Throw a large blanket, towel, a tarp or a jacket over both dogs. Some dogs will stop fighting when they can't see each other anymore. Try putting something between the fighting dogs. e.g. a garbage can, a large piece of wood or cardboard, a folded lawn chair.
Throw a blanket or jacket over each dog so they can no longer see each other. Or spray the dogs' faces with citronella spray, lemon juice spray, or a vinegar spray. Use an object to separate the dogs. Be certain to keep your hands and face as far from the dogs' mouths as possible.
Grab a hold of each dog from directly behind, hands holding the dog at the top and inside of their back things/legs (where the legs meet their body). Lift up like a wheelbarrow and turn dogs away in opposite directions from each other. Gain better control of the dogs with a leash and separate them in different areas.
Never reach in with your hands to separate fighting dogs. Never put your face close to a dog fight. Never grab a dog by the tail and attempt to pull him away from a fight.
People and dogs can become injured when there's a fight. Also, a dog will remember that he's been attacked. It may be very difficult–if not impossible–for them to get along afterwards.
No, you should not let your dogs fight it out if they're not playing. Once you determine your dogs are actually fighting, you should separate them as soon as possible using any of the methods outlined in this article.
If the dogs are too aggressive and breaking up the fight will put you at risk of serious injury, stay out of it. People end up with severe lacerations, crushed bones, and sometimes far worse when the dogs accidentally turn their attack on them.
Plan A: use a barrier
Throw a large blanket, towel, a tarp or a jacket over both dogs. Some dogs will stop fighting when they can't see each other anymore. Try putting something between the fighting dogs. e.g. a garbage can, a large piece of wood or cardboard, a folded lawn chair.
Sometimes, two dogs cannot live together after fighting. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to rehome them, but it does mean keeping them separated for the rest of their lives. As we discussed above, you'd need to crate and rotate (using either literal crates or rooms) or split your house into two parts.
Unfortunately, some fighting dogs will not stop fighting until an injury occurs that results in one dog backing off. However, some triggers are easily identified and can be avoided. Multiple dogs of the same sex that live in the same house (all female or all male) may be at a higher risk of fighting.
Do: Once the fight ends and you have calmed them you need to make a quick medical check. If one or both of the dogs are seriously injured you need to take the appropriate medical steps and get them to a vet immediately. Don't: Wait. If there are injuries - you need to get them help.
If left alone, the dogs will often use posturing and threats to end encounters without injury. If one dog backs down, the problem may be resolved. However, when both dogs are equally motivated to challenge, assert and posture, fighting will usually result.
Use Spray Shield™ (Premier Pet Products, formally called Direct Stop). Spray Shield™ is a citronella spray that can be used to interrupt attacks by surprising/distracting animals with a powerful, unpleasant scent, and has been found to be as effective as pepper spray without the harmful effects on animals and people.
They can recognise whether or not what they're hearing is driven by positive or negative emotions. They can even become stressed when we show intense emotion via our facial expressions. With all that in mind, it's safe to assume that dogs do worry when their Owners argue, on one level or another.
Many common behavioral concerns, including fear, anxiety, and frustration-related behaviors, become more evident at social maturity and can underly an overly aggressive response. The younger dog may be initiating confrontations to gain access to resources, though that is just one possible trigger.
It is a common myth that aggression between housemate dogs is related to dominance and this misconception is unfortunate and sometimes leads to harsh correction methods. Dogs should not be punished or reprimanded for aggressive displays. Dogs should never be alpha rolled. Never.
Stay quiet and don't scream. Get on top of something. Feed something to the dog by throwing the food away from yourself. Back into a corner or against a wall so dog cannot get behind you.
Some have recommended that the dogs not be anywhere near one another for at least 48 hours following the fight, even if they live in the same household, while others recommend that getting a positive interaction between the two animals as soon as possible is the best course of action -- at the end of the day, however, ...
While we don't speak “dog”, there may be a way dogs apologize to each other. Usually though, dogs tend to simply walk away after a fight with another dog. After a while, they may reconcile, with the offending dog expressing regret through body language.
Although fights are not usually to the death, many dogs succumb to their injuries later.
Expect some behavioral changes from your dog as well, as many may be fearful of other dogs after an intense fight. It doesn't hurt to see your local family veterinarian the next day just to make sure they are okay. You know your dog best, so go with your gut feeling.
The most obvious sign of a serious dog fight is if either or both animals are biting each other. This is an extremely dangerous situation, as an animal can be seriously hurt if they're not separated in time. Dogs fight each other. If you see your dogs engaging in this behavior, it's essential to act quickly and calmly.