As I accompany my canine partner to meet and visit with new and known friends at the Dove House, there's not a time that I haven't looked up and given thanks for the opportunity to just be there.  After every visit, I give a big hug and warm, heartfelt "thank you" to my pup for just being her.  She is an angel dressed in her fluffy, soft, fur coat no matter what the local weather forecast.  She is there to 'be' and 'be with you'.                                

This info we should never need when acting on behalf of KPETS, but it is info that could unfortunately be needed someday. We'd just like to educate our volunteers should something as scary as this happen to them and their precious pet.

 

Something no one ever wants to witness is a dogfight, and with KPETS two-foot rule this should never become an issue. But what do you do if that situation happens.

Obviously each situation will be different and the tools available will be different as well. But here are what our evaluators and others recommend.

The Animal Behavioral College recommends grabbing the back of the aggressor's legs & lifting up, or try to get a leash around the back legs to pull up. Although you may not know which dog was the aggressor, by the time they are in this heightened state, they need to be separated.

Once they lose balance, they will likely lose grip and you will need to separate them quickly. Hopefully you will not be alone. But if you are by yourself, you could take a leash and somehow tie up the hips of one dog to a fence, pole or whatever you can find and grab the other by the hind legs. Once they are in that red zone they could come back for more or they could redirect their bite to you or someone near-by. Keeping them apart is crucial.

Instinct tells us to get in there and try to pry them apart - NO! You could get bitten! Another instinct would be to grab the collar and twist. This could actually make the dog more aggressive.

If a hose is available, blasting them with full force could distract but that may not be an available option. A small amount of water will most likely not have much effect and could actually aggravate more.