If you've followed my blog at all, you will know that I am a huge advocate for being proactive with training and management. Chirag Patel says, "Act before the animal suffers" and I 100% agree with him. That's why I am a huge advocate for muzzle training your dog, especially if that dog is fearful or reactive but ANY dog can benefit from muzzle training.
Dogs bite. That's just a fact of life that we as dog owners need to accept. If a dog is afraid or in pain they could bite. Anything with teeth can and will bite. A dog that is hurt or afraid might need to wear a muzzle at the vet and it's so much easier on them if they have already been trained to wear one.
Muzzles keep everyone safe and prevent your dog from ending up with a bite history.
As owners, we have to prepare our dogs for scary things. Let's face it, the world can be terrifying and dogs need to know how to behave when they are upset. Teaching dogs to allow handling is imperative and one aspect of that should be muzzle training. Dogs need to learn that a muzzle is not a scary thing and that it's no big deal. That way if the time comes and the dog needs to be muzzled, it doesn't add to their stress.
Check out this video by Kikopup on how to muzzle train a dog.
Both of my dogs are trained to wear a muzzle and it's just one more training thing that happens around here regularly. When conditioned properly, wearing a muzzle is not a big deal and shouldn't be stressful. Phoenix even offers to stick her nose into hers all by herself without being asked!
Muzzles are not just for dogs who might display aggressive behaviors, they are also useful for different situations such as: canine sports like lure coursing (any sort of dog racing events, muzzles are required and not optional), for dogs who eat things they shouldn't out in the environment, or dogs who have had surgery and don't do well in a cone. I've even heard of some cities allowing dogs on trains as long as they are muzzled!
The muzzle that I use is called a basket muzzle and I prefer it over the soft fabric muzzles. Basket muzzles are awesome because they are easier to do activities in them. The dogs can easily breath, pant and even drink water in them. I'm hoping I can replace my ugly tan muzzle for a pretty painted sighthound muzzle soon!
Check out The Muzzle Up Project for more information!
Today we are joining the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop. This month's theme is First Aid/Emergency Training but any positive posts are welcome. Stop by the other blogs to see what they are doing! Thanks so much to the hosts!
We never thought of a muzzle as a cone alternative, but that would be a great idea if the dog was trained to wear one.
ReplyDeleteLittle Bit never had a muzzle. I didn't even think of muzzle training. Okay, we only trained her to behave and not bark at everything.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. Scritches to the girls. ☺
I never thought about training them to wear muzzles. But an injured dog may bite, an a veterinarian will muzzle a dog if that's a concern...
ReplyDeleteI think they should make them in a variety of colors and fun patterns to help remove the stigma!
ReplyDeleteIf Boca keeps eating things off the sidewalk, she may find herself doing some muzzle training! Thanks for this informative post!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, Lauren. I need to get Luke a muzzle...it's been in my thoughts but I was unsure of what type to get. Since Luke has stuck his nose in a cup already, I think it will be relatively easy to train him with it (knock wood). They did put one on him at the vet's office too, and he was OK with it but I'd rather train him at home to his own. I just wish the stigma of them would go away.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually in the process of looking at/starting some muzzle training myself with Laika. Our vet visits are stressful enough, and with Laika's arthritis the exams can be pretty bothersome, so I'd much rather be safe & have her used to the idea of wearing one before anything could possibly happen. And hooray for the kikopup video, I love her stuff.
ReplyDeleteI used to to think that muzzles were cruel until I spoke with someone who explained why he muzzled his dog and it made perfect sense. It's one of the many reasons I ask questions before judging something as right or wrong. I owe it to my dogs to be open minded so that I can make the best choices for my dogs.
ReplyDeleteI think it's so wonderful that you're open minded! There are so many people who are not open to learning.
DeleteThose sighthound muzzles are pretty cool. Thanks for joining the hop.
ReplyDeleteI have never used a muzzle, but understand when and why they may be helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren ..... that reminded me. Charlie has never really needed a muzzle but I will train him to wear one. You just never know when it may be needed.
ReplyDeleteSuch an important thing! I've muzzle trained mine with a makeshift muzzle, but I've been wanting to look into a basket type muzzle and working that, too.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is a really good postie! There is a bad stigma abouts muzzles, and this should change fursure! Ma is gonna watch the video, cause when I go to the vettie, I gets really anxious, and this could really help when they take me in the back room..if you knows what I mean! And, I love that it can be a alternative for the cone-o-shame! cause some doggies get freaked out wearing the cone...not sayin' WHO...hehehehe
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Ruby ♥
This is great: We use muzzles in our house for nail trimming and I'm super grateful I muzzle trained everyone early on. This is a great article for anyone adopting or anyone with a new dog family member. We have basket muzzles and soft muzzles pending the emergency... better to be safe.
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas of the muzzles for all of the reasons you mentioned. In fact, I read that article you shared on Facebook. I have seriously considered a muzzle for Delilah because of her rampant scarfing of food on walks. Here is my concern and maybe someone can help me with this.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens if your dog is attacked by another dog? Wouldn't the muzzle keep your dog from defending itself?
A muzzle would definitely be beneficial for a dog who scarfs anything they find on the ground. Yes, you're right that a dog who is muzzled might not be able to bite another dog back but they can still pack a wallop with a good solid muzzle punch. Several trainers I know that work with aggressive cases say that depending on how hard it is, a muzzle punch hurts worse than a bite. A basket muzzle does not feel good when it hits something.
DeleteThank you for answering that Lauren. I'm on the fence for Delilah mostly because of all the DADO's around me. :-)
DeleteI love the movement towards preparing dogs for stressful situations long before they happen to reduce stress and suffering--thanks for sharing the Chirag Patel quotation! Nala came to me with very little tolerance for any grooming procedure of any kind, so we're very slowly working our way towards fixing that. So far, the only thing I'm really happy with is nail trims. Our next goals are having her mouth and teeth examined and being picked up (although that second one is actually my partner's job, since Nala is too big for me to lift!).
ReplyDeleteWhen we took Rocco to Italy I learned that dog needed to be muzzled on public transportation (or kept in a bag). It turned out we never had to use the soft muzzle I bought for Rocco, but I trained it similar to the training in the video you posted. I'm not really a fan of the soft muzzle either but it was easy to travel with.
ReplyDelete