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Kitchen Table Kibitzing: What to Do About Dog Fights [1]

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Date: 2023-04-06

This is a really difficult post to write. I am still experiencing the trauma from the event. But here goes. I thought it might help to write it out, kind of like a purge. And I figure that here I can hope that ZenTrainer has some words of sage advice.

I was out on my usual early evening walk with Aggie last Friday evening. We were walking on the sidewalk on a street that runs parallel to ours when I noticed a woman walking towards us with a big brown dog. I was prepared to turn around and head back in the other direction but she moved off the sidewalk and as we got closer I saw that she had her dog sitting and was attempting to distract it as we passed. We almost made it past when Aggie saw the dog and barked. Her dog started barking back, then suddenly slipped out of its collar, charged across the street, and attacked Aggie. What followed was a horrendous dog fight. I kept yelling “Get your dog! Get your dog.” But she was powerless with nothing to grab onto. She finally overpowered the dog by throwing herself on top of him and holding him in a tight hug. We didn’t stay around to talk as the safety of the situation was tenuous; she still had to get her dog back in its collar. The dog was still very much out of control.

We were fortunate that Aggie wasn’t bitten anywhere but she was really traumatized and hobbling a little. Her 11-year-old body couldn’t take having a 65-pound dog on her back so I gave her some Rimadyl which seemed to help. Since then, I’ve avoided walking on that street completely, even though in all the years I’ve lived here I’ve never seen that dog before.

The experience has only added more fuel to my fears of walking my reactive dog lest we encounter dogs not on leashes. In the mornings, we walk near the post office. At midday, I usually drive her somewhere for a walk; we often go to malls, downtowns, and bike paths. I’m too nervous to take her to many of the wonderful beaches we used to frequent because there are so many off-leash dogs there. In the evenings, we’ve been taking really short outings, just ½ way around the block instead of the usual 20-minute loop.

So what do you do when you find yourself involved in a dog fight? I did some research to find out.

The California SPCA suggests that the “wheelbarrow method” is the best way to break up a dog fight. This involves grabbing the back legs of both dogs and pulling them away from one another. Then turn in a circle and back away from the other dog.

They also suggest that there is usually one dog that is more aggressive and you should focus on pulling that dog away from the altercation. In cases of a strong jaw grip, horizontally insert a strong flat stick, pushing it towards the back of the throat and twisting. Pull backward on the collar, making sure not to pull upward as that might signal your involvement in the fight. Make sure you speak loudly and authoritatively as you divert the dogs’ attention.

Avoiding the Fight in the First Place

While this wouldn’t have worked in this attack on my dog, the following signs indicate your dog is aroused and you should remove him or her from the area:

• When your dog is cowering.

• Your dog is licking his lips.

• Extreme yawning.

• Turning his back away.

• Flattening the ears.

• Flickering, tucking the tail, and standing tall.

• Whale eye: a cocked head with one eye fixed on the potential danger.

• Pilo Erection: your dog is stiffening his fur down the spine.

Yesterday, I got the idea of trying to rent a cottage in Bolinas that would allow dogs for my birthday this month. I’m really not in the mood for celebrating, but I thought it would be nice to go back home for a few days, see some old friends, and just soak up the vibes of the place I love most in the world. I found one cottage, reasonably priced, in the Agate Beach area, that accepted dogs. But in reading through the comments, I found that the owners who live on the property have a dog that is unleashed while they expect you to keep your dog leashed.

I’ve done a lot of training with Aggie. We’ve got the drill down for when we see potential problems. I’m always on the lookout and know about changing directions, diverting attention, sitting and treating. One trainer told me to carry mace with me in case I run into a situation like the other evening. But it all happened so fast and I don’t know if something like pepper spray or mace is something I want to fool around with.

My therapist did an EMDR session with me Monday around the trauma. Can’t say whether it was effective or not. My daughter, who has done extensive successful training with her pit bull, is going to come over this weekend for a training session with Aggie.

So enough about fighting dogs. How is everyone doing tonight? Distractions, please!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/4/6/2162233/-Kitchen-Table-Kibitzing-What-to-Do-About-Dog-Fights

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