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By Richard Rowlands
    
This article was first published in the Mar/Apr 2018 issue of Pet Sitter's World.

As a professional pet sitter or dog walker, the possibility of a dog fight breaking out at work is a very real risk.

Your reputation as a business owner and pet care professional relies on your ability to keep the safety of staff and animals a priority at all times. That's why it's important to know how to break up a dog fight if the situation arises. 

This article shares some best practices for breaking up a dog fight. Using these methods will minimize the risk of injury to yourself, your staff members, and the animals in your care. 

Preventing dog fights

Being aware of triggers for dog fights can help you minimize the risk of dangerous fights occurring. Food and toys are two of the most common triggers for fights. This is because dogs can become possessive of these items, and show aggression when guarding them. 

A simple way to reduce the risk of dog fights is to avoid feeding dogs next to each other. It's always best to feed multiple dogs on opposite sides of the room – or even in different rooms. Another tip is to remove and wash food bowls as soon as dogs have finished eating. Taking these steps will help prevent aggression caused by dogs becoming overly possessive. 

Toys and bones can also lead to possessive behavior and aggression. Never attempt to remove a toy or bone from a dog's mouth using your hand; instead distract the dog with another toy or treat to refocus their attention before taking away the item. 

Warning signs of a dog fight

Another way to prevent dog fights is to observe for warning signs. Understanding these signs can help you deescalate a potentially dangerous situation.

Here are some signs that dogs feel threatened and may be ready to attack:

• Growling
• Bared teeth
• Flattened ears
• Raised hackles
• Stiffness
• Staring

If you notice any of these signs, the best course of action is to calmly separate the dogs involved. Once separated, keep the dogs out of each other's sight – in different locations if possible. Secure the dogs by leashing them to immovable objects or placing them behind closed doors. 

How to break up a dog fight

If the situation is escalating rapidly and it's impossible to prevent a fight, focus on breaking up the fight in the safest way possible. According to internationally acclaimed dog behaviorist, the late Dr. Sophia Yin, it's important to avoid actions that may cause the dogs to transfer their aggression towards you.

The following methods are recommended to minimize risk of injury:

Distract the fighting dogs. In an article for Pet MD, Jennifer Coates, DVM recommends using distraction to break up a dog fight. Try distracting the dogs by throwing water over them. A loud noise such as an air horn or two metal objects being banged together can also be effective.

Some dogs will stop fighting when they can't see the other dog, so try throwing a blanket or jacket over the dogs to calm them down. 

Use the “wheelbarrow method.” If two people are present, the wheelbarrow method is one of the safest ways to break up a dog fight. With this method, each person should grab the hind legs of the fighting dogs, lift them off the ground, and walk backwards to pull the dogs apart. It's important to raise the dogs' hind legs far enough off the ground to force them to stand on their front legs. This will restrict their movements and make it difficult to fight. Always isolate and secure dogs when separated after a fight. 

Place a barrier between the dogs. If you're alone when a dog fight breaks out, placing a barrier between the fighting dogs is a safer method to use. A large object such as a garbage can lid, chair, or piece of wood can work well for this purpose – just make sure to keep your hands out of harm's way at all times.  

What not to do

We've outlined several methods you can use to safely break up a dog fight, now let's take a look at what not to do: 

• Never get between fighting dogs
• 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

It's important to remain calm during a dog fight, and avoid any actions that could lead to serious injury. Also incorporate the best practices in this article into your staff training curriculum; doing so will ensure that all staff members are prepared to prevent and diffuse dog fights in the safest way possible.