28/07/2021
I just wanted to take a quick moment to talk about muzzles. I was speaking with a client the other week about the benefits of muzzle training, and it reminded me that there’s still a lot of negative feeling about the use of dog muzzles out there.
People often think that they are only for ‘dangerous’ or ‘aggressive’ dogs, but the truth is that muzzles are just another tool we can use to keep ourselves and our dogs safe, much like a leash or a collar. Muzzles can be useful in a wide range of circumstances, such as introducing a nervous dog to a new person, as an extra layer of safety during vet visits or as a means of preventing dogs that love to forage for snacks on walks from eating something they shouldn’t. When used properly, a dog shouldn’t find wearing a muzzle stressful. A correctly fitted basket muzzle should allow the dog to drink, take treats and pant comfortably, and muzzle training should result in a dog that can pop on their muzzle gladly, as it most likely indicates a situation in which they can earn themselves some treats!
Here’s an old video of my boy Cody and I doing a little muzzle training. Cody has a bad back and isn’t the biggest fan of being poked and prodded by the vets (with the exception of his vet mother of course!). His muzzle, in addition to some cooperative care skills we’ve taught him that I’ll discuss in another post, helps the veterinary staff feel comfortable examining him when they need to, and Cody doesn’t have to deal with the additional stress caused by wearing a muzzle that he wasn’t prepared for.
