What is a
Break Stick
A break stick is a solid wedge-shaped implement used to provide leverage to open the jaw of a "bite and hold" dog. It's a useful tool that can be used to "break" the bite, preventing injury to both dogs and people. They are a recommended tool for Pit Bull owners, rescue organizations, shelters, and dog trainers, as well as people with bully breeds who are in situations where unknown dogs are encountered.
Any breed of dog has the potential to unintentionally fight. A break stick is a suggested item of equipment to have on hand. It's probably the quickest, most efficient, and compassionate technique to open a stubborn dog's jaw.
Pit bulls do not possess a higher than normal "bite pressure" compared to other large dogs, nor do they have a unique jaw that enables them to "lock" their jaw. They do possess the tenacity of a terrier dog breed.
Pit bulls aren't always aggressive to other dogs. However, given the breed's slightly increased propensity for canine aggression, due to their unique heritage, break sticks are helpful equipment for households with multiple dogs as well as those who might have contact with many of Pit Bull-type dogs like shelters, rescue's or training centers. Before attempting to use a break stick to break up a fight, please read breaking a fight.
Why should responsible owners and caregivers consider using a break stick?
Dog fights are scary occurrences, and they do happen unintentionally. Even the most well-behaved, nice, and docile dog can get into a fight. Fights are possible in any multi-dog home, regardless of breed. Fortunately, most dog conflicts are over in a couple of minutes. A conscientious owner should take precautions to avoid such clashes, but he or she should also be ready for the worst. Any owner's goal should be to break up a conflict as quickly and efficiently as possible. Responsible owners must be watchful and take steps to avoid fights from starting, but they must also be prepared for the worst and capable of breaking up a fight.
Pit Bulls are strong and agile dogs. Other dog breeds tend to bite erratically and blindly, snapping, biting, and releasing. When fighting, Pit Bulls, like all terrier breeds, bite and hold. A break-stick will be useless if a dog is biting and releasing, but if a dog has a grasp and refuses to let go, a break-stick can help give the leverage to open a dogs jaw. Most of your pet dogs have no desire to fight another dog. When real dog aggression, low tolerance of other dogs exists, it is not something that can be trained or loved away.
This is not unique pit bull behavior; it is standard terrier strength, determination, and tenacity. For hundreds of years, Pit Bulls have been bred to be bite and hold dogs, beginning with bull-baiting, hog hunting, and dogfighting. They have been developed to ignore pain and submissive signals from other dogs, even though they are acutely aware of them. This is one of the reasons why some dogs get hostile toward other dogs. (Please keep in mind that dog aggression and human aggression are two completely independent behavioral qualities.)
There are still people and organizations that ignore the history or deny the history and think it will never happen and many times it doesn't, but it only takes one time for it to be a disaster, and even scarier than fights is not being able to stop them or break them up. It can be difficult to get them to release another dog once they have a "hold". As the name suggests, a break stick is designed to break this determined terrier hold. This is the safest, easiest, and most effective way to stop a fight.