[pipitous]

You can't use a break stick until one of the dogs quits or the pace of the fight slows significantly.

That is a load of batshit.
It doesn't matter if the dogs just started or have been at it for a while, straddle one,grab the back of its neck and shove the stick in the back of the dogs mouth,twist and pull it back as quick as possible. I have broken up a few fights, some I was lucky enough to have a stick on hand and others i found something to use or did it by hand.