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SDC Talk! Archived
Messages
November 1 to December 6, 2000
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From: Mike Murphy
Date: 12/5/00
Time: 1:45:07 AM
Remote Name: 208.4.95.200
Ok,,,,let's see what we can do with this,,,in a positive and educational light. I agree with everyone about not wanting fighting dogs in their yard. However, and please don't take this out of context, fighting to dogs is the same as playing. By that I mean,,,it's natural behavior for dogs to fight, as it is natural behavior for them to play or roll in the stinkiest thing they can find. Now don't get your tugs in a knot. I didn't say I like it, or tolerate it, or condone it, but it's part of a "dog being a dog". There are literally hundreds of things that can set a dog off. Females in season, fear, excitement, territory, you name it. I've had males run next to each other for years, suddenly turn into monsters that literally wanted to kill each other in a certain situation, that was basically "unpredictable". I also bought a female that was just the sweetist, most loving, hard working dog in the world. When I had a tangle, or the lines balled up a little she turned into a shedevil, and would jump over the male in front of her to tear into the female two sections up.
Now,,,the educational part. How do you folks out there break up, and/or avoid dog fights. With pups, it's relatively easy. When they start to tussle, growl, or really get into it, we bang on the fence, make a lot of noise, just really carry on. That will sometimes scare them or at least distract them from what they are doing. It usually works, and if they learn it young, usually a loud "HEY" will stop agressive behavior in adults that we have raised.
When running pups, I don't like to put them with "tolerant" dogs. I put them with more dominant, calm "teacher" types that are tolerant up to a point. If the pup gets too wierd, they will reach over and "discipline" the pup themselves. That works well here. I've had "tolerant" dogs get really fidgity at hook up because I put them next to an alligator, so that tactic basically backfired on me.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is let's not try to sweep this subject under the rug. It is, unfortunately, one of the unpleasant aspects of this sport. I believe it's our responsibility to tell the "truth" and educate those out there that it "is" natural, and how we deal with it, reasonably, humanely, and intelligently.
If anyone has been around this sport for very long, they have at one time or another dealt with dogs fighting. My point here is,,, let's not lambaste a novice for his actions, but rather give him the benefit of our collective experience as to how to deal with and/or avoid the situation again. So if you've got experience in dog fight "prevention", "discipline", "training",,,,pass it on.