Muzzles

[Selina27]

I've decided to train Cassie to accept a muzzle and have bought the Baskerville one, and I'm not sure now if that's a good one or not. Which ones do other people use? I don't really like the thought of doing it, but we are approaching apple season and it's so difficult to prevent her finding them, I don't anticipate using it often but it maybe useful now and again.

 

[edzbird]

I bought an Ancol one - @Atemas has one for Sky. We've not used it, but done lots of training with it. Good value.

 

[Selina27]

Thanks I'll take a closer look.

 

[HAH]

I've got a Baskerville one, have started training with it and it's easy to handle. I like the section that slides out at the end of the nosepiece, makes it easier for Kipper to clean off any lasting traces of peanut butter!

 

[snowbunny]

Baskerville are good quality, I believe. It's about making sure the size is right, that's the most important thing. I have a BUMAS one for Shadow - very pricey but a completely custom fit - and it's blue!

 

[Atemas]

Ancol Plastic Muzzle Black/red Size 8 30x10.5cm
by Ancol

Hope this link works - this is what Sky has - a bit redundant now as her walks have changed dramatically, however I like it ‘cos it’s black so not immediately obvious on her and it fits her well which is the most important thing.

 

[Jennifer]

I have Baskerville muzzles for my two. Never had a problem. You might find this link useful.
https://www.clickertraining.com/muzzles

There is a softer, rubber baskerville muzzle you can buy which as you only want it to stop Apple scrumping may be better. It's called Baskerville ultra muzzle. I think it's a good idea to train a dog to wear a muzzle because you just never know when it might come in handy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baskervill...spons&keywords=Baskerville+ultra+muzzle&psc=1

 

[snowbunny]

I think it's a good idea to train a dog to wear a muzzle because you just never know when it might come in handy.

Absolutely! If your dog is injured, they may lash out, even towards you. If they have to be muzzled, it's got to be best that they are already happy with it, so that it doesn't add even more stress. I'm in the "every dog should be muzzle-trained" camp. Yep, even pugs in jumpers

 

[Jennifer]

@snowbunny Cute and vicious at the same time. Cool.

 

[Selina27]

Thanks for all replies, @Jennifer that's a very useful article.

I will use the one I've bought for training her to get used to it and see how well it fits her.

 

[JES72]

I’ll admit, if I see a dog in a muzzle my first reaction is that its a scary dog but i’ve learnt that muzzles are for all sorts of reasons and in our area mostly to stop the labs eating poop.

 

[Selina27]

@JES72, I don't relish the thought but I am looking on it from the point of view that if she's ever hurt then it would be beneficial for her.
She won't have wear it often, I am getting on quite well "managing" poo eating, but the apples will be widespread around here and do upset her stomach, especially as time draws on and they ripen on the ground. Oh how I wish I'd taught her not to eat off the ground!

 

[Charlie]

Don't you think owners might use them for the wrong reasons, as @JES72 said for stopping their dogs eating poo instead of training them not too? x

 

[JES72]

I think muzzles, harnesses, nose collars, cages/crates are all tools to help us and our dogs. I'd now rather see a dog wear a muzzle and be out on a walk where it can have good experiences than not see it because its inside not having a walk. Then it can be used as a training tool, it might help break the self reward cycle.

 

[Jennifer]

Thanks for all replies, @Jennifer that's a very useful article.

I will use the one I've bought for training her to get used to it and see how well it fits her.

I've had no problems with the ordinary Baskerville muzzles although I did have to take out the removable piece at the front as with that in they weren't long enough. My two are used to head collars so getting them used to a muzzle was relatively easy as it's very similar. They've never tried to get it off. The only thing I'm unsure about is the fastening. It doesn't seem to move when the muzzle is on but I always have to re tighten it everytime I put it on. Having said that for apple scrumping and the like you probably don't need it too tight.

I trained my two to wear a muzzle for vet visits. They've never bitten or even air snapped but they are so scared and they do a very good impression of wanting to rip the vets arm off given the chance I decided a muzzle would mean less worry for me and peace of mind for the vet. Having said that one vet jumped back nearly the width of the room when one time Scott turned his head and roared at him. I know it's a reflex action to move back and that's fair enough but Scott was muzzled so the distance was a bit over the top. Unfortunately the vet was trying to be gentle and go softly, softly up behind Scott. That sounds like the right thing to do with nervous dogs but nervous timid dogs. With my two you need to get in and out as quick as you can. They don't appreciate the softly, softly approach to them the vet is sneaking up behind to inflict torture.

@Charlie. Your probably right Helen some owners will probably use them as a quick fix but if your dog is a scavenger maybe it's a better alternative to the dog being ill or worse. Also owners who care enough to stop their dogs scavenging I would like to think care enough to continue training stop with a muzzle on it just means less risk.

 

[snowbunny]

Yep, I think using a muzzle is perfectly acceptable to stop a really determined scavenger, especially where there are potential health risks involved. As @JES72 says, breaking the cycle is sometimes all that's needed. In the same way you'd clean your kitchen counters or close the door, the muzzle is simply a management tool to prevent self-rewarding. If the alternative is to have to keep your dog on lead, I would definitely prefer the muzzle approach, assuming the muzzle is introduced sensitively and accepted by the dog. Also assuming that the owner continues with training, if that's appropriate. I can imagine if I adopted an older dog who developed or had an existing ingrained problem that could damage their health, I'd probably just use the muzzle without trying to train the behaviour out. Pick your battles!

 

[Selina27]

Yep, I think using a muzzle is perfectly acceptable to stop a really determined scavenger, especially where there are potential health risks involved. As @JES72 says, breaking the cycle is sometimes all that's needed. In the same way you'd clean your kitchen counters or close the door, the muzzle is simply a management tool to prevent self-rewarding. If the alternative is to have to keep your dog on lead, I would definitely prefer the muzzle approach, assuming the muzzle is introduced sensitively and accepted by the dog. Also assuming that the owner continues with training, if that's appropriate. I can imagine if I adopted an older dog who developed or had an existing ingrained problem that could damage their health, I'd probably just use the muzzle without trying to train the behaviour out. Pick your battles!

Thank you for this and @Jennifer too.

I feel bad enough that I need to consider it, I see it as a training failure really! I do lots of things to keep her with me and focused on games etc which works very well but we do have the odd slip up!

Later this year I may be incapacitated for a short while and will need someone else to walk her for a week or two. I can hardly expect someone else to put in the same amount of effort as I do, so I think a muzzle could well come in handy.

 

[Charlie]

@Selina27 Sorry I wasn't getting at you or anyone else. I am sorry you are going to be poorly for a while I don't think it's a training failure at all, I am sure lots of us on the forum wouldn't or don't want to muzzle train it's a personal choice. I hope I haven't offended anyone it was not my intention. I will keep quiet. xx

 

[Jennifer]

@Charlie. No Helen you made a good and valid point. It's like with a lot of training tools they can be used to avoid training.

@Selina27 Having to use a muzzle to stop Cassie eating apples is not a training failure. Your doing well with the poo eating. (That sounds wrong.) I should've said Cassie's poo scavenging. The apple scrumping will improve and you can use the muzzle to help and ensure, hopefully, no tummy upsets whilst training. Unless she sneaks one. The trouble is the apple scrumping season doesn't last as long as the poo scrumping season which is obviously constant so the opportunity for training to leave fallen apples is a short one. You'll get there.

 

[JES72]

Sorry, It was me who put my foot in it saying muzzles were scary?