Break sticks

I heard someone say the other day that every responsible bull breed owner should own/carry a break stick and know how to use it incase the unthinkable should ever happen with someone or another dog/other animal and thought it'd be interesting to hear your views as I don't really know how I feel about it.

On the one hand I think it's a good idea because you'd be able to step in if another bull breed (or another type of terrier that will also bite and hold for that matter) bit your dog/someone with you or vice versa so you end it with minimum damage.

On the other hand, I'm not sure how it stands with the law. Would they see you as the responsible owner you were trying to be in arming yourself with the right sort of equipment that may well save the life of another dog/other animal etc. should the unthinkable happen or would it be seen as an admission that your dog's liable to show agressive behaviour or even worse that you may be involved in something abhorrent like bating? Or would it depend on other evidence?

Do you maybe think it would only be the right thing to do in certain situations like where a dog is known to be DA?

I dont know about carrying a break stick but I do carry one of these in my bag. It's just like the size of a small can of body spray and it makes a very loud sound:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-corrector-spray-50ml-by-the-company-of-animals-14415?freeText=pet+corrector&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

kathytake2 wrote:I dont know about carrying a break stick but I do carry one of these in my bag. It's just like the size of a small can of body spray and it makes a very loud sound:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-corrector-spray-50ml-by-the-company-of-animals-14415?freeText=pet+corrector&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

I know of quite a few people that carry pet corrector but from what I've heard, it's only good for breaking up scuffles, handbags at dawn type stuff which you can do without any aids but apparently no use in an actual fight?

I don't carry a break stick, but I know of people that do. I think it can be a great tool in breaking up fights between bull breeds (or other breeds that bite and hold), but you are right in worrying about the legal repercussions. In some areas, break sticks can be considered dog fighting paraphernalia.

Break sticks can be VERY dangerous in inexperienced hands. They can cause really bad injuries to dogs and to humans if not used properly. I understand that people find it reassuring to know that they have a tool that could help should a fight break out, but they are not for the average Joe and should only be used by people who know exactly how to use them.

Galadriel wrote:
I know of quite a few people that carry pet corrector but from what I've heard, it's only good for breaking up scuffles, handbags at dawn type stuff which you can do without any aids but apparently no use in an actual fight?

I would rather step in and stop any unwanted behaviour before it gets to being an actual fight. It's a bit late for using this once a fight has started. I know what the pet corrector sounds like and it is quite shocking and loud and would be a very good distraction.

You learn something new on here, I never heard of a break stick before, and I agree it must only be used in experience hands. I did wonder about carrying a pet corrector, you just never know when you may need it. Rather that than the break stick.

shontelle wrote:Break sticks can be VERY dangerous in inexperienced hands. They can cause really bad injuries to dogs and to humans if not used properly. I understand that people find it reassuring to know that they have a tool that could help should a fight break out, but they are not for the average Joe and should only be used by people who know exactly how to use them.

Best not for me have one of those, might use it on an ignorant person instead.

We are allowed to carry tazers, and i do when on walks. I made my dogs used to the sound it makes. Will never use it on an animal, but have found that the sounds is a deterrent for other dogs. Once had a boerboel storm us, i just let it buzz and off he went, without incident

I don't like breaksticks & never have.

to much damage can be coused in the wrong hands broken teeth jaw
great risk of getting bitten if used incorrect and not worth having if the other owner not carrying one also(very unlikely)

shontelle wrote:Break sticks can be VERY dangerous in inexperienced hands. They can cause really bad injuries to dogs and to humans if not used properly. I understand that people find it reassuring to know that they have a tool that could help should a fight break out, but they are not for the average Joe and should only be used by people who know exactly how to use them.

Indeed, hence the 'and know how to use one' - I probably should've bolded that bit

kathytake2 wrote:

Galadriel wrote:
I know of quite a few people that carry pet corrector but from what I've heard, it's only good for breaking up scuffles, handbags at dawn type stuff which you can do without any aids but apparently no use in an actual fight?

I would rather step in and stop any unwanted behaviour before it gets to being an actual fight. It's a bit late for using this once a fight has started. I know what the pet corrector sounds like and it is quite shocking and loud and would be a very good distraction.

Absolutely! I'm a huge believer in prevention over cure but I'm talking about situations that where you can't prevent for whatever reason.

For example, my sister's OH's last dog, a lovely red Staffy (wouldn't hurt a fly!) was being walked in the park, on lead by my sister's OH when another Staffy (off lead) came flying out of the bushes and before he even knew this dog was there, it'd bitten down on his red boy who did nothing apart from scream. In a panic, my sister's OH just started kicking this other dog to try and get it off, (which apparently many people do in this situation not knowing any better and not knowing it usually makes things worse) the other dogs owner then appeared, started punching his dog then when that didn't work, picked his dog up and pulled his dog off, ripping the flesh of my sister's OH's red boy. Both dogs ended up at the vets with serious injuries (although thankfully both made it through).

Now if my sister's OH would've had a break stick and known how to use one safely, then his dog would've just had some puncture wounds instead of missing chunks of flesh and the other dog wouldn't have been injured at all...

Chantel wrote:

shontelle wrote:Break sticks can be VERY dangerous in inexperienced hands. They can cause really bad injuries to dogs and to humans if not used properly. I understand that people find it reassuring to know that they have a tool that could help should a fight break out, but they are not for the average Joe and should only be used by people who know exactly how to use them.

Best not for me have one of those, might use it on an ignorant person instead.

Chantel wrote:We are allowed to carry tazers, and i do when on walks. I made my dogs used to the sound it makes. Will never use it on an animal, but have found that the sounds is a deterrent for other dogs. Once had a boerboel storm us, i just let it buzz and off he went, without incident

Blimey, I think all hell would break loose if we were allowed to carry tazers over hear!!

bigwazza wrote:to much damage can be coused in the wrong hands broken teeth jaw
great risk of getting bitten if used incorrect and not worth having if the other owner not carrying one also(very unlikely)

That's the thing - you use one on your dog (hopefully correctly) and as soon as your dog's prised loose the other one gets a grip! You can't guarantee that the other owner is staffy savvy & will hold on to their dog while you work the stick.

But I've heard of a dog's jaw being dislocated by using one wrongly. None of the 'old' breeders that I've known have ever used them.

bigwazza wrote:to much damage can be coused in the wrong hands broken teeth jaw
great risk of getting bitten if used incorrect...

This is true but in the kind of situation where you'd need one, either two dogs would end up seriously injured/dead or at least one if there was only one aggressor like in the situation my sister's OH experienced if you just stood there and watched and a high chance of you getting injured anyway if you tried to break it up. At least if you're using a break stick properly the chances of getting injured are greatly reduced, no?

Good point about needing two but that would only be the case if there were two dogs biting...

Galadriel wrote:

bigwazza wrote:to much damage can be coused in the wrong hands broken teeth jaw
great risk of getting bitten if used incorrect...

This is true but in the kind of situation where you'd need one, either two dogs would end up seriously injured/dead or at least one if there was only one aggressor like in the situation my sister's OH experienced if you just stood there and watched and a high chance of you getting injured anyway if you tried to break it up. At least if you're using a break stick properly the chances of getting injured are greatly reduced, no?

Good point about needing two but that would only be the case if there were two dogs biting...

i would never use one as im of the mind set you can practice use as much as you like but if you see your dog fighting you got a chance you will panic (you may say you wouldnt)but if you seen a staffie in full fight you deff would panic as others have said i would rather stop a fight before it starts

Please God I am never faced with the need to break up a fight. I know I am confident that Tyson is very well socialised and I never take my eyes off of him when he is with other dogs. I watch the body language and step in the second I see even a hint of aggression from any of them. It is relatively simple to seperate two dogs before they get into it.

I don't like them and will never use them.

After seeing Chance when he was in a fight with a rottie, never in a million years would you have been able to use a break stick and quite frankly it wouldn't have worked anyway.

I have too agree with ella i have been in the unfortunate position of seeing some pretty nasty fights my old staffy when she was young had an awful set too with a mastiff and there was no way you could have got in there with a break stick, i guess alot of people think about using them if any strong jawed dog is clamped onto another dog or person, then if needs must they would use them if it could be a life or death situation, its a very tough call as we would all like too practice the prevention attidude where at all possible, i always carry a spray corrector and a bottle of water thankfully that has alway been enough for me.

I still don't know what a break stick is , so i guess my answer would be no

Dave wrote:I still don't know what a break stick is , so i guess my answer would be no

It's using a 'stick' (break stick) and putting it in the dogs mouth behind the back teeth and turning it making the dog open it's mouth and releasing the other dog etc...

I had an idea of something like that but from some of the commentsd thought it must be a specific tool like a martial arts weapon or something due to comments about getting in trouble for carrying on, just being lazy really as trying to get through all the posts I've missed and should be on google to find out really

Well yes it is a tool that can look like a weapon which is why they said

Dave wrote:I still don't know what a break stick is , so i guess my answer would be no

Neither do I. I've had visions of people walking around carring a french stick in there hands enticing their dog to eat that instead of another dog

Thank you Ella

treacle4775 wrote:

Dave wrote:I still don't know what a break stick is , so i guess my answer would be no

Neither do I. I've had visions of people walking around carring a french stick in there hands enticing their dog to eat that instead of another dog

Thank you Ella

Haha not quite no worries!

ella wrote:Well yes it is a tool that can look like a weapon which is why they said

Had a quick look on google now and I see exactly what you mean , so it is like a tapered wedge so you can get it into the mouth and then turn it to force the jaw open, I though it was like a round stick and couldn't uinderstand how turning it could work

Dave wrote:I still don't know what a break stick is , so i guess my answer would be no

This is the break stick....


You insert the narrow end behind the canines of the dog biting & twist it so that it goes right in between the teeth - then you lever the stick to open the jaws. Do it wrong & you either damage the dog or get seriously bitten!

Dave wrote:

ella wrote:Well yes it is a tool that can look like a weapon which is why they said

Had a quick look on google now and I see exactly what you mean , so it is like a tapered wedge so you can get it into the mouth and then turn it to force the jaw open, I though it was like a round stick and couldn't uinderstand how turning it could work

Yer didn't explain it very well i guess, but yes it does look like a weapon but i'd never use one as they can cause a lot of damage

Nope not something i'll be using

Thanks for the pictures

ella wrote:
Yer didn't explain it very well i guess, but yes it does look like a weapon but i'd never use one as they can cause a lot of damage

The pic Caryll posted looks ok and nothing too sinister , this one on the other hand because of the shape and the finger grips

They come in all sorts of fancy shapes, but the general look is the same. Narrow & pointy at one end & thicker further back, but slightly flattened.

yep not nice....

IMO, there's no place for break sticks in normal society ... they were/are a desperate last resort for dogs trained to fight and hold on !! .. and as said, unless you've had to "try" to part a staffy from its opponant, you'd realise the idea of getting anywhere near their mouth, and useing one properly and safely, is damn near impossible

I had the misfortune of getting my last staffy Zac off another dog (Zac was on a lead, the other wasnt!! and just kept coming!! ) .. and luckily the choke method worked but it was one of the most disturbing things I've ever had to do ... Zac was fine after a few coughs, and the other dog couldnt get away quick enough !!! but sometimes you just cant control whats about to happen where there is one or more dogs free to please themselves

well i honestly never heard of them before. just seen them on Google and the first article i opened said every responsible bull breed owner should have one. personally think it looks a bit dodgy to me, i would say the only way i think they would work and be useful in real world for average joe dog owners would be if it became a registered and authorized program where by you need proper training and a license to hold one and use one. that way you would be showing yourself as responsible owner and you'd feel safer in yourself not injuring yourself or your dog should the worst happen.
also worth a note from what little i've read if you are going to carry one and you do have to use it don't use on any other type of dog except bull breeds as it only works on them because of their tendancy to "lock on". if you used on say a collie that tends to continually snap and release (something i have seen from my mum's old rescue dog ) then you are gunna get bitten and the dog will just continue fighting.

i will stick with my original reply i will stop a fight before it starts(even if it means im in line of fire)

I would never use one personally