Even though dogs are screened prior to admittance to K9 Club, situations can occur which result in a dog fight. We expect our staff members to protect themselves first and secondly minimize injury to the dogs involved in the fight. It is important that you think through the process of breaking up a fight now and make sure you have or know the location of the center’s tools. When a fight happens all staff members that are not caring for other dogs should immediately head to the area to help stop the fight. Be sure all dogs are secure and safe prior to leaving them.
Tools
- Kennel lead kept with you at all times
- Radio/Whistle kept with you to call for help (if certain situations list them here)
- Object to startle and distract dog(s) – metal bowl, air horn, blanket, water hose
Fight in Center – Anywhere outside of Off-Leash Play Group
- Call for help as you move quickly to the dog fight
- Startle to distract dog
- Yell “hey, stop that” in a loud deep voice
- Make a loud noise (metal bowl, air horn)
- Throw water on dog (water bowl, bucket or hose)
- Leash dog when they are distracted by the noise or water
- If noise or water does not work then insert object between dog and person or dog being attacked (chair, flat board, broom, etc)
- Leash and separate dogs into separate enclosures
- Check people and dogs for injury (check again in 30 minutes as it can take time for wounds to appear) and follow center policy on medical emergencies
- Document incident
Fight in Center – Off-Leash Play Group
- Call for help as you move quickly to the dog fight
- Startle to distract dogs
- Yell “hey, stop that” in a loud deep voice
- Make a loud noise (metal bowl, air horn)
- Throw water on dog (water bowl, bucket or hose)
- Leash dog when they are distracted by the noise or water
- If noise or water does not work then insert object between dogs being attacked (chair, flat board, broom, etc)
- Last resort to separate dogs is to grab by rear legs, lift and toss dog to the side – be prepared to leash quickly as dog will likely try to go back to the fight
- Leash and separate dogs that were fighting into separate enclosures
- Helpers should leash and move other dogs in the playgroup and put in separate enclosures to prevent secondary fights from breaking out
- In situations where fight lasted more than 1 minute, shut down play group so all dogs and staff lower their arousal levels before resuming play
- Check people and dogs for injury (check again in 30 minutes as it can take time for wounds to appear) and follow center policy on medical emergencies
- Document incident