[Michele]

What is a break stick
A break stick is a device made to be inserted in the mouth of a pit bull (behind the molars) to gently pry open and release its grip on an object or another animal. This is a safety item every pit bull owner should possess.

Why Every Responsible Pit Bull Owner needs a Break Stick
Because the pit bull has been bred for their fighting abilities, they can inflict serious injury to other dogs if the fight is not broken up quickly and efficiently. Even the most well-behaved pit bull could potentially fight one day. A break stick can easily help you get the pit bull to release another dog. This, in no way, means the pit bull has "locking jaws". That is a myth. Pit Bulls have the tenacity to hold on, and the break stick gives the owner the ability to get the dog's jaws open. Keep in mind that most dogs fight differently than pit bulls. The pit bull will get a solid grip and then hold and shake. The break stick has been designed to break their grip.

How to use the Break Stick
Insert the break stick behind the molars where the gap is found. Turn the break stick. The turning action should open the dog's jaws enough so you can pull the dog back by the collar.

Secure the dog the stick is being used on. Straddle the dog with your legs. Squeeze them around the lower portion of the body. The back legs are essentially the drive train. Strength come from the rear legs. (shaking / tugging) You want to immobilize the back legs to prevent the dogs from moving/turning to avoid the stick. Grab the subject dog by the scruff of the neck. ( Back of neck) then insert the angled end between the opening in the rear of mouth. ( molars) If the dog has hold of another dog, there will generally be a space. In the instances where an exceptionaly hard biting dog leaves little room for a stick, try to work it in when the dog changes position or holds. Stick should be made of good wood (IE: cocobola), plastic or fiberglass. Not metal, as it may hurt the dog and break teeth. It should be angled like a door stop. ( Hammer handles break) The twist is the key.

Dos and Don'ts of break sticks
Please do not attempt to use a break stick on other breeds of dogs. Other breeds, when in a fight, will usually do alot of snapping and biting instead of getting a solid grip.

Try to practice and get comfortable with the break stick before you actually will need to use it.

Keep in mind the limitations of the break stick and have alternative methods at your disposal.

Thank you and please be responsible!

[PNWPBR]

Good post Michele!!!


Everyone should be comfortable with one BEFORE they need to actually use it.......

[jeoestreich]

Good post!!

[NcPrisonGuard]

Do you often need a breakstick with JC? He puts the death grip on his soft fuzzy toys? hehehe... just teasing hon, good post very useful!

[realonebulldog]

Very well! Each one who has A strong dog should be able to handle these tool. Is such a thing already offered in dog courses? Would be A good Idea or?

[Michele]

Originally Posted by NcPrisonGuard Do you often need a breakstick with JC? He puts the death grip on his soft fuzzy toys? hehehe... just teasing hon, good post very useful!

they come in all sizes. I have a mini one for JC..hehe...

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by Michele they come in all sizes. I have a mini one for JC..hehe...

LOL. Yeah, it's called a "toothpick."

Does "throwing it an an annoying passerby wanting to breed his mongrel to your 'pit'" count as a useful purpose of a break stick?

[Shon]

It most definitely does! That is a great purpose for one, but you'd have to throw it rather hard... it would be better to choose a heavier object, but hey... whatever is more convenient huh?

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Miakoda LOL. Yeah, it's called a "toothpick." Does "throwing it an an annoying passerby wanting to breed his mongrel to your 'pit'" count as a useful purpose of a break stick?

LMAOOOO....actually, I was going to post up "other" uses for the break stick.

Other uses:
hitting your significant other in the head when they piss you off
hitting anyone in the head when they piss you off

[ownz0rjoo]

Where is a good place to buy one, and are they usually plastic wood or what? Ive already had my dog get into one fight at the dog park. She was playing tug-o-war with a german shepard and she took the rope from him and he jumped my dog and well needless to say it was on from there, wasnt much of a fight for the shepard but a break stick would have deff come in handy.

[NcPrisonGuard]

Originally Posted by ownz0rjoo Where is a good place to buy one, and are they usually plastic wood or what? Ive already had my dog get into one fight at the dog park. She was playing tug-o-war with a german shepard and she took the rope from him and he jumped my dog and well needless to say it was on from there, wasnt much of a fight for the shepard but a break stick would have deff come in handy.

They come in wood and plastic.. just look them up on Google. Usually termed parting sticks.


And stay out of dog parks... this isn't the breed for them in most opinions.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by ownz0rjoo Where is a good place to buy one, and are they usually plastic wood or what? Ive already had my dog get into one fight at the dog park. She was playing tug-o-war with a german shepard and she took the rope from him and he jumped my dog and well needless to say it was on from there, wasnt much of a fight for the shepard but a break stick would have deff come in handy.

Dog parks are not a good idea for this breed. Read this thread:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1364

Back on topic please.

[Wyldmoonwoman]

I had one dog fight at my house with a foster, and it was awful because I was alone. I do have a break stick, but what I ended up doing was grabbing Thorne's collar and twisting it, I basically choked her out until she let go. How do other people feel about this method?


In my nervous panic frenzy I was not thinking about finding the break-stick in the other room, I wanted to stop the fight ASAP. I am inclined to think choking the dog is a good method because it required very little effort and risk of getting bitten by the other dog who was snapping at everything.

[Suki]

great post!
ALWAYS a good idea to carry one on your person, perhaps not visible, (as people can sometimes get the "wrong idea" ), but imo, better to have one, than to not have one=learned the hard way on that one, once upon a time....
(once burned, twice shy...)

[chewbecca]

Yeah, I didn't have one when I SOOOO could've used one. The irony of MY life went like this: I needed one, but while I was needing one, my break sticks were in the mail on their way to my house. They had not reached me yet!

When I got them, I practiced using them on Ella. It was simple to figure out HOW to use them, but if I ever have to actually use it, I'm not sure that it'll be that easy.
I have two break sticks and one dog. I keep one break stick hanging from a hook right next to one entrance to my house, and I keep the other break stick in my "walking" bag that is hanging up next to the other entrance to my house. It is on me when I walk Ella.

I got mine from Obrien's.

[Michele]

I think I should get one just so I could walk the streets of Manhattan....

Seriously, even though I don't own a pit bull, I'm going to get one. You never know. It will come in handy if you see a dog fight and the owner needs some help.

[Drgnrdr]

ALWAYS a good idea to carry one on your person, perhaps not visible,

LOl...this brought the words...
"is that a break stick in your pocket or are ya just happy to see me?"

Sorry ....I know this is a serious thread...carry on...

This is a very good post Michele but we know that this is Fighting paraphernalia to AC, law enforcement and general public! One thing I'd like to add is the turning of the break stick could break teeth! Inserting the stick and pry the mouth is a better way to use the stick if you want to keep the teeth from getting broke. Read a few old books and talked to a few people about this issue so I'd know how to use sticks if need be.

Originally Posted by Michele What is a break stick A break stick is a device made to be inserted in the mouth of a pit bull (behind the molars) to gently pry open and release its grip on an object or another animal. This is a safety item every pit bull owner should possess. Why Every Responsible Pit Bull Owner needs a Break Stick Because the pit bull has been bred for their fighting abilities, they can inflict serious injury to other dogs if the fight is not broken up quickly and efficiently. Even the most well-behaved pit bull could potentially fight one day. A break stick can easily help you get the pit bull to release another dog. This, in no way, means the pit bull has "locking jaws". That is a myth. Pit Bulls have the tenacity to hold on, and the break stick gives the owner the ability to get the dog's jaws open. Keep in mind that most dogs fight differently than pit bulls. The pit bull will get a solid grip and then hold and shake. The break stick has been designed to break their grip. How to use the Break Stick Insert the break stick behind the molars where the gap is found. Turn the break stick. The turning action should open the dog's jaws enough so you can pull the dog back by the collar. Secure the dog the stick is being used on. Straddle the dog with your legs. Squeeze them around the lower portion of the body. The back legs are essentially the drive train. Strength come from the rear legs. (shaking / tugging) You want to immobilize the back legs to prevent the dogs from moving/turning to avoid the stick. Grab the subject dog by the scruff of the neck. ( Back of neck) then insert the angled end between the opening in the rear of mouth. ( molars) If the dog has hold of another dog, there will generally be a space. In the instances where an exceptionaly hard biting dog leaves little room for a stick, try to work it in when the dog changes position or holds. Stick should be made of good wood (IE: cocobola), plastic or fiberglass. Not metal, as it may hurt the dog and break teeth. It should be angled like a door stop. ( Hammer handles break) The twist is the key. Dos and Don'ts of break sticks Please do not attempt to use a break stick on other breeds of dogs. Other breeds, when in a fight, will usually do alot of snapping and biting instead of getting a solid grip. Try to practice and get comfortable with the break stick before you actually will need to use it. Keep in mind the limitations of the break stick and have alternative methods at your disposal. Thank you and please be responsible!

[BagOfBones]

I just wanted to add a good place to get break sticks is Pit Bull Rescue Central b/c all proceeds are donated to pit rescue.

Here's the link...

http://www.pbrc.net/shop/bsticks.html

[CelticKarma]

I am going to be ordering a set really soon. I learn something new here everyday. What is the best way to practice with these?