Breaking Up a Dog Fight (On Demand)
Recorded On: 02/26/2026
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
This course is part of Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, monthly webcasts about pet behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.
No one wants to experience a serious dog fight, but knowing how to safely and effectively break them up can save lives and prevent injuries.
One of the most important ways we can meet shelter dogs' needs and reduce behavior problems is to allow our dogs contact and playtime with their own species. Many staff and volunteers are concerned about giving dogs this vital exercise, enrichment, and important natural behavior outlet because of a fear of dog fights. While dog fights can sound scary, most are just "spit and noise" and cause little to no damage, many of us have seen fights that caused more damage, or fights where a person was also injured. Most of the ways we naturally approach breaking up a dog fight can actually make things worse, so teaching people how to break dog fights up efficiently and safely is an important part of onboarding any employees who may supervise dog interactions.
Laurie Lawless (of Shelter Behavior Integrations) and Trish McMillan (of Shelter Behavior Hub) are shelter behavior experts with decades of experience monitoring and facilitating dog play in many different contexts, but especially with shelter dogs. This webinar will review the tools and techniques they believe shelters should have on hand and employees should be taught to use, so that dogs can be cared for more safely, and so that they can have their needs met and behavior improved through social contact with their own kind.
This webinar is for anyone working in or around animals in shelters.
Speakers:
Laurie Lawless (Shelter Behavior Integrations)
Trish McMillan (Shelter Behavior Hub)
This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, access the resources, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/BehaviorC...
keywords Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, dog fights, breaking up dog fights, self-care, Laurie Lawless, Trish McMillan
Trish McMillan, MSc
Owner
Trish McMillan holds a master of science degree in animal behavior, and is a certified professional dog trainer. She worked for the ASPCA for nearly eight years, first as director of animal behavior at their NYC shelter, then helping assess and rehabilitate dogs from cruelty cases, dogfighting and hoarding situations, and researching, writing and presenting on animal behavior topics. Sh owns McMillan Animal Behavior in North Carolina, run from her small farm, Pibble Hill. There, she does training and behavior modification work with dogs, cats, and horses. Trish speaks and consults nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, dog, cat, and horse behavior, dog aggression, and defensive handling.
When she’s not on the road, Trish shares her life with three horses, two goats, four dogs, way too many chickens, and two cats as well as a rotation of foster animals.
Laurie Lawless, CDBC
Founder
Shelter Behavior Integrations
Laurie Lawless, CDBC, is a nationally recognized expert in shelter dog behavior, with over 16 years of in behavior, sheltering, leadership, consulting, and animal cruelty response. Her career was sparked in 2008 when she rescued an 85 lb Boxer named Charlie - his behavioral challenges launched her into the world of professional dog behavior work, and she’s been “blaming Charlie” ever since.
In 2023, Laurie founded Shelter Behavior Integrations to help shelter teams implement behavior-forward practices in ways that are accessible, practical, and deeply impactful. Her passion lies in finding calm within the daily chaos of sheltering by streamlining operations and positive outcomes while improving behavioral support for the animals.
Key:
Complete
Next
Failed
Available
Locked
Search this site