How do you get a dog off another dog (that has a bite hold)

[kess&ellie]

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right place or not, so please move if wrong.

At the shelter today there was an incident that I would like some input on.

A couple had brought their English Bulldog in to meet a potential new best friend. They were outside with one of our shelter dogs when I came out with a Cavalier King Charles for a potty break (currently housed in crate in office).

A few moments later I heard this awful noise and screaming and heard the women call out for help. I rushed over to them to see the shelter dog had latched on to the bulldog's ear and wouldn't let go. The bulldog wasn't fighting back, just crying out in pain, while the husband held him in place so that there was less chance of the ear ripping. I only had one hand to work with while holding the cavalier, and nothing we did made this dog let go. The women was hitting this dog across the face and punching it in the gut but all we tried didn't faze her. Then she just let go and I got her away, and with the help of the wife taking the cavalier from me, put her back.

I've never been in this situation before and what I'd like to know is, what works to get one dog off another without causing injury to eveyone involved? It was very scary to say the least and I felt very bad for the dog and it's owners and wished I could have done more sooner. If anyone has some input I would really appreciate it so that if I ever have to experience it again I will know what to do.

Thanks.

[JakodaCD OA]

thats pretty scarey First off, I wouldn't be letting people interact with their own dogs/shelter dogs unless someone from the shelter was there to supervise.

Keeping a hose handy is a good thing sometimes, spraying them with water will get them to break apart.

Honestly, not sure what I would have done, but me, I usually act first think later, and probably would have tried prying his mouth apart..bad idea and not something I'd suggest..

[Lucy Dog]

Aren't there break sticks for these type of situations or are they only meant for pitbull jaws?

[kess&ellie]

I did think about trying to pry the mouth open but decided against it because all I had was one hand and didn't want to get bit myself or have it turn on the owners.

We've never (as far as I know) had an issue like this come up before and I don't know how long the dogs had been outside together before it started or what started it.

[kess&ellie]

It was a pitbull.

[Lucy Dog]

I'd definitely look into getting a break stick. I'd think every shelter should have at least one handy for these type of situations where dogs are constantly meeting each other.

Out of curiosity... why was the pit bull out there alone meeting that bulldog without staff supervision? Were they getting along at first and something just snapped when no one was around to help?

[Lixx]

Break sticks can be used on 'lock and hold' biting types and can be used on any dogs' jaws with that bite style. They are good to have around and imo all shelter staff should know how to use them. However they would be useless for a multi-biter. In this case, with the information provided I would have straddled the aggressor, locked it's body between my legs and choked it off. Don't put your hands between them or you'll just get bit. Beating on the dog is usually a good way to get it to re-direct onto you. Water hoses only work on casual fights. A dog intent on the other dog won't be fazed.

I would also suggest this shelter have staff supervising dog to dog interactions so that there is someone to help when this happens.

[KZoppa]

oh great. Lifting the dogs back legs up and pulling back is a good trick to use. Usually the dogs are so surprised that their rear ends are suddenly off the ground, they let go. as someone mentioned already, a hose nearby and spraying the dogs. They're rather breath, than drown so they'll usually let go. I had someone suggest one time, spraying citronella on the biters nose repeatedly would distract enough to get them to let go but having never had to test that theory myself, i've no idea if it would actually work. break sticks.


FYI, we didnt need to know the breed. Least in my opinion. Breed doesnt matter. It happened. Could have been a chihuahua for all i care.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I think the breed does matter in how you break up a fight and that's why people who have pit bulls have break sticks - they didn't just come up with that out of the blue, they work for the breed specifically. Much different than throwing a coat over a Chi and pulling them off or something like that. Like calling a Beagle off a rabbit scent would likely be harder than calling a Chow off of one.

[kess&ellie]

Thanks for all the input.

for what it's worth, this girl is one of the sweetest dogs in there and never would I have thought this would happen with her. we didn't see it coming. She's been around other dogs and there had been no issues. Dogs that have issues with some dogs are handled with more caution when it comes to meeting other dogs, obviously.
But, I don't want to get into the whole shelter thing. I just wanted to know how to break apart two dogs because this could happen to my own dog while I'm out somewhere and I would like to know what to do.