Dog Fight!

Teach your kids never come close to the dogs when they fight. Make this a thumb rule and they won't get hurt. They must learn not to interfere with fighting dogs - all they have to do is to call an adult. I also know that spraying the dogs with water can make them break apart. I don't know if a little water is enough or you must pour a bucket of water to make them stop the fight. I think you should try. Well, I hope you will never be in the situation to separate Girl and Bella while fighting.

My dogs act like this too. I have a pit bull/boxer mix and a mini dachshund. The bigger dog (Harley) is sweet but doesn't like people and animals all over her, the dachshund(Nelly) could care less and doesn't mind anything. Harley gets really protective of her food and she used to growl at us if we tried to touch her bowl while she was eating. Every once in a Nelly gets a little too close to Harley while she's eating and she'll give a warning bark. For some reason, Nelly takes this as a cue to fight and goes after Harley and bites at her feet and growls. Of course Harley growls and barks back and it sounds like World War III. To get them to stop we just have to pick up Nelly because she's so little. We just have to watch our dogs eat so we can try to keep them away from each other and avoid fights. Do your dogs fight even when it's not over food? If it's just over food that they fight, make sure you let your kids know not to ever bother them if they have food or treats and just keep them away from the dogs while they eat.

I hope you are alright my friend, that sounds scary, I don't like dogs, I am not at all comfortable around dogs, I used to go to the park to read my book but because people would take their dogs there and let them off the leads I would get unwanted attention from them coming over to me, and it's awkward being 6 foot 2 and muscular and telling the owner that I am frightened of dogs. I think you did the right thing, and I know you are responsible enough not to let your children alone with the dogs, 99% of the time I am sure they are safe, but it only takes one incident. I think the ideas put forward about throwing cold water over them is a good idea and something that you can do next time if it happens.

Years ago I had two dogs. One was a chihuahua mix, and the other was pure chihuahua. The pure bred was larger than a normal chihuahua you'd see on TV or something. The pure bred was also the kindest, most gentle, and sweet dog I've ever seen. However, when I fed them, if the other dog was within six feet of the dog food it would go on attack. I had to feed them in separate rooms. And when I'd leave them with a sitter I would stress they could not feed them anywhere near each other. Because that gentle dog would turn into a pitbull at eating time.

Hi Hon, That sounds like a bad fight and yes, you do need to stay out of it. Since Bella is more aggressive, I would feed them completely separate from each other, in different area's. As you mentioned, you just don't know when one of the kids will be in the way by accident so better safe than sorry. The only other suggestion, other than a bucket of water is a shock collar for Bella. That's probably what I would use because of the children around, not only yours but the other children too from babysitting. Too scary to take a chance on this one.

it is easy for dogs to fight for food, and your worry is reasonable.So you have to trained your dogs to be polite. Dogs are just like babies and they also want to say you be happy and give them smile. the problem is that they don't know what is right.So next time when they fight again, just try to leave them alone and then in the coming days don't give them smile and dont play with them. In this way they will know that fighting is not couraged by owners, so they won't fignt. and at this time you should reward them and give them some delicious food to be present.As time went by, they will come to have the habit to be friendly and politely.

How about feeding Bella in another room? And keeping the kids away from her while eating? That sounded pretty terrifying-and imagine if the kids had been there-they would be so scared to see mommy beating the wall with a stick!

If Bella is that protective, it might be a good idea to feed them seperately, as in different rooms or times. You don't want your kids, or the dogs, getting hurt after all.

I worry about this sort of situation over at my grandson's other grandparents. They have 5 dogs and he is two yrs old. One of the dogs is a pitbull and another a pitbull mix and I'm not sure what the other 3 are. I worry sick that he is going to get caught in the crossfire one of these times. Already, once the pitbull attacked another dog causing over 400.00 in vet bills. My daughter insists that they all love my grandson and I'm sure they do but still...

Next time this happens just pour a bucket of water on them. They will stop fighting.

I had a problem before with my other dog who would act greedy when it was feeding time. He didn't want the other one to eat. He would transfer to the other bowl and start a fight so the other dog wouldn't be able to eat his share. I had to find a solution and it works. This is what I am doing. Before I give them the food, I tie the aggressive one in one place. That done, I start giving them their food and only untie him when the other dog is done eating. I do not free him before the other one has eaten all his food because he would bully the other one. So while the other dog is eating and he is done with his food, he will be sitting in one corner looking. He gets released after eating is done.

We only have one dog so we don't have that problem but when we had more kitties we fed them in one big bowl where they could all fit their heads and they were fine.

There is an old remedy that is from the 1800's when people would walk the streets, and stray dogs were common. People would take packets of cayenne pepper with them. If they found a dog fight and wanted to break it up, the would toss the cayenne pepper onto the dogs. the dogs would sneeze and naturally break up, without further damage to themselves or others.

Sorry to hear that, glad no one like you was hurt. maybe put one in another room next time.

Sorry to hear they got into such a bad fight. I understand what you mean though about not wanting any child to get hurt. It's definitely not worth the risk. Even though it will be extremely hard it would probably be best for bella and the children in the long run. Because if she did bite someone she would more than likely be put down. Sorry that you have to make that tough decision. I wish there was a way that you could train her not to do that. Maybe you could see if there is anything local that helps you with behaviors like that.

You have to think on their level. You are the pack leader and you make the rules not the dogs. If they see weakness they will use it so never become a push over wit dogs like yours. Throwing water on them is a good idea. A few people have said that. Another would be to poke them in the side or just behind the neck with your hand,if you think they might bite you then use a long object and stick it in them. Not to hurt them but to snap them out of it. And you let them know if they naughty they get the stick poked into them. Never intentionally hurt any animal. And always treat your animal with an equal reaction. If the dogs only a bit naughty then don't do much but when the dog gets aggressive you smack it a nice hard one. just one. and hard. There is a difference between abuse and disopline.