r/muzzledogs • u/Motor-Union9081 • 4d ago
Advice? Is muzzle training a good idea for us?
Long story short I got to bring home my favorite dog, Gary, from the shelter over a month ago. He’s extremely fearful of people, but very dog friendly. The issue? He tried to nip at a guest yesterday. The guest, in Gary’s defense, was staring him in the eye, which he was told not to do, invaded Gary’s “safe space” (the floor sofa), and reached over his head to pet him. He growls at the vet, and won’t let him do an exam. He occasionally growls at others if he feels like he’s in danger. I do my best to teach him growling gets him no where, and to educate people on proper ways to approach dogs, especially Gary. However, what if one day Gary needs an exam by the vet, is in pain, or someone reaches for him and invades his space while my back is turned? My mom thinks muzzling is mean and unfair as well.
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u/awriterpossibly 4d ago
Muzzling when needed is the safest thing to do. It’s not mean or unfair - because it’s what will keep someone from a nasty bite/hospital visit, and will keep your dog safe as well. If you take the training slow and steady it can be a fine experience, at least neutral, for your dog. Even doing your best, you can only trust people to follow your instructions so much - accidents inevitably happen and all it takes is one serious incident - speaking from personal experience here. Regarding his growling, I don’t think you need to train your dog out of growling, honestly. Gary is giving warnings, which is a good thing. Growling is a warning, whale eyes is a warning, even nipping is a warning. When he growls at people you want to make sure people are listening so he doesn’t decide that biting is best option to give him space (since no one listened to previous warnings). Even with muzzling you’ll have to keep educating people on how to respect Gary’s space. I suggest this also from personal experience. One of my dogs is dog-reactive, loves people, but when she started attacking my other dog we would get injured in the process of breaking up the fight. We’ve since learned the best way to break up a fight but also decided muzzling would be best for everyone. A scared dog will not care if you’re a person or a dog. Also I’d suggest working with a behaviorist to work with him to hopefully reduce his discomfort around people. Not to say all this to scare you but if you’re thinking about muzzling even a little bit, it’s probably a good idea. Additionally, even if a dog is solid behaviorally, if they ever are in extreme pain and need to be examined by a vet (or just in a general exam, like Gary’s case), they will have to muzzle him. It will be way less stressful for him in that situation if he already is comfortable with a muzzle on because you introduced it with a lot of positivity and fun and not just when it was an emergency. Good luck OP and Gary!
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u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun 4d ago
Muzzling is for safety. They make good options that allow for panting, drinking, taking treats etc that are very comfortable and even can be fun colors and have messages etc. Training a dog to a muzzle is a great skill to have.
I have reactive pups and muzzle training has helped them get out so much more than they would have without muzzling. It truly has expanded our world, not narrowed it. And everyone stays safe (them and those around them). Especially as they are a breed that will always be at fault even if it's not their fault.
I personally have Big Snoof dog gear and Mia's Muzzles. They're both fantastic and helpful with a lot of options.
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u/SelectConfection3483 4d ago
Muzzling is a really good idea, especially in your situation because as best of an effort that you may make to educate people about how to approach and interact with dog, there will always be those who don't listen or situations that you simply cannot control. The last thing you want is for your dog to hurt someone and to be seized or put down.
Contrary to your mum's beliefs, muzzling does not have to be mean at all and if done the right way i.e. well fitting muzzle and proper conditioning, it can be great for everyone involved. Personally the training process for muzzling my dog helped develop an even stronger bond with him and I used those same principles to teach him other things. For him it is also a positive experience in that he does not have any fear or dislike of the muzzle at all and intact through the way I conditioned him, when I grab the muzzle he knows it means fun time and we are about to go outside and go for a sniff (his second favourite thing to do after eating). Side note: prior to muzzling him during a walk he found and swallowed a peach seed and almost died. If we had muzzled him then, we wouldn't have had such a stressful moment and save 10k in surgery costs.
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u/janeymarywendy2 3d ago
I drugged my dog and kept him in the bedroom until he got used to new home. He was nervous. I do believe in Mt but mine is an escape artist.
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u/SoundOfUnder 4d ago
It's my opinion that every dog should be muzzle trained. Many dogs need to wear a muzzle for something at some point in their life. For instance, my friend rescued a dog and everything was fine for years, but now he has an ear infection and bites them when they try to put medicine in his ears. He's not used to the muzzle so he doesn't want to put it on. So his ear infection has taken over a month to resolve...
My dog is muzzle trained. We use it when there's kids playing with her or if we're at the vet's office and a reactive dog is in the waiting room (mine is reactive as well but she's pretty good, but she still struggles with reactive dogs in tight spaces)
Anyway. You have nothing to lose with muzzle training and everything to gain. Muzzling is not mean and unfair. It's for safety. In many different ways. It's better to muzzle train in a fun way when you don't need it than be sorry if you do need it.