[Npbfamgt]

Theoretical instructions are great, but every situation is different and real life is messy and disorganised especially when you are scared and have to act quickly. i would love to never have to break up a dog fight again (I used to work at a doggie daycare and broke up all kinds of fights until I got fed up with such a dangerous senario) but I also know that owning a "pit bull" i may need to again someday as much as I hope that will never happen. I appreciate every bit of real real life info from real people i can get, I would always rather be over prepared with a head full of anecdotes i'll never need than the other way around.

[7UENf0w7]

If the neighbor her dogs while she was gone, she wouldn't need the OP to listen for dogfights through the window either . . . sorry if someone already pointed that out.

Accidents definitely do happen though! I could see a scenario like what you described playing out at my house, for sure. Dogs and their sticks, LOL!

[Nurse_sero]

Thanks for sharing your story. Owners who are educated on properly caring for this breed are the minority. There are so many people out there who have no idea what their doing with these dogs.

[vekiuytyh]

Sharing experiences on here on situations that people sometimes face, is a way to not only learn from it, but also to help others learn from your experiences, and also to vent a little. Not everyone knows as much as they think they know, and every one can stand to learn a little something new from time to time.


...

Being a totally inexperienced owner, I found this posting very educational. I hadn't read about locking legs around the dogs before. That sounds like a useful technique. I hope never to have to use it. I also find it to be a great reminder when folks share real-life experiences as they occur -- that I should never forget that it could happen.

^^^^This post.... this one right here^^^^^ THIS is why we are here, this is why this forum exists.... People come here to LEARN!! It's people like PoohsGramma, that are why people like us are dedicated, every day that we wake up, to come to this form, to help others learn, to educate, and sometimes, to learn ourselves. This forum is as successful as it is for one reason and one reason only... we are dedicated on teaching. If someone can come on here and post about an experience they had, and share how they handled it, and people respond with either, "you handled that correctly" or "maybe next time try this" or "you totally screwed up the way you handled that situation", then everyone walks away with a little more knowledge.

Theoretical instructions are great, but every situation is different and real life is messy and disorganized especially when you are scared and have to act quickly. i would love to never have to break up a dog fight again (I used to work at a doggie daycare and broke up all kinds of fights until I got fed up with such a dangerous scenario) but I also know that owning a "pit bull" i may need to again someday as much as I hope that will never happen. I appreciate every bit of real real life info from real people i can get, I would always rather be over prepared with a head full of anecdotes i'll never need than the other way around.

Exactly... I couldn't agree more. I like to say, "Be like the Boy Scouts: Be prepared!" Better to have the knowledge and never need it, than to need it and not have it.

One dog families, usually don't have to deal with breaking up a fight, but it's always better to know how to break one up, than to waste time and energy, standing there screaming at the dogs to stop.

Oh, and for the member that was wanting to order a break stick and to learn how to use them correctly.... here's Pit Bull Rescue Central's link to their break sticks. I ordered mine from them and couldn't be happier. Not only do they tell you how to use one correctly, but they also tell you not to use it on any breed other than a bully breed.... not everyone knows that, which is evident by this thread.

http://www.pbrc.net/breaksticks.html

Oh, and one other thing... 4Paws.... she wants you to break a window and get into her house if you hear dogs fighting .... I'm taking that to mean she leaves them all loose together during the day?? Hopefully, you have gotten through to her, and thank God you were there to help her when the dogs got into a fight, otherwise, she could be burying one of her dogs tonight, or spending $$$$ in vet bills for repairs to one or more of her dogs. The fact that the Shar Pei was turning around and snapping at her.. that alone, would be reason enough for me to not let all of them out together to potty again. I'm sure she learned her lesson, and I'm sure she is more than happy you were there. I'd have a class with her and the son, to show them hands on, how to correctly use a break stick. A fight can be a stressful time as it is, and a lot of times, everything that you know vanishes for those few seconds. Knowing how to properly use a break stick, will prove to be very valuable to them in the future. Hopefully, she won't have any more incidents with the dogs, but if so, she should be "armed", both mentally and physically, with the knowledge on what to do. The best thing anyone can do during a dog fight, is to stay calm. You will break up a fight a lot faster if you remain calm and think. Kicking and screaming at the dog only does two things: it wears you out a heck of a lot faster, and for no reason; and it can always just piss the dogs off even more. They are already fighting, and now they have a human kicking and screaming at them. Staying calm, and doing what needs to be done, usually results in a much shorter fight... at least in my opinion.


***my replies are in.... well, this color! ***

[leoto5Fm]

The vast majority of people need to avoid getting close to a dogfight. Tell them how to avoid one and then leave it at that. If one starts, it's too dangerous for the vast majority of people to get close to.

ONE bite can disable a person for life. It happens to EXPERIENCED people. And thinking you are "safe" using something like a breakstick on only a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is kinda silly.

I certainly wouldn't want the average pet person getting in there just because he got "instructions" from someone....

Carla

[Binuilienzync]

The vast majority of people need to avoid getting close to a dogfight. Tell them how to avoid one and then leave it at that. If one starts, it's too dangerous for the vast majority of people to get close to.

ONE bite can disable a person for life. It happens to EXPERIENCED people. And thinking you are "safe" using something like a breakstick on only a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is kinda silly.

I certainly wouldn't want the average pet person getting in there just because he got "instructions" from someone....

Carla

So what are you saying? If one of our dogs gets into a fight, we should just sit there and watch them fight until one of them dies? Regardless if you're the most careful person in the world, if you have two dogs, a fight is eventually going to break out (unless you crate and rotate no matter if your dog is DA or not).

What is your alternative? And why are you so negative about this?

I don't think anybody said you're "safe" using a break stick on just pit bulls. A vast majority of people, even ignorant people, understand that no body, and nothing, is safe during a dog fight. I think the general rule is to only use a break stick on pit bulls because pits are more likely to "bite and hold" while other breeds often bite, let go, bite again, and repeat that pattern.

[engacenus]

The vast majority of people need to avoid getting close to a dogfight. Tell them how to avoid one and then leave it at that. If one starts, it's too dangerous for the vast majority of people to get close to.

ONE bite can disable a person for life. It happens to EXPERIENCED people. And thinking you are "safe" using something like a breakstick on only a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is kinda silly.

I certainly wouldn't want the average pet person getting in there just because he got "instructions" from someone....

Carla

I am willing to risk injury to break up a dogfight rather than allow my dog to die, or to kill another, it's my duty to them.. and MOST owners love their dogs enough to do the same, best to know the safest ways to do it than to have no idea and charge in without a clue of how to handle it, and then really put yourself in harms way and problems have little success breaking the dogs up.. I've broken up many serious fights and never been so much as nipped because I learned how to do it in a relatively safe way, where to hold the dogs, where to put myself, etc.
I'd rather the average person have instruction and learning about it at least than the average person know nothing and end up in the midst of a full-out fight.

Prevention is the key, but not everything can be prevented. I had a pit bull dog trying to get IN my yard the other day, had she managed to and I popped my two out I could have a dead small dog and a torn up big one. When I take mine walking if a loose dog comes after us all I can do is get between them if mine is the weaker dog. Accidents happen.

[vekiuytyh]

The vast majority of people need to avoid getting close to a dogfight.

True... but as every person knows, avoiding incidents with dogs 100% of the time, is nearly 100% impossible, unless you only own one dog and never let them around any other dog ever. There are no absolutes in life, except death and taxes. Even the best dog owners, have had bad incidents with their own dogs... some even resulting in the death of their own dog, and I'm not talking about the average owner, I'm talking about seasoned bully breed owners.

If one starts, it's too dangerous for the vast majority of people to get close to.

True.... and the vast majority of people won't even try to get in the middle of it. The "average Joe" thinks it's best to let the dogs "work it out among themselves".

thinking you are "safe" using something like a breakstick on only a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is kinda silly.

I'm not sure I completely understand this statement.... can you explain what you mean? Like I said, nothing is an absolute in life, but death and taxes.... there are no guarantees you are 100% safe from every thing that could ever happen. Even if you never left your home, not even to go outside... you can still get hurt even within the walls of your home. Nothing is 100% safe, 100% of the time.

I certainly wouldn't want the average pet person getting in there just because he got "instructions" from someone....

Carla

True, which is why I suggested having a "class" with the owner and the son... so you can teach them "hands on" how to correctly use a break stick... not just "give them instructions". Most people learn better how to do something, when taught "hands on".

[Seesspoxy]

The vast majority of people need to avoid getting close to a dogfight. Tell them how to avoid one and then leave it at that. If one starts, it's too dangerous for the vast majority of people to get close to.

ONE bite can disable a person for life. It happens to EXPERIENCED people. And thinking you are "safe" using something like a breakstick on only a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is kinda silly.

I certainly wouldn't want the average pet person getting in there just because he got "instructions" from someone....

Carla

Uh, okay.

I have yet to have to use my break stick. Hopefully I never have to. BUT, if my dog gets into a fight, and I need to use it, I'm NOT going to just let my dogs kill each other, because there's some danger involved (ie me getting bit), I'm going to jump in there and do what I can to break it up before a dog dies or gets horribly injured, be it mine or someone else's, injuries to me be damned.

Owning a dog means you take the risk of possibly being bit if they get in a fight. Same as with owning a cat, you take the risk of the bastard scratching or biting you when you have to give it medication, bathe it, or you have an asshole cat.

Threads like this are in fact educational. You need to always be prepared, to remember to stay calm, have a break stick at all times, and know that every fight situation is not the same and know what to do if it happens.

[vekiuytyh]

I have yet to have to use my break stick. Hopefully I never have to. BUT, if my dog gets into a fight, and I need to use it, I'm NOT going to just let my dogs kill each other, because there's some danger involved (ie me getting bit), I'm going to jump in there and do what I can to break it up before a dog dies or gets horribly injured, be it mine or someone else's, injuries to me be damned.

Amen!

Owning a dog means you take the risk of possibly being bit if they get in a fight.

This is the MOST PERFECT sentence in this entire thread!!! You perfectly nailed it!!

Same as with owning a cat, you take the risk of the bastard scratching or biting you when you have to give it medication, bathe it, or you have an asshole cat.

Sounds like you have a cat like my Cross.... gotta love those "difficult breed" of mutt cats.

Threads like this are in fact educational. You need to always be prepared, to remember to stay calm, have a break stick at all times, and know that every fight situation is not the same and know what to do if it happens.

I couldn't agree more. I always tell everyone to be like the Boy Scouts. Better to know how to do it and have a break stick, and never need it, than to need it and not have it.

***my replies in.... well, this color.

[Salliter]

I am ALL FOR drilling the point home. Should we spare everyone the details on what can happen when you aren't expecting a dog fight, or don't know how to handle one?

[SkeniaInhilla]

I think it's imperative that people post situations like this. IMO it shows the newbies that people CAN make mistakes and that you shouldn't be ashamed to ask questions.

[leoto5Fm]

I am willing to risk injury to break up a dogfight rather than allow my dog to die, or to kill another, it's my duty to them.. and MOST owners love their dogs enough to do the same, best to know the safest ways to do it than to have no idea and charge in without a clue of how to handle it, and then really put yourself in harms way and problems have little success breaking the dogs up...

You know, I might give instructions to someone that has a clue; but NOT to the average pet owner and then have him get hurt because, yeah, he followed my instructions -- but had no idea about a lot of other things that have to be considered before one gets close to fighting dogs.

I just really wouldn't want that responsibility.

Carla

---------- Post added at 06:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------

I think it's imperative that people post situations like this. IMO it shows the newbies that people CAN make mistakes and that you shouldn't be ashamed to ask questions.

I just don't think it needs to be so public. Many of us learned things WITHOUT the Internet and maybe, with some subjects, we need to go back to that.

Carla

[vekiuytyh]

You know, I might give instructions to someone that has a clue; but NOT to the average pet owner and then have him get hurt because, yeah, he followed my instructions -- but had no idea about a lot of other things that have to be considered before one gets close to fighting dogs.

I just really wouldn't want that responsibility.

Carla

Carla... at one time, ALL of us were "average pet owners". And if you aren't willing to teach people, how do you expect them to learn how to become "experienced" dog owners??? At some point, you are either part of the solution, or part of the problem. If people weren't willing to help others learn how to be better dog owners, and that includes learning how to break up a fight, then we would all just become stuck in a rut of being "average pet owners". Sit on the sidelines and watch if you like, but realize there are a lot of people out there that don't mind helping others by teaching them how to be better prepared. Others can sit and complain all day long about how everyone else is doing things wrong, but until they decide to jump in and help solve the problem, really, in my opinion, they have nothing to complain about. If I see a way to help someone learn something, I'll help them in every way I know how, but I realize not everyone is like that. I'm not a "sidelines" kind of person though.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

Many of us learned things WITHOUT the Internet and maybe, with some subjects, we need to go back to that.

Carla

You know, you always have the option to NOT click on one of these threads and read it.... no one requires you to read them to be an active member of the forum.

And by all means, if you have learned enough without the help of the internet and forums, feel free to log off and "go back to that" way of living.

[engacenus]

Carla... at one time, ALL of us were "average pet owners". And if you aren't willing to teach people, how do you expect them to learn how to become "experienced" dog owners??? At some point, you are either part of the solution, or part of the problem. If people weren't willing to help others learn how to be better dog owners, and that includes learning how to break up a fight, then we would all just become stuck in a rut of being "average pet owners". Sit on the sidelines and watch if you like, but realize there are a lot of people out there that don't mind helping others by teaching them how to be better prepared. Others can sit and complain all day long about how everyone else is doing things wrong, but until they decide to jump in and help solve the problem, really, in my opinion, they have nothing to complain about. If I see a way to help someone learn something, I'll help them in every way I know how, but I realize not everyone is like that. I'm not a "sidelines" kind of person though. [COLOR="Silver"]

I was going to say that, but you did it much better than I could.

How will people learn if others won't teach them? Believe it or not, the average pet owner isn't mentally disabled, they can learn are just as intelligent as we, the responsible dog owners/handlers. I was the average dog owner a while back, had everyone taken your view I still would be because nobody would have pointed out that I was wrong in some things and taught me others.

[onlineslotetes]

I taught myself, wasn't sitting on the internet reading other people's experiences. I was out there learning from my dog and my own experiences.

[DenisLevvin]

I taught myself, wasn't sitting on the internet reading other people's experiences. I was out there learning from my dog and my own experiences.

You sure seem to be sitting on the internet plenty now reading others experiences.

[Npbfamgt]

As I said I have broken up really quite a few fights between dogs of other breeds as a result of my former job. I had to get stiches a few times. Every one of those fights was totally different and unpredictable. I got bitten breaking up a Ridgeback and a pair of Lhasas, and breaking up an Airdale and a lab. Those were just the times I needed stiches. The first time my last bully rescue dog got in a fight I pulled out my pbrc breakstick, followed all the advise on this website and my friend (who thankfully did exactly what I said even though she knew as well as I did that I had never had to use this theoretical info before) and I had them seperated in less than a minute. Granted, the other dog didn't want to keep fighting and i was super lucky I wasn't alone, but info gotten from posts like this is the reason this was one of the easier fights I've broken up, despite the fact that Vito wanted his aponent dead and that I would have never gotten his mouth open without that breakstick. A 14 year old, 19 pound dog survived with minimal treatable injuries and the person I was with actually came away from the incident less afraid of pit bulls than she was before because she saw me reach my hand safely in his mouth and only get snapped at by the dog I was trying to save. I got really lucky, but i never would have if people hadn't shared their own experiances with me first without even knowing I was out there reading. That's when I decided to join this forum instead of just reading it, and I've learned an invaluable amount since, and hope to keep learning all the time.

[Seesspoxy]

I taught myself, wasn't sitting on the internet reading other people's experiences. I was out there learning from my dog and my own experiences.

Oh hey yeah, I'm going to run outside right now and hang out with that group of responsible knowledgeable APBT owners that are walking by right now!!!

Sorry dude, I don't have the cash to drive 2 1/2 hours across the state to hang out with the old man everyday, and he hates talking on the phone. I'm limited to hanging out with my dog, books and the internet except for those couple times a month I can make it out to the boonies.

[Npbfamgt]

Yes, we could all figure everything out by experience and never learn from others' sucesses and failures. Somethings only become really real when they happen directly to us, but that is no reason to reinvent the wheel every time.