Dansgrizz
05-27-2009, 01:35 AM
This information is for responsible dog owners, it is not intended to be used for illegal purposes
The parting stick, the break stick, the safety stick. Many names for this handy and necessary device but they are all the same thing. They should be kept in all convenient places around the dogs yard and in the house so one is always handy. They should be taken with you whenever you leave the house with your dog.
Definition: a parting stick is a device made of wood, plastic, or anyother material hard enough not to break when needed but soft enough so it doesn't shatter teeth.
Examples: parting sticks come in all shapes and sizes. From simple broom handles made of pine to hammer handles made of hickory some south of the boarder have been known to use ornate goat horns(not reccomended for beginners or goat lovers ;) ). A fancy break stick is not necessary, only a functional one. To fashion a breakstick pick out a good piece of wood I would reccomend a broom handle about 10" long for the beginner. It is easy to handle and soft enough so mistakes with it are more forgivable. Whittle, sand, or shape one end into a tapered flat wedge. Take care to sand down most edges so you don't injure your bulldog gums on accident. The stick should have somewhat blunt edges but tapered thin enough for our purposes. Hammer handles are also very useful, they fit well in the hand but hickory can be a hard wood and can shatter teeth in the untrained hand.
Use: a parting stick should be used to seperate dogs when the unfortunate happens...kennel accidents, irresponsible owners, wandering strays etc... The sticks purpose is to seperate the teeth of the dog momentarily so you can seperate the dog from whatever it has in its grip safely and swiftly. Remember when encountering the unfortunate event 1) remain calm there's enough excitement without you adding more 2) approach from a safe angle 3) stay clear of your dogs teeth and the other dogs teeth until the moment is right 4) always control the dog you wish to seperate first either by grabbing scruff, collar, harness, or straddling them. 5) your safety comes first be on your toes don't think your dog won't bite you on accident. 6) do not pull your dog away until you have released it's hold, this is to minimize damage to both animals.
To use your stick choose which side of the dogs mouth is most accesible, controlling said dog lift lip with side of stick (if teeth are not already exposed) position tip of stick behind inscissors and in front of mollars. There is a nice space nature has provided for us bull dog owners. The flattened wedges longest aide should be parallel with the jaws, pushing breakstick in between teeth and twisting slowly your goal is to seperate the teeth just enough to remove the dog from it's hold. Having two people is nice but if you only have one rush the controlled dog to safety.
Precautions: if your stick is too soft it will break before becoming useful. If you penetrate to deep you could hurt the inside of the dogs mouth. If you pry instead of twist you could push your stick into the roof of the dogs mouth and hurt it's sinuses.
Other methods: squirting a dog with water will not work! Hitting a dog on it's head will not work! In fact it may increase it's bite response! Shooting, macing, tazing, stunning are not acceptable ways of excercising responsible ownership. If an unfortunate event happens inthe house shutting the door between two dogs has been known to work. Comical stories such as sprinkling pepper and a dog sneezing itself loose are often told but I don't reccomend this.
Hope this is helpful,
Dan
The parting stick, the break stick, the safety stick. Many names for this handy and necessary device but they are all the same thing. They should be kept in all convenient places around the dogs yard and in the house so one is always handy. They should be taken with you whenever you leave the house with your dog.
Definition: a parting stick is a device made of wood, plastic, or anyother material hard enough not to break when needed but soft enough so it doesn't shatter teeth.
Examples: parting sticks come in all shapes and sizes. From simple broom handles made of pine to hammer handles made of hickory some south of the boarder have been known to use ornate goat horns(not reccomended for beginners or goat lovers ;) ). A fancy break stick is not necessary, only a functional one. To fashion a breakstick pick out a good piece of wood I would reccomend a broom handle about 10" long for the beginner. It is easy to handle and soft enough so mistakes with it are more forgivable. Whittle, sand, or shape one end into a tapered flat wedge. Take care to sand down most edges so you don't injure your bulldog gums on accident. The stick should have somewhat blunt edges but tapered thin enough for our purposes. Hammer handles are also very useful, they fit well in the hand but hickory can be a hard wood and can shatter teeth in the untrained hand.
Use: a parting stick should be used to seperate dogs when the unfortunate happens...kennel accidents, irresponsible owners, wandering strays etc... The sticks purpose is to seperate the teeth of the dog momentarily so you can seperate the dog from whatever it has in its grip safely and swiftly. Remember when encountering the unfortunate event 1) remain calm there's enough excitement without you adding more 2) approach from a safe angle 3) stay clear of your dogs teeth and the other dogs teeth until the moment is right 4) always control the dog you wish to seperate first either by grabbing scruff, collar, harness, or straddling them. 5) your safety comes first be on your toes don't think your dog won't bite you on accident. 6) do not pull your dog away until you have released it's hold, this is to minimize damage to both animals.
To use your stick choose which side of the dogs mouth is most accesible, controlling said dog lift lip with side of stick (if teeth are not already exposed) position tip of stick behind inscissors and in front of mollars. There is a nice space nature has provided for us bull dog owners. The flattened wedges longest aide should be parallel with the jaws, pushing breakstick in between teeth and twisting slowly your goal is to seperate the teeth just enough to remove the dog from it's hold. Having two people is nice but if you only have one rush the controlled dog to safety.
Precautions: if your stick is too soft it will break before becoming useful. If you penetrate to deep you could hurt the inside of the dogs mouth. If you pry instead of twist you could push your stick into the roof of the dogs mouth and hurt it's sinuses.
Other methods: squirting a dog with water will not work! Hitting a dog on it's head will not work! In fact it may increase it's bite response! Shooting, macing, tazing, stunning are not acceptable ways of excercising responsible ownership. If an unfortunate event happens inthe house shutting the door between two dogs has been known to work. Comical stories such as sprinkling pepper and a dog sneezing itself loose are often told but I don't reccomend this.
Hope this is helpful,
Dan