The why, what, when, how, and where of dog muzzling.
It is commonly thought that only aggressive, or mean dogs wear muzzles.
This is COMPLETELY false!
There are many reasons why a dog may be wearing a muzzle, and honestly, unless you are the guardian/handler/caretaker of that dog, it is neither your concern, nor any of your business! #isaidwhatisaid
Dogs, yes, even mean/aggressive ones, DESERVE to be out in public safely.
For many dogs, muzzles are what offers that possibility.
I know that this is what some people automatically think of, or imagine, when they see a muzzled dog.
I get it. Really, I do.
It doesn't give us a warm fuzzy feeling.
But, it is not about us. Our feelings are 100% irrelveant.
What's important, and what matters is the safety & security of the dog, and the people, or other animals that the muzzled doggo may encounter.
PERIOD!
There are a number of reasons a dog may need to wear a muzzle.
Some of these reasons, with explanation are:
1) The dog is nervous around people and animals they don't know.
Dogs are MASTER communicators, and give lots of signals that they are uncomfortable, leery, nervous, scared, etc.
When those signals are ignored, (most humans are oblivious and have no idea how to read dog body language), they "raise their voice", by exhibiting less subtle signals.
When those go ignored, then they yell...BITE.
The best way for a handler of a nervous pup, to ensure the safety of all involved, is for the dog to wear a muzzle while interacting with the thing that the pup is triggered by.
2) The dog eats things they shouldn't.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that almost every one of you who has a dog, has had to fish something outta their mouths that they sholdn't have been chewing on.
No?
Well, consider yourself really MF'n fortunate!
As the mama to a pup who had to have emergency surgery due to an intestinal blockage, because she swallowed things she shouldn't have...
You DO NOT wanna endure that.
Your heart, your nerves, and your pocketbook will be SHOT!
Muzzles can help protect pups who are prone to eating inappropriate things, avoiding painful, costly, and potentially deadly consequences.
3) The dog IS NOT safe to interact with other people, or animals, without a bite-proof muzzle.
People need to be realistic.
Not all the dogs in your community are friendly & happy-go-lucky.
There are undoubtedly numerous dogs who have varying degrees of people or animal aggression.
And ya know what, that is A-OK, so long as the guardian/handler/caretaker, possesses the skills/tools to properly manage the dog.
A sturdy, bite-proof muzzle is one of the things that they can have in their bag of tricks.
4) For pups who may not be a fan of going to the vet, or getting groomed, muzzling allows for safe handling.
Let's face it, our dogs need to go to the vet, and sometimes, the groomer.
If those places are your dog's least favorite places to go, chances are, they will not be willing participants.
As such, by placing a muzzle on the dog, that keeps EVERYONE safe.
I don't know about you, but NONE of these seem outrageous to me.
In fact, they seem pretty freakin reasonable.
Not all muzzles are created equal!!
First and foremost, when choosing a muzzle for your dog, you need to put some thought into it.
Ask yourself these questions:
1) Does my dog have a specially-shaped head/snout?
Frenchies, pugs, greyhounds, etc.
2) What purpose is the muzzle going to serve?
Prevent eating things, prevent bites, etc.
3) How long at a stretch will my dog need to wear the muzzle?
under 5-10 minutes? 30+ minutes? Possibly full time?
4) Am I willing to do the work that is neccesary to get the proper fit, and appropriately condition the dog to wearing the muzzle?
I know that #4 sounds a little harsh, but you guys know me -
I do not pull any punches.
If you are not willing to put in work NEEDED to best serve your dog getting acclimated to the muzzle - don't bother.
Simmer down, what I mean is that when muzzle training a dog, getting them comfortable, and dare I say HAPPY to wear the muzzle, is CRITICAL!
We always want to do things in a manner that serves our pup's emotional well-being.
Half-assing muzzle training will wind up doing the opposite; causing a lot of undue stress & anxiety.
Peep this video that briefly shows how one can BEGIN to get your pup used to a muzzle.
Soft & mesh muzzles are ONLY meant to be worn for very short period of time.
Getting nails trimmed, vet check up, etc.
These muzzles keep the dog's mouth closed rather tightly, which prevents the dog from being able to properly pant.
Dog's pant in order to cool down, so wearing a muzzle that restricts that ability to properly pant, should be limited to at most, a few minutes.
Basket & Plastic muzzles are the type that are the most humane, and work the best to prevent whatever behavior struggle your dog experiences.
These muzzles can be made out of leather, wire, plastic, rubber, or biothane.
SOME of these types of muzzles are bite-proof. (more on that later).
This style muzzle covers the whole snout, but is not snug around the mouth, which allows the dog to open their mouth, pant, drink water, and take small treats.
The short-snout muzzle is specifically designed for the flat-faced dogs.
My preferred brands of muzzles are: (in no particular order)
Moral of the story is that ALL kinds of dogs wear muzzles.
Some folks will muzzle train their pups just in case they one day NEED to wear one.
There are some online resources that I have found to be invaluable, with respect to muzzles, and muzzle training.
1) The Muzzle Up Project - a group of behavior professionals who have partnered up to advocate for, educate on, and end the stigma associated with the use of muzzles.
2) Muzzle Training and Tips - a Facebook group where you can get help choosing a muzzle, selecting the correct size, and which muzzles are bite-proof!
***They also have a website that has oodles of fantastic information.
So - what's one thing you have taken away from this?
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