GET BACK!
Scary...you bet ya.
They got punchure holes and one tear or rip each. Keeping it clean with antibiotic ointment helped them but one needed antibiotics and it did get infected.
You have to check everyday for hidden punchure wounds. If you see the hair clumping together or looking wet after a few days then you have a wound. You must clip the hair and start taking care of it.

[WorkinDogz]

Wooden magazine rack..... wooden coat hanger..... ummm... wiffle ball bat... plastic outdoor trash can... all no longer cease to exist breaking up bitches.

Although..... my daughter (14) really laughed herself silly over one of the fights....

I was taking a shower and she let Aika out of the crate without looking to see where Elke was. (she was laying on the bathroom floor while I was in the shower...and when a dog comes in the bathroom with me I'd always let the door stay open so they could go out if they wanted to...)

Well..... (conditioner in hair by this time) I heard that telltale *ROAR* and sure enough..... they were going at it right in the doorway of the bathroom....

Out of the shower I come... grab Elke's collar..... my daughter gets Aika's (meanwhile hair is flying from both dogs) and we now have to get them to release their death grips on each other....

I ended up back in the shower with Elke (I truly have no clue how I got back in that shower with her..but when it was over that's where we were.....lol)..... naked, wet me COVERED in a mixture of GSD and Rottweiler hair... all of my strength gone and my darling daughter standing there laughing like an ass at me and Elke in the shower...

I guess if a dog fight could ever be humorous..... that would probably be it.

I've gotten scratched, very minor "teeth marks" (thank heavens) dislocated my index finger (got stuck in one of the links of the fur saver) bumped, bruised and shaken up breaking up fights....

Prevention is MUCH easier...

[Carina43]

WD, that is quite a visual! :D I have always heard that females can be much more vicious with each other

We are trying to find a home for Dutch...it is difficult finding a home for an adult male Rottie with a very high prey drive, with only basic, recent training (since we got him almost 5 mos ago). He can't go anyplace where there are children, cats, small dogs, male dogs...and needs an experienced owner. Plus despite all this we really like him, so shall be extremely picky about a home. We're kind of stuck with him for the time being! My vet & the people at his office know we are looking for a good home, today I'll put a notice in the office with Dutch's picture (he's quite a handsome dog). It will help if my vet can vouch for potential owners too...Dutch is HW+, we've had it treated but he needs to stay on the meds for a year, and be monitored.

Cooper is going to the vet today :( he is barely putting weight on his left front leg...he has a bite below the knee. Barely broke the skin. I had it iced between two bags of frozen corn for two hours last night, it is not very swollen and Mick (who is a biped doctor) does not think anything is broken. But it needs to be xrayed & looked at.

In addition to the regular back yard we have a huge securely fenced wooded "dog compound" so it's easy to keep the dogs apart outside. But my dogs really are house dogs, and its getting below freezing here at night...we're going to be lot more vigilant about doors and crates, obviously. :o

Oh - and my thumb should be xrayed too, it is swollen and kind of a pretty blue. Of course, I shall take care of the dogs first & perhaps get nagged into having it looked at later.

[Storm]

Carina, glad no one was seriously hurt, I have found grabbing the rear legs is the best option even if the one dog has to be anchored with a leed. WD, o boy what a picture;) Should have shampood Elke down while in the shower, just to make the best of the situation. LOL Yeah, that adrenaline sure gets pumping in those situations.

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Carina43
and Mick (who is a biped doctor) does not think anything is broken.

What is a biped doctor?

I'm stumped.

[Carina43]

Sorry Lauren, I should have made that more clear! He's a people-doctor; actually a radiologist.

Storm - I considered grabbing the back legs, but how would that work with just one person? I figured the one I had ahold of might turn & bite me out of frustration, and then I'd still have a pissed off 100lb dog who wasn't restrained - kicking would not be an option, would it? I have a scar on my hand from foolishly trying to break up a fight many year ago by grabing one dog and kicking at the other. I found out fast that was a very foolish idea, and these were smaller dogs too!

If there's a technique I'm missing, please let me know! I hope for this sort of thing never to happen again, but I'd like to know every viable option, just in case...

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Carina43
Sorry Lauren, I should have made that more clear! He's a people-doctor; actually a radiologist.

V8 slap to the forehead!

Now I feel stoopit.

[Carina43]

Originally posted by TrinityRun


V8 slap to the forehead!

Now I feel stoopit.

LOL, don't, it's not very clear!
He could have been an avain doctor...birds only have two legs... :D

[Storm]

That does pose a problem so you have to anchor the one dog by looping a leed through the handle and around the one dog and then tie it to a door, table whatever. If they have locked it's easier, sure at this moment everyone's adrenaline is pumping. By keeping circular motions with the other dog it prevents him from being able to get around at you, but yes you need space to do this. However I have used this method on quite a few dog's and touch wood always been successful. Irrespective of what method you use there is always a chance of getting bitten depending on the severity of the fight. If there is three or more dogs involved you have a PROBLEM and may some force be with you.;) A friend of mine had four rotties turn on one and he stood by and watched one of his best bitches get ripped to pieces.:(