How to Separate Dogs From Each Other

When you are around multiple dogs that do not know each other very well, a dog fight is a possibility. Even dogs that are the best of friends might have occasional disagreements that will require you to separate them. When dogs are snarling, growling or being overly aggressive with each other, the best thing to do is to separate them as soon as you can. However, you need to be careful not to put yourself in harm's way in the process, especially if a fight is already taking place.

Things You'll Need

  • Spray bottle
  • Bucket of water
  • Citronella aerosol spray
  • Hose
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Call out "Stop that!" or a similar command when you see the dogs start to attack each other. For light squabbles, a stern command is often enough to break up the fight.

    • 2

      Spray the dogs with a spray bottle filled with water. Try to spray their nose and face area to separate them.

    • 3

      Dump a bucket of water on the dogs to separate them. This can be effective when the spray bottle is not enough.

    • 4

      Spray citronella aerosol spray in the dogs' faces. This is a specifically designed product that is safe for dogs, but bothers their sense of smell enough to distract them.

    • 5

      Use a garden hose or pressure hose to separate the dogs when the attack is serious or other methods fail to work. Continue spraying them as you make your way between them, using the hose to keep them apart.

    • 6

      Shield yourself when you get close to the dogs. Use a large object, such as a piece of wood or a blanket, to cover yourself in case one of the dogs separates from the skirmish and jumps in your direction.

    • 7

      Break up the fight with the help of another person, but only if the dogs are small or if you both have been properly trained. Grip one dog's rear legs while the other person grips the other dog's rear legs. Lift upward and move backward quickly. Distract the dogs from the fight by turning them away in a circular motion so that they are no longer facing each other. Be aware that touching dogs during a fight can possibly result in very serious injuries. Take each dog to completely separate rooms or cages.