To Muzzle The Dog

“Muzzles are for only for aggressive dogs!”

“Muzzles are cruel!”

“Muzzles are for lazy owners!”

“Just train your dog so you don’t need one!”

“Muzzles are ridiculous for small dogs!”

Do any of these sound familiar?

These are very common beliefs that are yelled at owners who decide to have their dog wear a muzzle. But were you aware that none of these statements are based in fact. In this article, we will go over what muzzle training is, its benefits, and its uses. At the end of this article will be a comprehensive list of reasons an owner may decide to muzzle train their dog, for ease, along with a few more common myths and misconceptions about muzzles.

Muzzle Training

When we see a dog wearing a muzzle, many people may assume that the muzzle is just put on the dog’s face and that’s that; they are forced into wearing these horrible, uncomfortable devices all the time, and that nothing else is done. This assumption is also paired with the assumption that the dog isn’t trained and the muzzle is the “easy” way out so that the owner doesn’t have to train their dog.

In reality the vast majority of dogs are conditioned to a muzzle over time through consistent, dedicated training.

It is a process that varies in length for each individual dog, but that most dog owners who opt to muzzle train their dog do. This involves introducing the dog to the muzzle, building a positive association with the muzzle then building a positive association to willingly putting their face into the muzzle. From there, the dog gains confidence in the behavior requested (willingly putting their face into the muzzle on their own and keeping it there) and becomes more comfortable with the muzzle itself. The process continues by slowly adding the strap/buckle, getting the dog used to wearing the muzzle, building duration and then beginning to use the muzzle in a variety of settings.

Getting a dog comfortable wearing a muzzle is often a process, and part of training. When used properly it is an aid in management and training a dog, or even mandated by certain laws, and the use of them does not directly reflect why a dog may wear one or why an owner may choose to use one. Regardless, it is almost never used as a replacement for training, nor does a picture, video or a single outing define a dog or their owner. The various reasons a dog may be wearing a muzzle are at the end of this article.

All dogs have the potential to cause harm and injury, regardless of size, to other dogs, other animals, as well as humans. Of course, the larger the dog, the bigger the risk for larger, more devastating, harm to be done, but that doesn’t mean that a small dog cannot cause serious damage. There are many dog groomers, dog trainers, and vet staff (not even including family members of people) who have needed, not only stitches, but reconstructive surgery from small breed dogs. There are many vet and shelter staffs that can tell you stories of small dogs killing another small animal in the home: a cat or even another small dog. Small dogs are still simply dogs, even if they are only a fraction of the size and can easily be picked up/carried.  

Benefits of Muzzle Training

Muzzle training has a variety of benefits: When muzzle training, you are using positive reinforcement and making a new object (the muzzle) a happy, comfortable thing. In doing so, you are continuing to build your bond and strengthen your relationship, as well as helping your dog build confidence, just as anyone would when learning to master a new skill or introducing any new situation/object and making it a positive experience.

Being comfortable and confident when wearing a muzzle is also wonderful in case of emergencies. For example, if a dog is seriously injured (such as a broken leg or torn ACL, for example) ,even the sweetest "wouldn't hurt a fly" type of dog may bite; this is a natural reaction to pain, and does not mean a dog is aggressive. In those types of situations, vet staff will often muzzle a dog, regardless of known temperament, in order to treat the dog safely. This is often an automatic first action when an injured dog comes in, for both the safety of the dog and vet staff.

Dog oxygen masks are also very similar to a muzzle, both the portable versions and in vet offices, and many dogs in emergency situations may require oxygen without anesthesia. If a dog has never been exposed to a muzzle, it may cause them to:

A) Flail and panic at the strange thing on their face, in which case they can further injure themselves and others,

or

B) Freeze with fear, in which case the entire situation is significantly more stressful for the dog overall. Imagine being so afraid and in pain that you are essentially paralyzed by your extreme state.

If a dog has been exposed positively to a muzzle and is comfortable in it, as well as sees it as a positive, happy thing, a muzzle can:

A) At minimum, add no extra stress to the situation,

or

B) Could give a sense of security to the dog when faced with something positive and familiar in a stressful or scary time, like a toddler with their stuffed animal in a doctors office.

A muzzle can also be used as a supervised alternative to a cone when recovering from surgery, such as a spay or neuter, recovering from an injury, such as hot spots or allergy sores, and is often far less of a hindrance than a cone, as it does not negatively impact or hinder a dogs day-to-day life. For this use only, specific muzzles or modified muzzles will work, as your properly fitted basket muzzle does not prevent the ability to lick.

Another great, but overlooked, benefit to muzzle training is for dogs who have medical issues, such as Pica (where they eat literally any and every thing, including rocks, cans, etc) and Mega Esophagus (where they cannot eat unless in a special chair). Both can be life threatening if they get a chance to ingest anything other than their own food during specific times. These dogs can wear certain muzzles so they can continue to live a long and happy life without life-threatening situations or the need for multiple life-saving surgeries caused by these health issues.

In some situations, such as emergency evacuations, many emergency shelters will only allow you to bring your dogs if they are crated and/or wearing a muzzle, due to the stress, activity, and crowd at a shelter. These shelters could be from fires, hurricanes, tornados, or even safe houses for victims of domestic abuse.

Another thing to point out is that, in fire zones, or places where air quality is low, portable dog oxygen masks, or masks designed to prevent inhaling unhealthy fumes/ash/smoke, are very similar to muzzles, and may be necessary to use in an emergency.

Did you know it is becoming more common to hear reports of, or warnings from officials, regarding baited treats: dog treats, meat or hotdogs (among other various “yummy” foods) being stuffed with poison, fish hooks, nails, glass, and more. Muzzle training can mean life or death for dogs in these areas, simply from picking something yummy up off the ground during a walk or hike, or even a trip to a dog friendly park.

There are also some places and countries that allow your dog to accompany you on public transport or in certain public areas, but only if they are muzzled, regardless of size or temperament.

Muzzle training also offers a safe way to introduce new dogs to each other without the risk of any real injuries if it does not go well. They can also give nervous/fearful/shy dogs the space they need to build confidence in scary situations, such as people running up them without permission, either for themselves, or allowing their own dogs to, which can exacerbate a nervous/fearful/shy dogs negative feelings toward people/dogs/situations.

It also allows those with reactive or aggressive dogs to continue training and rehabilitating their dogs, or manage reactive or aggressive behaviors in certain settings (such as dogs who get anxious/afraid at the vet or for nail trims).

The muzzle also offers safe rehabilitation and management training for selective, reactive, or aggressive dogs that reach a level in their training where they need to be worked around, or interact with, other people and dogs as part of their training regime. Sometimes this can mean the difference between a safe interaction and possible rehabilitation, or a dog that may need to one day be put down due to lack of safe options for continued training.

It also offers a safe option for socialization and outings for dogs who are, or were formerly, selective, reactive, or aggressive, whose owners want to continue their progress in rehabilitation and/or training but also desire to be safe. The muzzle allows dogs who have behavioral issues to still live a long and full life without the risk of the dog being a potential danger, and without the owner having to either keep the dog inside 24/7 away from everyone (which will only make such negative behaviors worse over time due to isolation) or be able to safely supply mental and physical stimulation outside the home without risking anyone’s (dog included) safety.

Reasons Why A Dog Is Muzzled

·         Dog aggressive/reactive/selective

·         Human aggressive/reactive/selective

·         Nervous and needs space from strangers

·         Fearful but needs safe handling

·         Nervous/Anxious at vets

·         Nervous/Anxious at groomers

·         Aggressive toward groomers/vets

·         Safe introductions to new dogs/people

·         Resourcing guarding

·         Preventing ingestion of baited treats left to cause harm.

·         To prevent eating things it should not; Pica, Mega-esophagus, baited treats, poop, etc

·         To be able to accompany owner on train, ferry, in certain counties/countries

·         To be able to accompany owner to emergency shelters (such as for hurricanes or fires)

·         To prevent chewing on wound, injury, allergic reaction site, surgery site (stitches), without needing a cone, which can hinder movement and be more stressful to many dogs

·         To ensure safe interactions with smaller animals

·         To compete in certain sports/games safely (such as FastCat/Lure Coursing)

·         Rough play: Some dogs are very rough players and muzzling can prevent potential accidents

·         Rehabilitation: Some dogs may be wearing a muzzle to work on behavior issues, or to help another dog work on behavior issues

·         To ensure the dog has one less stress in case of an emergency (such as a major injury at the vet, k9 oxygen mask)

·         And because the owner decides they want to have their dog wear a muzzle, regardless of their reason…

If you know of a reason that a dog may wear a muzzle, that is not listed here, please comment on this page or contact us directly and we will be happy to add any responsible reason to the list!

Common Misconceptions

• A properly fit muzzle does not keep the dog from opening its mouth. In fact, it ONLY prevents biting, or putting something in its mouth.

• It should not prevent drinking, panting or barking.

• A muzzle does not mean a dog is aggressive. There are many reasons a dog could be wearing a muzzle.

• A muzzle does not harm, or hinder a dog in anyway when used properly.

• A muzzle should not cause stress or discomfort when introduced properly.

• Muzzles should not be worn 24/7

• Muzzle conditioning/muzzle training does not mean wearing the muzzle 24/7. It means getting your dog comfortable with wearing a muzzle. Most training sessions for muzzle conditioning is less than 10 minutes.

**Disclaimer**

We would like to note that muzzling a dog does not negate training.

 If your dog has a particular reason to be muzzled that can be worked on, we always recommend continuing training while you use the muzzle. We strive to make it possible for muzzled dogs to thrive, and live their best lives, this includes proper training paired with muzzle training. Muzzles are not a “cure all.” You cannot muzzle a dog-aggressive dog and then take him to the dog park; time and dedication come into play, along with the proper use of a muzzle, to train your dog to the best of their abilities.

When in doubt, work with a trainer to help your dog be able to grow to its full potential with or without the use of a muzzle.

We also recognize that dogs are not perfect, and not all behaviors can be “fixed” (such as pica, ME, genetic temperament, etc) but it is our job to do the best we can for our dogs and sometimes, even if we don’t like it, that may require a muzzle.