When did you last work on Muzzle Training? In fact, have you ever considered teaching your dog or puppy to be comfortable and happy while wearing a muzzle?
Muzzle Training has so many benefits for all dogs for life, and yes all our Trainers at Dog Training for Essex & Suffolk muzzle train our own dogs too. In fact we bring in Muzzle Training foundations in our Puppy and Beginners level classes as we feel it’s such an important life skill!
You may be wondering “what are the benefits for muzzle training”? So here we go!
Benefits of Muzzle Training for dogs and puppies
- Once positively muzzle trained the muzzle prevents inquisitive dogs from snuffling nasty things off the floor – from foods they are allergic to through to toxic items like conkers and acorns, from discarded cigarette butts to broken glass or other materials. This may be on a walk where your dog is of lead or a road walk where your dog is on lead but is quick at finding things! It could be in a secure dog field or in your back garden if you have enough space that your dog could find something and eat it before you get a chance to spot it!
- Emergency situations – if a dog is injured, having seizures, in a road traffic accident etc they are likely to be confused and in survival mode, often with pain or discomfort involved too. In order that a vet can treat your dog it’s essential the vet feels safe and no threatened by the prospect of a scared dog using their teeth to get everyone away from the in a panic. Using a muzzle during emergencies is very commonplace but if a dog has never had a muzzle on before it can increase the fear and confusion, plus make it harder to get a muzzle on if a dog is completely stressed! When a dog knows the muzzle is fine, comfortable, and they have a positive association with it then it being put on isn’t scary even in an emergency, and in fact can provide a safe and familiar part of training your dog associates with you.
- Unusual situations – not necessarily linked to health or accidents, but if your dog will need to go into a situation they are not used to or one they have been unpredictable in previously then a muzzle is protecting them as much as protecting anyone or anything else. If your dog cannot bite a person or dog then they cannot use their teeth and cause injury. It may be that you need to use public transport to get your dog to the vets for a blood test, not an emergency but necessary. Maybe you are walking your dog somewhere quiet then suddenly up ahead there is a group of people talking and laughing loudly and you need to get past them to get home. Perhaps your dog isn’t a fan of being groomed and although you are in the process of working with them to show that grooming isn’t awful they still need intermittent grooms to be comfortable so a muzzle helps you get the job done (or a groomer) while risk is at a minimum.
- Having a dog that is muzzle trained and happy to have their muzzle put on and wear it can help walks or outings go much smoother and more calmly so that you feel at ease and this helps your dog also feel at ease. It could be your not sure if another dog may appear during your walk and get in your dog’s face which will result in your dog grabbing at them to get some space – not your fault but not a great outcome for anyone. Or you are away with family inc your dog and you go out for the day but are not sure where you will go to eat. Having a muzzle trained dog means if you decided to sit somewhere and discover people dropping food but your dog has a very strict diet you can avoid your dog becoming unwell and needing to find a vet in an unknown location.
- I have also known some dogs who have had an injury or surgery and mustn’t nibble or lick the wound but they are persistent. Sometimes the wound ins’t somewhere that a buster collar or inflatable collar will prevent them reaching, such as on a front paw for a long leg dog. Wearing a muzzle, when comfortable with them, can prevent them reaching the wound so it can heal and in some cases can be more comfortable for a dog to wear than a heavy plastic cone.
Sadly Muzzles carry a lot of stigma still – they can make a dog appear more scary to other people who don’t know them but can also make owners of muzzled dogs feel sad that their dog is restricted and their face is covered. When the ban came in for XL Bullies and similar type dogs 2 years ago hundreds of dogs suddenly needed to start wearing a muzzle any time they went for a walk, travelled in a car etc and although many dogs were fine I did see so many owners incredibly upset that their dog appeared to be aggressive to others without ever having done anything wrong or that the muzzle stopped their dog playing with a toy or carrying their favourite stick on a walk etc. So the stigma is just about dogs wearing muzzles always equals aggression, but also stigma on dog owners that their dog must be sad to be wearing it.
BUT!! With positive training dogs can see the muzzle as an everyday item like a collar, lead etc and be keen to put it on as it means they will be going out! I know personally numerous dogs who wear a muzzle on their regular walks and are happy to shove their nose into it, wait for it to be done up, then have harness and lead on, then head out for a walk. They get to run, sniff, roll in the grass, take treats through the muzzle spacing (often designed for treats), interact with their owner etc. Most of these dogs cannot risk eating something they cannot have as they will instantly be incredibly unwell and need to get to the vets super fast – imagine being half way round a country walk 45 mins away from your car and your dog eats something you know they will be sick with and then you need to try and carry your dog back quickly AND get them to the vets!
And yes dogs can still roll in fox poo or rub their muzzle and head in decomposing animals or cow pats! They literally can still be dogs, even with a muzzle on!
Plus there are now some amazing muzzle brands who make custom fitting or have real life fitting sizing that look fab, have colour choices and can be a match to your dog’s collar, lead etc. Have a look at Bumas or The Muzzle Movement for some great colour ways.
Correctly fitting muzzles will allow:
- Dogs to breath comfortably with no restrictions
- Dogs to pant properly and have their mouth open inside the muzzle
- Dogs to dunk their nose into water for a drink
- Owners to give treats through the muzzle
- Correct fitting so no rubbing the nose or moving into the eye
- Play with muzzle friendly toys for dogs who love to play when out
There are many reasons why a dog may be wearing a muzzle, as you can see – plus consider this as well: a muzzled dog is also far less likely to cause harm from their mouth than an unmuzzled dog!! Any dog can suddenly react if they feel pain, are stung by an insect, tail trodden on etc but a dog that is muzzled cannot put teeth on any part of you.
Take a look at our Muzzle Training Webinar where we go through steps using reward based training and positive methods to help you and your dog get started. Muzzle Webinar Here
We also have our own Muzzle Training Games Video with ways to help the muzzle become a trusted part of your dog’s world. Muzzle Games
You don’t have to kit your dog out in a muzzle every time they go out, but I would strongly advise taking some time to train your dog or puppy to be comfortable wearing a muzzle using positive methods and intermittently do a little practise as a game so that if you ever did need your dog to wear a muzzle in an emergency they will know what is happening and your vet / you can see to your dog properly more quickly.
Before we finish – I do talk about different types of muzzles in the webinar but just to mention that there are different styles of muzzle available. There are material ones some that are full material with a gap at the end and some that are mesh. Both of these can be useful for the training side but are not good as a muzzle to be actually worn as to have it correctly fitted means dogs cannot open their mouth at all – if they can open their mouth they can still nip or bite therefore the muzzle isn’t fitted properly. The idea with the material ones is literally to keep the mouth closed.
The basket style muzzles are what you want – they may not look as sleek but they provide protection as dogs cannot get teeth through the sides or end to bite and they are designed to allow dogs to open their mouths to pant, breath, take treats, drink etc.
Also be aware that some online places sell something they call muzzles but they are actually a headcollar – thin lead material that goes around a dog’s nose and mouth then around the back of the head to help with walking and not pulling. Halti’s / head collars are not designed to prevent dogs from biting and do not prevent a dog doing anything other than making pulling harder as it’s easier for owners to move the head / turn the dog round. If it says muzzle but doesn’t look like it would keep teeth contained then don’t trust it!
Have you muzzle trained your dog?
