What is best when your dog is being attacked?

[DesertEskie]

This morning Jackson luckliy avoided injury when he was attacked by what looked similar to a Portuguese Water Dog on the patio of a local coffee shop.  Very fortunately I wasn't there as I fear I would not have been much use as I don't know what best to do in that type of situation.  Hence this post!!!

Jeff, a friend & Jaxxie were in a corner in the shade, when a dog with a collar & leash strolled over to sniff.  It turned out his owner who was fairly near by had let the dog wander around the shopping center parking lot.  After a few seconds the dog attacked Jackson, who was tied up so could only back up to try to get away & ended up trapped in the corner.  Coffee, plates, tables & chairs went flying as Jeff & our friend tried to get the dog to loosen his grip from Jaxxie's head & neck.   Our friend was yanking on the other dog's leash & Jeff was on the ground pounding the dog's head with his fist and trying to pry him away.  He said it seemed like forever but was probably no more than thirty seconds before the dog loosened his grip.  While Jeff was checking out Jaxxie, the owner came over & took the other dog away.

What could we have done better?  A friend recommend picking up the tail of the attacking dog.  Also throwing a bunch of water, if available, on the situation.  Welcome your input.

BTW Jackson appears fine and isn't skittish.  Another friend is bringing her three dogs over to play tonight so Jax gets used to being around other pups again!!

[eskieagilitygal]

Always got the water trick.  My friend once had two Belgians get into a bad fight and she stuck her fingers up the butt of the attacking dog.(No joke! ). He stopped immediately and another person was able to grab the other dog, while she got control of the attacking dog

I guess most anyone would stop if they had fingers stuffed up their butt.  Lol!

The Butt is also the end that does not bite. 

My problem would be is that I'd need to put Latex Gloves on first. Lol!

[101eskies]

I have not seen water work, unless they are thrown into a pool and have to let go to swim and not drown. I have seen picking up the attacking dogs rear end work so that his back legs are off the ground but if both dogs are going at it you need two people, one for each dog. I have also choked a dog that would not let go of its grip on another with success. And i can only imagine that sticking your fingers up a dogs butt would work quite well!!!  Hope I never get desperate enough to do that!

Sorry this happened. Hope Jackson is OK.

[eskilady]

I have also heard that pepper is a good deterrent - they can't fight if they are sneezing their heads off.  I have never used it but have heard that it works.

[Steve]

....and she stuck her fingers up the butt of the attacking dog.(No joke! ). He stopped immediately and another person was able to grab the other dog, while she got control of the attacking dog

I guess most anyone would stop if they had fingers stuffed up their butt.  Lol!

That's a hoot!

[jeannette84xx]

I have only heard this and not experienced, But I heard most people go for the neck where the dog has an instinct to turn around and take a bite but you should grab the hips and pull them away from behind... not sure if this is correct or how safe it is

[Steve]

I did tackle a dog once by grabbing a handful of fur on each side of his head and pinning him to the ground with my body.  I knew the other dog would back off so it was easier.

[snowballsmom]

i imagine also, it depends on the size of the dogs we're talking about. we were just talking abotu this here. grant dog sat a while back and the two goldens got into it over food and he didnt know what to do. scary when they're 90#. 2 20# dogs, a different story. i have had snowball get into it with the neighbor dog and i am able to grab both and lift them and separate them myself. or, at the least, you can grab one and lift them out of the way.
yet another reason i feel unprepared to have big dogs....

[101eskies]

or, at the least, you can grab one and lift them out of the way.

No matter the size of the dog, if the two dogs are going at it, don't ever do this!!! If the one dog is attacking and the other is toally submissive then this will work. But if they are both fighting and you do this the dog that has not been lifted will jump up to get at the lifted dog and will bite at whatever they can get. I have the scars to prove it. 

[DesertEskie]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. 

This situation was the other dog got a grip on Jackson, wouldn't let go & couldn't be pried loose by the three men trying to get him away (guess a passer-by jumped in to try & help along with Jeff & our friend).  Jackson was trapped in the corner, trying to roll up into a ball like a porcupine not making a sound.  Lots of banging & crashing & yelling all around him, I gather!

He & Jeff are just off for his evening walk & Jackson seems fine - how lucky we are!

[BanaerEskies]

I have broken up a fight or two by grabbing each dog by the scruff of the neck and lifting them BOTH off the ground at the same time.  It is not easy to hold two 30 lb dogs up that are fighting like crazy, I then shove one in a crate ....obviously not so easy in the public setting.

The dog catcher I know has told me to kick with all your might in the mouth or the ribs....she has broken the ribs of a pit bull that attacked her pappillion.  I honestly don't know that I could do that, but once the adrenaline is going, if my dog were in danger, I just might.  She has also told me to carry hairspray...you can spray in the eyes and will be very painful, but not permanently injure the dog....drawback is it will likely get your dog to if the attack is already in full swing. 

Please check the laws of your state...knowing what you can legally do may also shed some light on how to react in such a situation. 



Glad Jackson is okay. 

[snowballsmom]

or, at the least, you can grab one and lift them out of the way.

No matter the size of the dog, if the two dogs are going at it, don't ever do this!!! If the one dog is attacking and the other is toally submissive then this will work. But if they are both fighting and you do this the dog that has not been lifted will jump up to get at the lifted dog and will bite at whatever they can get. I have the scars to prove it. 

this is just from personal experiance. i have broken up snowball the bully with a handful of arguments, mostly fosters, adn the neighbor dog, who is smaller. since she's mine and my concern is usually the saftey of the other dog adn not me, i just heft her up ver myhead adn the other dog cant reach her. or, voce versa- either way i separate them. my point was, you cant do that with 2 80# dogs and i dont knwo what i'd do with that situation. or with dogs not my own.

we had a foster who had a neighbors pitbut come thru the fence and almost kill her eskie. poor guy had like 5 tubes draining in him fro 2 weeks. he was in bad sheape. she got roughed up breaking it up, too. very scary. my experiences are limited to snowball bullying whatever poor sap gets in her way so my advice is probably not the best.

[109ACE]

Me? I don't take my dogs anywhere anymore. I feel I can't protect them from the idiots that seems to be multiplying at a rapid rate in society. So no more dog parks. Others don't pick their dog's worm infested c**p up and my dogs bring it home. Add to that just the illmannered dogs at these parks.
I don't walk my dogs in the neighborhood either as there are some pit bulls around. Two that once when we were walking tried desparately to get under their gate to kill our Eskies. No wonder there is a guy that walks in our neighborhood with his German Shepard while carrying a hockey stick.
In the case of the attack described by the original poster, I'd say the guy beating the attacking dogs head on the sidewalk had the right idea. I know it sounds mean, but if in a situation of a dog attacking one of my Eskies, it's going to come down to me or the attacking dog. I wouldn't care if the attacking dog died in my attempt to save my own dog. The owner should have control over his dog.

[casper_d_dog]

Oh poor Jackson! Thank goodness he is ok.

[BeSota]

Over the past 25 years I've probably gained more scars from breaking up dog fights than the combined scars of all the dogs whose fights I broke up! My greatest fear is when it's a strange dog and one of mine (has happened rarely) or having a stranger who happens to be at our place and wants to "help" me break up a dog fight. Both will almost assure that someone will get bitten and it won't be the dogs. Luckily I'm able to break up most fights (which are almost always caused by stupidity of the kennel help mixing up the wrong dogs) with the high pressure washer hose/nozzel. I've learned not to step between dogs (serious leg scars from that one), not to put my hand near the heads (all fingers have battle scars), and to not scream and yell (usually just makes them more agitated). Nancy can attest to a nasty leg bite I had breaking up two pregnant bitches. Plus I fell into the cactus plant on the patio (luckily one without spines). That one took 6 months and two trips to the doctor to heal. The calf on my right leg remains discolored three years later.
My one thing I tell people is don't reach for the dogs heads and if you are going to pull on tails, make sure you have two people to do it. Otherwise, if you have a high pressure water you can use, spray it on the aggressors face/eyes/nose if possible and then continue to "chase" him/her with the water until you can diffuse the situation.

[Geno]

A dog like that without the owner in control is bad.

I would attempt to prevent the fight in the first place. If the dog is moving towards your dog, get up and take a stand. Yell at it and walk towards it. A hot coffe or even water is effective before a fight starts.

Geno

[Steve]

....A hot coffe or even water is effective before a fight starts.

I'd be careful with that approach - it could be a nice friendly dog and you could then be liable for the vet bill for a burned face....

[Geno]

....A hot coffe or even water is effective before a fight starts.

I'd be careful with that approach - it could be a nice friendly dog and you could then be liable for the vet bill for a burned face....

Not if the dog is off leash and being aggresive. But my point was to "try" to prevent the fight before it happens.

Geno

[BanaerEskies]

Sally, that was a nasty bite!