dog been in a fight - should I let it lick the wound?

jackieglasgow

I have no idea what the correct way is fo an unleashed dog. But the one time it has happened to me, I dragged my dog off before she got a chance to get physical, she was just posturing and snapping at the time. I won't be letting it happen again if I can help it, but I will pull her tail if needs be. The only way to get her back from Cat Patrol outside my back fence, is with cooked chicken breast, and I always have food in my pocket if I am walking her, but it would need to be a high value reward. I'm sure someone else will know better than me.

chucknorris

Norbertsmum wrote: »

Chuck Norris would know :rotfl:

Well I am thinking about a scenario where the staffie owner is NOT coping or perhaps at the other end of a field. I'm afraid my answer will probably not go down too well with most on this forum but I would have to put my dog first. In the winter I am likely to be wearing my steel capped boots or at least shoes so could kick it until it let go. In the summer it would be a problem as I would probably be wearing sandals so would have to look around for a weapon of some sort, like a brick, large stone or thick stick.

Reading this thread has made me realize that it's best to give this potential problem some thought.

Mutter_2

Norbertsmum wrote: »

Awwww poor old sheltie, hope he recovers soon xx

I would keep the lampshad on tonight and phone the Vet for advice, they should have an out of hours service, they may advise antibiotics. Watch you old dog carefully for signs of shock, if he is not his usual self I think I'd get him looked over just in case. Remember to check his teeth too, if he has dislodged one that could cause infection or problems too.

As for splitting up dog fights, I don't think there is a sure way. I've dived in and grabbed them a few times and have the scars to show. I found a bucket of water slung with force in the face of the attacker worked well, or letting of a fire extinguisher, but you don't usually walk about with them to hand! A really loud shout can work, but can also egg the attacker on. Kicking can work, but again can make the attacker just hold on more. The one thing I would NOT do is grab the tail - think where your face would be when the dog turned around to have a go at the tail grabber..... right at the dogs level, not nice.

Hopefully the Staffs owners are now aware of what their pup can do and will get help and advice to prevent this happening again.

Thats the problem with forums, different opinions. You then have to choose which course to take.. I would take the lampshade off. Most of all on a Sheltie. Correct me me if I am wrong. I see Sheltie's as sensitive souls?

meames_2

My dog (womble) was on the lead. I grabbed his collar when the fight started but it came apart. at one point I had my arms around wombles neck tying to protect him.

I know Womble takes ages to get used to other dogs. He doesn't like his space invaded by another dog and another dog had tried to sit on him earlier on (being friendly) so he wasn't having a good day.

He woolfed a tin of tuna down and a piece of dried tripe. But he has started limping but he can be a drama queen.

Just rang the vets and they say keep an eye on him. the leg isn't swollen. I hope he is ok

meames_2

you are right mutter, he IS sensitive. The almpshade we have one from when he had an operation and kept chewing his stitches.

Mutter_2

meames wrote: »

My dog (womble) was on the lead. I grabbed his collar when the fight started but it came apart. at one point I had my arms around wombles neck tying to protect him.

I know Womble takes ages to get used to other dogs. He doesn't like his space invaded by another dog and another dog had tried to sit on him earlier on (being friendly) so he wasn't having a good day.

He woolfed a tin of tuna down and a piece of dried tripe. But he has started limping but he can be a drama queen.

Just rang the vets and they say keep an eye on him. the leg isn't swollen. I hope he is ok

Womble is a great name. I don't like my personal space invaded either. Hope you are are both feeling better now.

Some dogs just want to moochy about and sniff, and never have any thing whatsover to do with another dog. I have had dogs like that. Other owners should respect it.

pigpen

My mother intervened when an old guys VERY old chocolate lab was attacked by a staffie.. she strangled it and pushed it closer the the poor old dog.. so it couldn't rip out a chunk of flesh which is what they do.. and my sister punched it in the face.. when that didn't work.. she hit it in the face with a large branch until it did let go! In their case it was the gormless (and yes she is very much so and no a reflection of this one incident) owner of the staffie that was screeching like a twit..

No it shouldn't be licking the wound they have over 4000 nasty bacteria in their saliva .. if you have a bandage just strap it up and keep it covered after giving it a very good wash with savlon or something similar.

gettingready

Zara is not interested in "making friends" with any dogs other than her pack - the dogs she goes for walks together at lunchtime with my dogwalker. They all have a lot of fun together but she does not like "strange" dogs coming up to her or even worse RUNNING up to her.

She walks off lead minding her own busines (read: her ball, Zara is never without her ball) and if a dog runs up to her she will chase it like mad. She will NOT bite a dog but she will chase it off.

She got attacked few times as a pup - once by Anatolian Shepherd who's owner got dragged behind her dog on a lead. Why people get dog's when they are not PHYSICALLY able to hold on to their lead is beyond me, why get an Anatolian Shepherd when you can not stop it when on a lead? Why not get a daschund???? Other times it was ALWAYS staffs, on one day sjhe got attacked 3 times by 3 different staffs in 3 different places (!!!!). One situation was particularly nasty as Zara was on a lead, near a busy road and this staff run up to her tryng to go for her throat - normally I would unclip her lead and give her a chance to run off but we were by a very busy road so this was not an option, ended up kicking that dog off Zara while trying to hold on to her lead and stopping her running onto the road.

Last time - 2 Great Danes went for her, she was with my dog walker and other people were around so this was quickly contained.

Zara does not like staffs, their body language is too different than GS body language. After having been attacked a few times - she now WILL fight back if she is attacked first but we avoid those situations.

Where are live, we have 2 types of dog owners. Local people who walks their dogs every day in Wanstead park/Wanstead Flats, we know each other, dogs know each other and never any problems. And the "weekenders" that come over Sat/Sunday with dogs completely out of control running wild and causing problems.

gettingready

Of, sorry OP - on topic... NO, I would not let my dog lick this, dog's saliva contains way too many nastiness to let the dog lick an open wound....

hethmar

Get the vet to check it out. Puncture wounds can become infected - you dont want things to get worse. Hope you and sheltie soon feel better.