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Dogs may fight over territory, to protect their families, and because of overstimulation. Despite how it may look to humans, dogs don't fight without a reason. Dogs can do serious harm to each other during a fight or attack and, in some cases, the injuries can even lead to death. It's imperative dog parents know how to safely break up a dogfight if they are ever in the unfortunate situation.

Why Do Dogs Fight?

Dogs get into fights for a variety of reasons, most of which are rooted in natural canine instincts. And there are certain situations that can turn even the friendliest dog into a vicious fighter.

• Many fights are territorial, such as when a strange dog enters your yard.
• The urge to protect people in their family, themselves, food, or some prized possession may provoke your dog to attack another dog.
• Overstimulation and what may have started out as friendly play can go too far, and a fight may break out.
• Redirected aggression is common among dogs that are normally friendly or live together. When a dog can't get something they want or becomes overly frustrated, they may take it out on the closest target—even their best friend. This may happen in a fenced yard when the aggressor can't get to the dog on the other side but can reach another canine family member, for instance.
• Sometimes dogs simply don't get along. There may be something about a dog that another dog may not like, whether it's the dog's personality, smell, or other trait.

How to Break Up a Dogfight

First things first: Never physically get in the middle of two dogs fighting or try to grab their collars. If you put your hand (or any other body part) anywhere near the dogs' heads, you will be injured.

Don't think that a dog won't bite their beloved owner, either. In the heat of a dogfight, your dog doesn't see who's intervening and will bite anything in the way. Don't underestimate your dog—it's not personal. Remember, if your dog is injured, you'll need to take care of them, and you can't do that if you've been injured while breaking up a dogfight.​

There are a few ways you can try to break up a dogfight and protect yourself at the same time.

Remain Calm

No matter which method you use to stop the fight, remain as calm as possible. Avoid yelling at the dogs and other people (unless you're calling for help). Take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. Advise others on the scene to do the same.

Clear the Scene

Remove children from the area and keep crowds of people away. It's best if there are two people (ideally the dogs' owners) involved in breaking up the fight. All other people should step far away.

Spray Them With Water

If available, consider spraying the dogs with water:

• Spray water from a garden hose at the heads of the dogs. Aim specifically for the eyes and nose of the more aggressive dog, if possible. A bucket or spray bottle filled with water may be less effective but is worth a try if you don't have access to a hose.
• A pet-safe spray made with vinegar may break up a less-intense fight, but it usually won't affect intense dogfights. Dog owners may consider carrying a spray bottle filled with vinegar with them. Dogs really dislike the smell and it could offer a brief distraction.

Make a Lot of Noise

Air horns or the sound of a car horn may be jarring enough to snap fighting dogs out of it. This is less likely to work on fierce fights, though. Shouting and screaming at the dogs rarely works and usually has the opposite effect of intensifying the fight.

Use Objects Strategically

Sometimes you can use objects at hand to break up a fight.

• Throwing a heavy blanket over fighting dogs may momentarily break their focus and help end the fight. It may also give you a chance to separate the dogs.
• A method that's sometimes successful is to open a long automatic umbrella between two fighting dogs. You just need to make sure it's long enough so that your hands stay far away from the dogs' mouths.
• You might also try placing objects like chairs or laundry baskets on top of the dogs to help separate them.

A distraction may give you an opportunity to safely remove the dogs from the fight. However, like the many other commonly advised techniques, these don't usually work well in cases of serious fighting.

Intervene Physically

This method of breaking up a dogfight is potentially the most dangerous if done incorrectly. Remember, you should never get in the middle of two fighting dogs and NEVER attempt to grab the collar or head of two fighting dogs.

Some experts, however, have discovered that there's a slightly safer way to separate fighting dogs and this is called the "wheelbarrow" method. This method only works if two adults are available to intervene (the dogs' respective owners if possible). If there are more than two dogs involved, there should be one human per dog.

1. Each person approaches a dog slowly from behind. At the same time, each person firmly grabs hold of the dog's back legs walk backward (think of using a wheelbarrow). It's important that this is done at the same time for each dog. If one dog is on top of the other, the top dog should be pulled back first, and the bottom dog should be pulled back as soon as possible.
2. Staying far away from the other dog(s), quickly begin circling to one side. The idea is to force the dog to keep itself upright by following the circular path with its front paws. If you stop, the dog may be able to flip around and bite you.
3. Still walking backward in a circle, move the dog to an enclosure (ideally where other dogs cannot be seen). If no enclosure is near, continue the motion until the dog has calmed down enough for you to safely attach a leash.

In cases where one or both dogs won't stop biting, there are recommendations such as pressing on a dog's ribcage or using a special "bite stick" like the blunt end of a broomstick in the jaws of the dog. However, these methods are best left to the professionals and they may not work and can even worsen the situation.

Remember to never get violent with the dogs. Kicking or punching will not help in these situations.

If you're alone, physical intervention is not advised, as the other dog will typically go after the dog you're walking back (and you). If one dog is seriously injured and the aggressor is on top, you may be able to use this method to get the top dog off the incapacitated dog, though this is particularly risky.

What To Do After the Fight

As soon as the dogs are apart, keep them separated and do not release them to interact again, even if they seem calm. When they're outside, each dog should be led home or placed securely in a crate or temperature-regulated car. If a fight broke out among your dogs at home, put them in separate rooms or, ideally, their respective crates.

Check each dog for injuries and contact your vet immediately, no matter how minor they seem. Your dog should be examined by a veterinarian because the damage from dog bites is not always noticeable on the surface.

How to Prevent Dogfights

Take the time to learn more about dogfights so you'll be as prepared as possible in the future. Prevention is ultimately the best way to eliminate fighting, and that means being aware of your dog's cues and paying close attention to other dogs' cues as well. Avoid putting your dog in situations where fights can happen.

Learn how to tell when a dogfight is coming and how to prevent one from happening in the first place. For instance, if you notice one or more dogs becoming overly aroused or showing signs of aggression, it's time to intervene. Stop the behavior and separate the dogs. Use distractions like treats and training to change the dynamic. Let the dogs cool off and consider preventing interactions among them in the future.