Even though many dogs are docile companion animals, others have aggressive tendencies. When you are walking your pup, an off-leash dog may attack your dog. While it may be tempting to try to protect your pet, doing so may put your life in danger.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are more than 4.5 million dog bites every year in the U.S. Approximately 800,000 bite victims require immediate medical treatment. To avoid becoming part of these statistics, you should never try to break up a dogfight.
The fight probably will not last long
Most dogfights are brief, and dogs typically know how to resolve fights without outside help. Still, it can be difficult to stand by while a beloved pet sustains injuries. If you must intervene, you should maintain a safe distance. That is, you should not reach parts of your body into the conflict.
Grab a water hose
If you can break the attacking dog’s concentration, the animal may leave your pooch alone. A spray of water is likely to do the trick. Therefore, if you are near a water hose, you may want to use it. When doing so, though, you should keep a fence or another barrier between you and the aggressive dog.
Watch out for your pet
Dog attacks can be stressful for both human and canine victims. Consequently, after an attack, your dog may not behave normally. Until your animal calms down, your dog even may attack you.
Ultimately, while it is not advisable to physically try to stop a dogfight, you may be eligible for substantial compensation for any injuries you suffer in one.
