My Mother in Law has several dogs. Her bird dog, Freckles, had a large cut on her abdomin that was stiched yesterday. This morning I went over to help put the cone on Freckles, so she wouldn't chew on the bandages. We got it put together and around Freckles' neck then my stepson took her outside where Sam a 110 pound Lab/Rottwiler mix was already.
A few minutes later we her terrible snarling and saw through the window that Sam had Freckles on the ground biting her. We run outside where SS is yelling, "No, No" and trying ineffecitivly to pull them apart. MIL and I both start screaming and she picks up a stick and alternates hitting them both with it and trying to help SS pull them apart. In the meantime the Jack Russell Terrier is bouncing up and down, barking and biting them both.
I wasn't adding much except, "Pull harder!" so I grab one of the bigger dog's ankles and tug. As I'm dragging a dog almost as big as I am accross the yard by it's leg I yell to SS "Get the little dog in the house. HURRY UP - GET THE LITTLE DOG IN THE HOUSE!" Then told SS to pull Freckles back leg, since one of them is still chomping on the other and I'm essentially dragging both of them around, by Sam's leg.
We got them apart and there wasn't nearly as much damage to either dog as we feared, just a few small punctures on each neck. It started because the bigger dog kept sticking his nose in the cone and invading the bird dog's space. They have had some issues before, but then cone really started this one. We were all three so lucky we didn't get bitten too.
We had my husband bring over our larger dog kennel so they can keep the dogs separated for a while and hopefully get everyone calmed down. It's likely to happen again, though, and if MIL is by herself, she is not going to be able to stop it.
I'm happy to hear no one was hurt and you were able to get them separated. Does your MIL have an area for Freckles till she heals? Is she just going to kennel one while the other runs free and switch them out? It can be common for animals to attack sick/injured pack members. I wouldn't put them back together until everyone is well, then I would supervise for awhile. I hope everything works out.
Yes, it could have been much worse. My mother in law has a dog pen outside and the kennel inside now. She's going to keep them separated for a day or two til they cool off.
I think the bigger dog was just too curious about the cone and Freckles didn't like the cone or getting it sniffed. She is the one who started it according to my step son. But Sam is much bigger & didn't take kindly to being snapped at. Freckles has now torn off her third set of bandages and is wearing a white cotton T-shirt. She doesn't like that any more than she did the cone.
I'd just like to mention that one surefire way to break up a dog fight is to throw pepper in their faces. Unfortunately my family learned this trick too late :(
