Breaking Up Dog Hold

[Cliff_Johns]

As others have said, the Shar-Pei is a fighting/guard dog. Her reaction should be expected unless very carefully trained.

PLEASE don't use a shock collar to "teach" you dog to let go. This will NOT work. Rather, the dog will firmly believe the other dog is attacking in an unknown and enexpected way, escalating the conflict. Also, don't get in the middle. You can get badly hurt that way.

That said, water sometimes works. Having a few metal trash can lids handy can enable you to get between them and still protect yourself (used like a shield) . Also, a heavy blanket can be used to separate them. Dogs also react to your reaction. Much screaming and yelling can make the dog think it's being encouraged.

One other thing. Sometimes it's best to let them decide whose boss, so they can become friends. Dogs work that way. Still, in a given situation it's hard to tell when challanging behavior (simple dog fight with no blood or damage) changes over to something harmful requiring stitches or burial. This change over is most likely to happen when one dog is tied or on-lead or if one or both dogs are bread for fighting.

These are just my opinions use them as you see fit.

Cliff

 

[tallyho8]

It is always a good idea to have one handler for each dog you are working with in any manner. One person can not break up a dog fight sucessfully without injury to one of the dogs or the handler. I have trained and competition hunted with dogs for many years and learned that even dogs who are raised together and eat together can react strangely at times. Many of my friends and I have had the unfortunant experiece of having a dog caught in a trap or in a fence and viciously attacked and even killed by his own pack when he screams out in pain. I have heard many different explanations of why they do this but it constantly amazes me how a mild mannered hound dog can so quickly turn into a vicious killer of one of his own siblings or kennelmates in such a terrifying situation.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Oh, one other thing I meant to say. In general, if you're introducing dogs, it's best if introductions are done off lead and somewhere that neither dog considers to be it's home. Then, don't pay any attention to the dog that's not yours until they are getting along and have become accoustomed to each other.

Dog parks, a third party's fenced yard or somewhere like that is optimal.

Cliff

 

[thingy]

No,your right,don't expect a shock collar to make a dog stop,once the fight is started,like you said,will probably make it worse,,,,you use the shock collar BEFORE fight starts,before the dog charges the other dog,,in other words,when the dog looks and growls or something,tell it to stop and come to you,if it don't,shock it,,,repeat as needed,,it will work,,and no matter the breed,I 'm betting he will cetainlly feel it,,put it on the furry necks of big golden retrievers on medium settings,,they felt it.Your not going to tell me pittbulls don't feel are you,or shock resistant or something,never been closer than about 50 yards to one,so,,,[believe thats the distance I shot the last one at]..
But if the other dog comes after your dog on your property,,ain't much you can do except shoot the other dog or build a good fence,,,shocking just keeps your dog in line.
But,if you got a fighting type dog,,its just doing what they were bred to do,like my rabbit dog,,,unless you build a big fence or keep it tied,,it will fight,,[you can't watch it all the time even if the shock collar trains it to listen to you],,,never could figure out why anyone wanted a pittbull or the like,,of all the dogs out there to choose from,,why make trouble for yourself,,,about all breeds can get mean and be dangeous,,,but to have one whos breeding makes it that way,,thingy

 

[CurlyDave]

One of the more interesting stories I heard was from the owners of a kennel/dog training business.

Evidently, one day they had a new Rottweiler come in for boarding, and they like to allow the dogs to exercise together, so the "tested" the Rottie with one of their more passive dogs, before accepting it for boarding.

Well, the Rottie got the other dog in a head bite, and just wasn't going to let go. After a minute of thought, one of the owners grabbed the Rottie by the hind foot (no tail) and then pushed his finger completely into the dog's rectum.

This surprised him enough to make him let go of the bite.

The Rottie was not accepted for boarding.

Your mileage may vary with this technique, but it requires no external devices.

 

[tallyho8]

It's amazing the new techniques you can learn even after 40 years of training dogs. (doubt that I will ever use it though)

 

[Cliff_Johns]

. . . After a minute of thought, one of the owners grabbed the Rottie by the hind foot (no tail) and then pushed his finger completely into the dog's rectum.

This surprised him enough to make him let go of the bite.

Well now, that's new one. I'd think someone who did that had better be able to run pretty fast.

Cliff

 

[SLOBuds]

I sure do appreciate all of this feedback. The fight today was possibly more traumatic for me than it was for the two combatents. I'm still upset about what happened because I really like both of the dogs. Some of the dog experts I've heard in the past say that the dogs finish their fight and then it's all over. I don't know about that. But sure enough that neighbor's dog was back this afternoon outside the gate.

I would like to hear more about the plusses and minuses of the shock collar. Seems like no one sits on the fence with this issue. Sounds like it either works like a charm ... or it doesn't work at all.

Thanks,
Martin

 

[Kendall69]

........and then pushed his finger completely into the rectum.

I think this technique is used in prison shower riots also?

 

[thingy]

The shock collar ain't magic,,its just an option,an easy option,where you don't need to be no dog shrink[couldn't spell phscologist,see],,or stick your finger places.It might help,and it might not,some dogs are so hardheaded nothing much works.
But short of building a real good fence,or tying the dog up all the time,,about the only other option is shooting it.
Its not cruel,think thats what some think,,I would rather you shocked me than shoot me.
Good ones will cost you 2 -300 dollars now I would say?,,Unless you think the dogs worth it or you think you might have a future need for it,you might not want to buy one.
Its just an aid,,might not work,if you buy one,make sure you get one with plenty of shock,,cause,I hear this is a pretty tough kinda dog,,but I bet you the one I put on my beagle every now and than would make him yelp on medium setting,,,longer haired dogs are the hardest,,on them you might have to cut a little hair in the area the contacts meet his neck,,,,might even find somebody who would let you barrow one to see. thingy