11/06/2025
Let's talk about muzzles.
Our general rule when it comes to muzzling is that we do not unless absolutely necessary. That being said, there are still times where pets are muzzled for their or our safety. Why?
In some cases it's a precaution. In Theo's case, he had recently torn an ACL. Pain can cause an animal to strike out, even if they've never done so in the past. We were very gentle and it turned out to be unnecessary, but the safety net made all parties more comfortable 🩵
For some dogs, like Warrior, we muzzle only briefly to complete parts of the service they do not like. This prevents any injury and the rest of the service it's removed. Some dogs anticipate the aspects they dislike. By quickly completing it without making a big fuss, they can relax for the rest of their visit 💜
For special cases like Nash, it allows us to build a relationship by removing their ability to lash out. He was a very scared/nervous dog and learned that his teeth could keep scary things from happening. By taking away his ability to lash out, he learned that visits with us aren't actually so bad 🩵
For a lot of dogs, bringing out or putting on a muzzle can heighten their apprehension. This is why we only muzzle if necessary. In the limited cases where we do, it's important that training is also done at home to help them be more comfortable. This is why we are always transparent about behavior when visiting us, even if it's difficult 🩵💜
