Just watched a you tube video on break sticks! Simple tent posts will do the trick, thanks to the person who mentioned those. That is what I was looking for.
Sorry OP, this is scary and stressful and no fun for anyone.
I quadruple echo keep them separated and don’t use shock: it will increase the intensity of the fight: more pain = fight harder I’m about to die.
Door/way is a good idea if I’m understanding it right. Leerburg has advice for breaking up a dogfight. You should read all of his free articles. http://leerburg.com/dogfight.htm
But this won’t happen ever again cuz you won’t let em loose together. Ever. 99% they are fine is not acceptable. These are your pets: you are responsible for their safekeeping. The more they are loose together, the more they will fight.
It’s done: crate and separate.
I know people with large working dogs who have C02 fire extinguishers to break up fights. Was told it takes the air out so it can do harm to the dogs but if that is the only way to stop them from killing each other then it is what it is. I’ve also been told an air horn can break up a fight if it is just starting, catch them before they are really into it, and the sound will startle them enough to break their concentration. From what I’ve been told they work, but I haven’t had any experience with them. The last two dogs I’ve had that fought were two female Rotts. They didn’t fight all the time and I knew the triggers and was always on the alert. Bitch fights are usually worse than male to male. Are these dogs litter mates an how old? If litter mates one may be able to be re-homed and able to live with a bitch, just not another male dog.
You came here asking for advice, so why not listen to what the majority of people are telling you: do not put these dogs together again.
Sometimes the majority is the majority for good reason - they are right.
Why on earth would you consider ever putting together again two dogs which have proven that they will fight without warning and to the severity that you would need a pry bar to pull them apart (good luck accomplishing that alone, BTW) while risking your own safety?
Wake up. You are in denial if you think they won’t fight again or that you can keep stopping it without getting hurt yourself.
CO2 fire estinguisher
sorry the spelling does not look right.
I am soooo out to lunch here - I thought these were English bulldogs - not pitbulls
or other bully breed. 'Nuther story entirely.
Another one who says keep the separated. My aunt had two boxer females, who got along fine for quite a while. Then they started fighting and there would be blood everywhere. They were sometimes ok, but finally had to separate them at all times. Yes there was a lot of juggling, one in the garage while other was put outside, etc. but it worked. I think they may always have the chance to fight now.
foxtrot
they’re not pit bulls, they’re olde english bulldogs. i guess they do qualify as a bully breed but wouldn’t english bulldogs qualify as a bully breed as well?
Olde english bulldog is often another term for pit bull mix as is Johnson bulldoge. This is from www.dogbreedinfo.com
“The Olde English Bulldogge is a very new and rare breed developed by David Leavitt through the crossing half English Bulldog, and the other half: Bullmastiff, Pit Bull, and American Bulldog”
American bulldog is another pit bull type.
So unfortunately, it sounds as though you likely have two dogs which may be wonderful one on one with you, but which have a strong dog aggressive streack in them. In one of my past jobs I worked with a number of English Bulldog breeders and even then it was common to see a fair bit of same sex aggression. A lot of crate and rotate.
Yes, I finally sorted it all out - duh! Either way, it is too bad and a pia to manage.
Have you been able to pin point what starts the fights?
[QUOTE=Arizona DQ;5744469]
You know they will fight, you know they would kill each other if given the chance…, do NOT let them be together EVER again!
There should be NO instance anymore when they are together!!! Take the responsibilty to not allow this to happen again!!!:mad::mad:[/QUOTE]
Amen. I have had dachshunds for years and have a lot of experience breaking up dog fights. Dachshunds may look cute, but when they fight, it is intense and they don’t stop until someone is dead or dying. They will also lock on to their opponent. The only advantage is that they are smaller so somewhat easier to pry apart. I have several scars on my hands and legs from breaking up dog fights. The only way for everyone to be safe is to keep them totally separated. If you don’t, with dogs the size of yours, someone is going to be seriously hurt and it could be you. You should also consider that if you suffer a serious bite breaking up a fight and have to seek medical attention, in some areas doctors are required to report dog bites and your dogs could be put on a dangerous dog list or be required to be euthanized.
IMHO, there is no good way to break up a dog fight alone, especially with large dogs. Water doesn’t work, you just get wet, mad dogs. Shock collars just make them madders. Shoving a board between them, might break them up but how are you going to do that at the same time you are trying to get control of them to separate them. They can turn and bite you if you are holding their back legs. Muzzles won’t prevent them from starting fights and muzzles can come off in the fray. The only safe thing for everybody is to totally keep them separate.
Eek, you’ve gotten some good advice here, but it sounds like you have to make some hard decisions.
Even if they are good 99% of the time, as someone else said: that’s not enough - you will never be able to trust them even if behavior modification training seems to help. They will have to be separated forever because they are big dogs with the ability to do fatal damage to one another and humans. In my household, I would almost certainly rehome. It would just be too hard and stressful to do a crate and rotate type routine. If you have the space and the time for it, you could do that though.
I think it’s MOST important to take into account the dogs’ safety and their quality of life. If you think you can find one of them a home where he can be a very happy only dog, I think it would be selfish to NOT really examine that option. You’ll feel guilty and sad, but your dogs will most likely have happier fuller lives that way.
Bully breeds are notorious for having to be only dogs. Most of them have very very happy lives that way and make lovely pets. No need to feel bad about it.
Separate and rotate who is out of the crate, if you don’t rehome one.
There is no “good” way to break up a dog fight that can easily be prevented, imo.
Sorry.
There is no way this can end well if you keep both dogs. A dog fight is a horrific thing to experience, and I very much feel for you, having gone through a similar dilemma. My 2, however, were not bulldogs, who were historically bred to be gladiators, who dont back down once their blood is up and their jaws are locked.
You say that 99% of the time they are fine. I will tell you that they will get “better” at fighting, both in frequency and in skill. You will be living in constant fear of another bout, and that is no way to live, both for you and for the dogs.
Please, for the dogs’ sakes and your own, look into a rescue. Many pit rescues, I believe, take in all bully breeds,and I’d venture to guess that an large % of those dogs surrendered have dog aggression issues. But believe it or not, there are people who are willing to take a dog-agg. dog,who know what they are dealing with. And though you will miss the one you rehome, he will not miss the constant aggression (or-sorry–even you, that much…dogs move on-fact.)
Separation at all times is the only way to ensure peace, and that is no way to live, for both dogs and yourself.
And you are right, an e collar would likely make them worse, unless you find a VERY EXPERIENCED trainer well-versed in aggression, bull breeds, AND the e collar.
Get past denial stage, and bargaining stage, and move on to what is best for your family and your dogs.
[QUOTE=BigPaintHorse;5744373]
Grab the tail or back legs of one dog and drag them to a doorway. Then close the door on their heads until one let’s go and close door to separate them.[/QUOTE]
Was going to suggest this very thing.
I know it sounds horrible. BUT…our dogs (one male alpha wolfdog and one female stupid (really) boxer/am. bulldog/vizsla/whatever mix) rarely fight but we had a foster recently that disturbed the wolf’s pack dynamic. He would attack stupid dog for not much of any reason and she would fight back (never, ever starts them though), and the one time they got into it I was home alone and just grabbed the wolf by his haunches and dragged the two of them across the kitchen (thank GOD for wood floors) and got him out of the slider and slammed it repeatedly on their heads until they broke apart. I did not feel bad at all! He is 90 pounds and she is 70. I HAD to stop it, his teeth are like razors and he could easily really hurt her.
No more fosters for us! He knew not to attack the “guest” but felt his “sister” was fair game.
I have Bully breeds, luckily they get along just fine.
I haven’t read all the replies, but it sounds like you need to crate & rotate, and start sooner than later, before you end up with a dead dog (or two).
OP, I’ve read that the trouble owners always have with aggression in dogs is that it’s only 1% of the time. Something that may only happen once in 6 months is easier to pretend away or deny. Far more people give up or euthanize dogs for HOUSEBREAKING failures than for aggression. It’s just harder to avoid thinking about something that happens every day, like a puddle on the floor, even though the aggression may result in horrific violence and even death.
This whole subject makes me bitter. Who sold OP these dogs without giving her any idea how likely and how bad dog-aggression can be with them? And didn’t tell her about the “bully” world’s dirty little secret, the breaking stick? :mad: Of course, the OP decidedd to acquire two dogs of a breed she clearly didn’t know enough about. Exasperating. And sooner or later, someone is going to lose a dog. I would NOT rehome the other dog. If I couldn’t keep it, I’d euthanize. That is what you take on when you get a dog from a breed whose delusional breeders do not accept the concept that dog-aggression is a flaw. You are stuck with the responsibility of handling a dog which is extremely user-unfriendly in the way most people want to own a dog.
[QUOTE=vacation1;5746426]
This whole subject makes me bitter. Who sold OP these dogs without giving her any idea how likely and how bad dog-aggression can be with them? And didn’t tell her about the “bully” world’s dirty little secret, the breaking stick? :mad: Of course, the OP decidedd to acquire two dogs of a breed she clearly didn’t know enough about. Exasperating. And sooner or later, someone is going to lose a dog. I would NOT rehome the other dog. If I couldn’t keep it, I’d euthanize. That is what you take on when you get a dog from a breed whose delusional breeders do not accept the concept that dog-aggression is a flaw. You are stuck with the responsibility of handling a dog which is extremely user-unfriendly in the way most people want to own a dog.[/QUOTE]
OP, I would try to rehome before taking the “easy way out” and euthanizing. Don’t do it on your own though. Find a bully rescue that will screen potential owners and find someone who has experience with dog aggression and bull breeds. Some people are fine with only owning one dog who stays at home.
Where are you located? I know of a few rescues in PA.
There are very few things worse than watching a dog, or two dogs attacking and killing another dog. They WILL get better at fighting, the triggers will come more frequently.
I have broken up more than my fair share of fights, but you cannot stop all of them. As hard as it is to see one die, knowing you have to live with the victor is not easy either.
You can try to rationalize it, but you’re just spinning your wheels in the mud of denial. You want them to get along, but what if THEY don’t want to? You’re thinking like a human, you need to think like a dog. If they can’t both lay on the couch at the same time, THEY won’t care. If they can’t play together in the yard THEY won’t care. Only you will care and what you care about doesn’t mean squat in dog land.
Get two big sturdy crates, the kind for bully breeds, because if you insist on keeping both of them, they will eventually begin to attack through the crate. Please ask me how I know.
