I tried to send a similar message before but appeared to fail, so sorry if it comes through twice. I was telling my daughter this morning about the Surgeon/ Hannify's Impact episode. She asked me the question "can you stop a dog from fighting". I decided to not go down this track as you might understand including offering up the "ultimate fix". Anyway it prompted me to consult other members as to whether they have had any success and/or known of other trainers who have had notable success with fighters as compared to dogs who were more your "playful non-chaser". Obviously, appropriate discretion is required. I have in years gone by seen dogs with blinkers attached to the muzzles. Not sure if they worked. You can imagine how enthusiastic anyone would be about trialling your greyhound with one of those dogs, ha ha. I think they needed to bring their own trialling companions. Any advice/comments/stories would be appreciated.

This is a hard one. About 25 year ago i had a dog who used to go out of his way to catch and turn his head on the lead dog only. The blinker placed on the left side of his muzzle fixed this problem. He never turned his head to a runner on the outside of him. He only started turning his head after being 'beaten up' by other dogs in the catching pen. There are many reasons and 'excuses' for dogs turning their heads in races, but i don't think we will ever see an end to this problem.

Thanks Corajala. Glad to hear that the blinker on one side worked for your dog. I do recall someone I knew quite well about 38 years ago trying the blinker but the dog got a ticket for the second time, that is, 3 months (at Goulbourn). Someone from South Australia bought him off a trial at the old Chipping Norton track (the gymkhana thing they ran on Tuesday nights and Sunday nights), then took him back to race in SA and Vic as a hurdler. He went on to win a lot of races (more than 20 I believe). Not sure if the hurdles had anything to do with it. Yes, we will never see an end to this problem but it's good to have a few ideas "up your sleeve" if it does happen, that is, something you can try before implementing the "ultimate fix".

My only cure i can think of is... foot up ass. lol

IMO, depends why they fight. Some are put over a distance too long, so start getting tired, drift off which can look like fighting or they actually do turn their head losing interest for the bunny as theyre trying so hard til they just cant go anymore and still cant catch that damn bunny.

If theyre like a certain DR i dont think thats curable.

I think you're right Chook although I was interested to read Corajala's advice regarding the success had with a one sided blinker on a dog some 25 years ago. The only dog I have ever had who fought, did not fight when I had him although I was not surprised when he did. The reason being that when waiting around for a trial he would frequently try to savage other dogs. With hindsight it may not have been a good idea to wait around too long for trials, particularly near other dogs. An old mate from Greenace in Sydney wanted this dog to train (he was a half brother to one of the fastest short course dogs I have ever seen). My mate rang up one day to advise that he was sending him back after he and another dog had stopped in the straight at Panania trial track to have a brawl. I was not there but old my mate felt humiliated, totally embarrassed to say the least Imagine the pychological damage (bad habits) this could caused to the other dog - just terrible. I took him back to the people from whom I bought him. I knew them well (South Coast people). They gave me a Mister Moss bitch in his place, she won her maiden for me by 7 lengths in the best of the day and we got 4/1. Nice people. So all worked out OK for me anyway.

A family friend has a remedy that has always worked for him with fighters, his dogs have never fought again. It's a little trick with the muzzle, you need a piece of shoelace .... oops better not post it here in public just in case my mate doesn't want his secret given away or found out by the officials!

You may however pm me if you like.

I also heard a trick with the muzzles. Get a lemon and rub the lemon on the outside of the muzzle. Maybe an old wives tale, I don't know, never had a fighter to try it on.

Neverpromise, sorry, that is old wives tale lol

only one cure for them if you ask me

Noel, this sounds like the universal cure except that the universe is according to many, infinite and your cure (and my cure) is finite.