Muzzle Training

[Emily]

Ella's muzzle arrived today. I've been meaning to train her for aaaaages and I've finally given myself a kick up the backside to get cracking.

We started with five minutes today. I first held a treat from the outside, with my fingers inside the front of the muzzle. She didn't hesitate at all and shoved her nose in to grab the treat. I did this twice more and then just held the muzzle. She shoved her nose in, I marked ("yes!") and rewarded in place, through the front of the muzzle.

We did this a number of times, managing to increase the hold before make and reward (just a couple of seconds) on the last two attempts.

I called an end to the game and we had a big game of tug

Phew, the first introduction was a success

 

[HAH]

Fantastic @Emily , sounds like a great fun session! Do keep us posted on how it goes. I need to pick this up again with Kipper, we got to a good strong ’nose in muzzle’ and then I didn’t take it to the next step of strapping up.

 

[Emily]

Fantastic @Emily , sounds like a great fun session! Do keep us posted on how it goes. I need to pick this up again with Kipper, we got to a good strong ’nose in muzzle’ and then I didn’t take it to the next step of strapping up.

Yes, I feel that the leap from on the nose to strap done up is going to be huge. I'll worry about that one when we come to it but I think I might try with a super loose strap first?

Dunno... Baby steps

 

[HAH]

Yes, I feel that the leap from on the nose to strap done up is going to be huge. I'll worry about that one when we come to it but I think I might try with a super loose strap first?

Dunno... Baby steps

Big style! I think very loose is the way to go.

I’ve remembered we also had a small hiccup that the muzzle became a very high value toy and then was chewed to pieces so I need to get another…

 

[Selina27]

Well done @Emily, sounds like good progress. I've never thought of holding the treat outside, but have put something, peanut butter I think inside and like Ella Cassie had no hesitation putting her nose in.

I have got as far as closing the strap for as long as 2 minutes, but haven't taken it any further.

I've finally decided to give my full attention to teaching leave it!

As a matter of interest are you doing this for any particular reason?

 

[Emily]

As a matter of interest are you doing this for any particular reason?

Yes. Ella is awful at the vet. She has Trazadone before she goes but she's still terribly stressed. I feel it would be very worthwhile being able to have her comfortably muzzled so that we don't have any unfortunate incidents.

Obviously my plan is to have many more happy muzzle moments than vet muzzle moments.

 

[Loraseal]

Yes I have to go this way as well. Although Hunter was amazing at the emergency vet yesterday. He definitely reacts to the white jacket bum alien wearer.
Which muzzle have you chosen? Baskerville large??

 

[Emily]

Which muzzle have you chosen? Baskerville large??

Yep

 

[Cath]

I have trained Fred and Annie with a muzzle, just in case they had a bad accident. You never know what a dog may do if in a lot of pain.
I used tube cheese at the front of the muzzle. I also sing if you can call it that You can leave your hat on. I only have to start singing that song

and they come running. Its just a game to them. They can both wear one for 5 mins now I think that is enough.

 

[Shamas mom]

We used cream cheese and peanut butter smeared on the inside of Angel's muzzle. She was quite content to stuff her face in it, and lick away. When she was done, we popped it off and put it away.

It didn't take her long to happily pop the thing on.

Shamas wears his for walks, so he has a clear connection--muzzle=walk. He also puts it on happily most of the time. Sometimes he protests the muzzle, so we use Halti instead.

I found that the cream cheese/tube cheese/peanut butter int he end of the muzzle worked really well for positive interactions

 

[Emily]

Not too much to add right now. All ticking along nicely, slightly increasing duration and will attempt to clip on soon.

I'm super careful with Ella as I tend to find that of she takes a dislike to something, it's really hard to win her over again.