At my work experience today, there was 19 dogs, including 3 foster dogs (these dogs don't have a home yet) the rest were all creche... (doggy day care)

There was all sorts of breeds, Labradoodles, Labradors, Golden Retriever, Westie, Dobermans, Bull Mastiff, Boxers, Siberian Husky, and a St.Bernard!

To be honest... the fight was an accident waiting to happen... these dogs just run riot... The Mastiff is friendly BUT if she's barked at, or takes a disliking to another dog... that's it... there's no warning with her, she just goes for them...

A boxer that we have in, is male dog aggressive... so he has to be put out with females only...

So... The male boxer was running in the yard area with quite a few females... a doberman foster dog barked at the Mastiff... and of course she went for her, but that was it, the boxer dog just went mad - and every single dog joined in the fight...

There was only me and another member of staff there, he had hold of the Mastiff and was trying to pull as many dogs off the Doberman as he could. I managed to grab hold of a Lab that decided to join in, but the poor Doberman... she had no chance...

When the fight was over, we saw her back hind leg - there was a massive gaping wound - literally gone through skin and into the muscle, about 2 and a half inches deep... a member of staff rushed her to the vets and she's had to have stitches... but otherwise seems okay..

I know you shouldn't just grab in a dog fight, we are tought this at college, as the dogs aggression is directed towards whoever grabs it ie, ME! but there was nothing else that I could use besides myself, and I couldn't just stand by and let about 18 dogs rip 1 dog to pieces...

There's no water to throw at them... nothing to make a loud noise...

It was awful I just wondered if someone could give me advice on something I can do in future, if it ever happens again? (which I hope it doesn't )

__________________

*~* Tracy *~*
Mum too:
1 Guinea Pig - Bracken.
2 Budgies - Harley and Jerry.
Pond full of Fish.

Do you think something like pet corrector would have worked?

I have no experience of this sort of thing but i have used it and it makes a really loud hissing noise that distracts the dog (not sure if it would work on a dog in full attack mode though). I would have thought it would have been as effective as water.

The can is small enough to have in a jean pocket.

I have wondered wether to carry mine incase Oscar ever gets attacked as it is non invasive and doesn't involve me getting stuck in but to be honest i would probably get stuck in as an instinctinctive reaction.

Ah yeah, I'm not sure if it would work for a full on fight though, everyone was just going for it... the noises were awful, especially coming from the poor Dobe! They didn't hear or respond to any of us.

__________________

*~* Tracy *~*
Mum too:
1 Guinea Pig - Bracken.
2 Budgies - Harley and Jerry.
Pond full of Fish.

Personally don't think the pet correcter would have worked Rainy - maybe if there had only been one or two dogs - but I doubt it would have had much effect with so many.

I would have used water - a hose in my opion would have been the only way that two could have got them under control! but as there was none about - I would assuming you are using stainless bowls have chucked them around and banged them together! I am fortunate to have a good strong whistle that works everytime - but doubt this would have worked either.
Hope the dobe soon recovers
Regards
DT

It must have been awful.

I didn't think it would but maybe worth having one for future issues as i think it would stop an early fight between a couple of dogs.

Does the day care not have strategies in place for dealing with this sort of thing?

Like a hose in the yard or something.

I am suprised there isn't a risk assesment requirement so that you as an employee are protected.

What if one of the dogs (or more) had turned on you or the other person.

They aren't suposed to take in more than 10 dogs a day apparently... so why there was 19 today I've no idea...

There isn't a hose, the only strategie they have (well, the only one I've seen...) is to just pull the dogs off one another... which as you say, is risky to the humans!

__________________

*~* Tracy *~*
Mum too:
1 Guinea Pig - Bracken.
2 Budgies - Harley and Jerry.
Pond full of Fish.

God what a shock it must have been .. please correct me if i am wrong but dont you need something to break there concentration .. what about a air-horn, you know the ones you can get for the football matches that come in a can ? Sorry if it sounds silly but i remember something about noise to break up a dog fight.

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Ash

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The bowls are plastic

__________________

*~* Tracy *~*
Mum too:
1 Guinea Pig - Bracken.
2 Budgies - Harley and Jerry.
Pond full of Fish.

Where the dogs in a exercise area together tracy, or are the kenneled together?
regards
DT

To be honest i would be furious if i had put my dog in daycare and found out they had taken nearly twice as many dogs than they should and had no strategy for dealing with a punch up.

I mean let's face it it's going to happen sooner or later dogs being what they are, that poor dobbie could have been killed and you could have been really seriously hurt.