Recently, my brother David and I were invited to give a presentation at the South Slope Dog Owners Association's Coffee Bark about how to prevent dog fights. Here is a follow up blog post of what we talked about:
South Slope Dog Lovers,
As a follow up to our discussion at Coffee Bark on dog fight prevention, David and I wanted to stress a couple of points.
The best way to prevent dog fights is to not let them happen. We support the rules that your association has developed. Those rules are designed to ensure the safety of your community and your dogs. The larger point however is this: all responsible dog owners have a duty to communicate and copperate with each other to ensure the safety of their dogs and each other.
We next stress the importance of all dog owners exercising strong control over their dogs. We know that our dogs are our friends and constant companions and that they love us unconditionally. But we also show our dogs love when we train them to obey our commands. One of the most important commands to teach your dog is the recall command in an environment full of distractions. That way, when you sense danger, your dog will obey you and return immediately. Remember to remain calm, do not panic, just recall your dog and go to a safe area.
Owners should be vigilant and learn the physical signs that signal that a fight may occur. For example, dogs with stiff tails straight up in the air and eyes fixated on each other and other displays of domiance are good indicators of a problem about to erupt. Sometimes a dominant dog will intimidate a passive dog and no fight will happen. No need to risk it, if you sense danger, calmly recall your dog and find a safe place. Also call the other dog owner to keep an eye on his dog. This is where communication and cooperation among dog owners is key.
If a fight does break out, we urge you to NEVER TRY TO BREAK UP A DOG FIGHT ALONE. You probably do not have experience in breaking up fights and dog fights can be vicious and dangerous. A lot of good minded people have been hurt. Dogs are animals and can be unpredictable and when they are locked in a fight, they are not in the mindset of being your companion. If you intervene, you put yourself at risk of being bit, even by your dog. Further, if you were to get bit, there is no way of knowing whether that dog is up to date on its shots.
If you decide to act to break up a fight, NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE AND ALWAYS HAVE HELP. Two or three dog owners may be required to pull the dogs apart. Once broken up, do not release the dogs and immediately remove the dogs from the park.
We understand the urge to protect your pets from attack but do not let that urge overide good judgment. Always remember to use common sense and practice responsible dog ownership. We hope this is helpful and feel free to contact us with questions.
Thanks
John and David
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