14 May Dog Muzzle

The image of a muzzle on a dog often evokes uncomfortable reactions. A muzzle may be necessary for your dog, but the public view of it as a tool is frowned upon. The dog owner or trainer may consider wearing a muzzle in particular situations. In most of these cases, the dogs have aggression and abnormality, but in some cases, it’s done by a dog behaviourist in the form of training and without any reason. This article will describe a dog muzzle and training dogs to use it.

Why should we use a dog muzzle?

At different times, your dog needs a muzzle. In many cases, according to the rules and regulations, it’s required that your dog wear this tool. Below is a complete list of when you should use a muzzle on your dog.

In an emergency

An injured or scared dog is likelier to injure and bite people around him. Especially if you need to move the dog or treat him in a way he doesn’t want. Wearing a muzzle protects you and anyone helping you from your dog’s unusual and unpredictable behaviour.

A history of aggressive behaviour

If a dog has a history of aggression and violence towards humans or other dogs, using a muzzle as a management tool can minimize the risk in certain situations. Some dogs may need to muzzle all the time, but it may be possible to teach your dog to provide an alternative and more desirable behaviour and help them feel more relaxed and secure. 

In sudden fearful or painful situations

If your dog is in pain, he may react in unusual ways. Some dogs aren’t always aggressive, but if they are put in a very uncomfortable situation, and their warning signs are ignored (often at vets or pet groomers), they may feel they have no choice but to snap or bite. Dogs with abnormalities or who feel pain in a part of their body generally have unpredictable behaviour. They may need this tool when moving them if they have a severe injury.

Cleaning 

Some dogs suffer from a problem called poo eating or poop eating in dogs while walking and may experience severe stomach upsets or blockages. While a muzzle isn’t a foolproof solution, it can help reduce what your dog might eat. It’s also recommended to work on training the dog and increasing obedience, such as ” out ” and “leave.”

Which muzzle is better?

Choosing a muzzle that allows your dog to breathe, eat, and drink freely is essential. Many people prefer the aesthetics of this tool over its utility. There are different types of them.

Different types of muzzles

You may wonder what is the best muzzle for your dog. Before buying it, it’s enough to have information about its types and uses.

Basket muzzle

Basket muzzles are generally the best choice, but people shy away from them, and it’s frowned upon because they are more noticeable with their large size. A basket muzzle is functional while allowing your dog to breathe easily.

Soft muzzles

This muzzle is softer than other popular ones because it’s less uncomfortable. To be practical and functional, it must be pretty tight. But in its use, dogs will be more at risk of suffocation. While it’s OK for short appointments at the vet or groomer, it’s not suitable for walks or long runs.

Muzzles for certain breeds of dogs

Many dogs have a unique or flat muzzle that makes it difficult to wear this tool. For example, it’s usually used for species such as Greyhounds and Whippets with long and thin muzzles. Finding a suitable muzzle for flat-faced breeds such as French bulldogs and pugs can be difficult, but as mentioned above, each species with different facial features has other muzzles. The above muzzles may not be the right choice for these dog breeds.

When is a muzzle, not the best solution?

A muzzle is used to prevent a dog from biting. There are two important reasons for it. This tool isn’t recommended to avoid behavioural problems or shut your dog’s mouth. Don’t use it for barking, dog chewing on wood, or other persistent behavioural problems.

• A muzzle is only used briefly when your dog is under supervision.
• Behavioural problems such as barking and chewing are permanent, so a muzzle is a temporary, short-term tool, not a long-term solution to these problems.

Don’t buy a muzzle for your dog to solve such problems. 

By doing this, you will confuse your dog’s mind. You may also sensitize him to touching his muzzle or petting in the future. Each of the dog’s behavioural problems has a cause. For example, if your dog is constantly barking, there’s a reason, such as separation anxiety, illness, or attention seeking. Determine the cause first, then fix it with the help of an expert if necessary.

Never use a muzzle to put your dog in a stressful situation. 

If your dog isn’t social towards dogs or something, try to solve the problem with the help of a dog behaviourist, not the problem itself. For example, if your dog can’t control his anxiety at the dog park, but your friends take all their dogs there, a muzzle isn’t an excellent way to get your dog to join the group. Wearing a muzzle in such situations can make the situation worse. Your dog will associate the stressful situation with the muzzle, adding more fear and anxiety to him the next time. 

For Punishment

Sometimes, muzzles are used for the wrong reasons. This issue can cause your dog pain or discomfort, leading to alternative problematic behaviours. The same goes for punishment. Never muzzle your dog as a punishment. You will do nothing to fix the underlying problem; once again, your dog will learn to associate it with discipline. When your dog is angry or anxious and barks in sensitive situations, it will give you early warnings, and when you put this tool on him, he may associate it, and his anger will increase several times. If the dog is not properly introduced to the dog muzzle, it can be a scary and even traumatic experience. It can also destroy the conditioned bond between you and your dog and make him want to tear off the muzzle when he sees it.

To stop barking

Train your dog using positive affirmations. Sometimes a muzzle is used to stop the dog from barking. You may get answers from a muzzle to silence your dog, But the most important thing is that this answer is short-term. If you teach the dog to wear a muzzle in positive training, you can quickly put it on him in the appropriate conditions listed above.

To stop destructive behaviour

A muzzle may seem like a good solution if your dog chews household items. But this method is short-term, like the one above. Aside from mental damage, a muzzle can harm your dog’s body. But these injuries mostly happen when you don’t have complete supervision of your dog and want to use the muzzle for a long time during the day to stop your dog’s destructive behaviour. You need to determine why your dog is dangerous and work to solve the problem. Maybe they are bored and need to release more energy or may be stressed out due to separation anxiety.

How to train a dog to accept a muzzle?

Learning should always happen as a delicious game for the dog. It would be best to associate the muzzle with tasty treats. If your dog is enthusiastic about his muzzle, offer him a treat. Next, place it on the floor and reward your dog every time he moves towards it so that he will freely touch it.

Next, put the muzzle on him and treat him in the first second. Never force a muzzle on them. Gradually increase the time they have their muzzle inside and make the treats more palatable. First, you can use diet peanut butter inside the muzzle. Once they are comfortable with this step, wrap it around their ears. The duration of its closure should be increased during several sessions. Never rush to learn this step. Always hold training sessions in a familiar, low-stress environment and keep training sessions short (no more than five minutes), use valuable rewards, and don’t try to go too fast or skip a step.

To have a healthy and lively dog, you must pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. You can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming in all these steps. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs so they count the moments for the next session.

To wrap up

Muzzles keep pets and people safe. In general, muzzles are often used for dogs at risk of biting other dogs or humans. So, its use can be an essential issue. It’s also important to note that muzzles should never be used as a method of punishing. To have a healthy and lively dog, you must pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. You can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming in all these steps. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs so they count the moments for the next session.