Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
Yes I taught Fred to use one just in case of injury and I use to sing to him, You can leave your hat on.
Muzzles
- Thread starter Selina27
- Start date
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
I don't want to! I feel really heavy hearted about it
But it helps me to think that there is some benefit to her by doing so.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
I did have to laugh tonight, I was looking at the flipping muzzle (having put it out of sight for a few days) trying to work out how it goes on, and Sassy miss Cassie comes and starts licking it and investigating inside and out, just like any new thing that comes into the house ! That's before a clicker or peanut butter gets involved!
I'm assuming you feel bad about using a muzzle because you haven't been able to stop Cassie eating apples. Don't feel bad. I have to use a muzzle because I haven't been able to stop my dogs being nervous and afraid. There is a real chance my dogs could bite. You have a good chance of training Cassie to leave apples it will just take time. I've very little chance of training my dogs to accept the vet touching.I don't want to! I feel really heavy hearted about it
You and Cassie will benefit just like me, S&S and the vet benefit but for very different reasons.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Thanks for your thoughtful post. I am fortunate I know not have a nervous or fearful dog, while her natural confidence and somewhat independent spirit bring different challenges they can be overcome or managed. I will look on the muzzle as an opportunity to work on the cycle of self reward!I'm assuming you feel bad about using a muzzle because you haven't been able to stop Cassie eating apples. Don't feel bad. I have to use a muzzle because I haven't been able to stop my dogs being nervous and afraid. There is a real chance my dogs could bite. You have a good chance of training Cassie to leave apples it will just take time. I've very little chance of training my dogs to accept the vet touching.
I have just made a start following the protocol you posted a link to, being a dog who's been clicker and +R trained she needed no encouragement to keep poking it for a reward!
Years ago when I was on the farm with my exOH we had a wonderful working collie, really wonderful, but he was a nervous worrier. When he was about 7 he began to get arthritis and had to go to the vets for monthly injections. The first time I warned the vet that if hurt he may bite, and he chose to ignore it and yes got a nasty bite. Which was horrid for all concerned. After that he had to go "out the back" and be muzzled with the bandage. If only I'd been more enlightened then I could have saved poor Stormy the upset.
But happily the injections worked and he lived a long and happy life working until he became too frail and died just short of his 16th birthday!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Just to say day one of the muzzle training -- Cass loves new things and it seems is viewing it as yet another new game to play! Of course she would, why wouldn't she? So that does make me feel better, as so often I end up laughing with her
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Oh that's lovely! Following your post I've started singing your "just to good to be true" when we do it! Seems to float her boat!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Well we're up to peanut butter in the basket -- head straight in, no problem, I am almost up fastening the clip but will leave that a day or two longer I think.
Her own personal basket of peanut butter --- what could possibly be better!!
Her own personal basket of peanut butter --- what could possibly be better!!
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
I'm about to start muzzle training Alex. As he gets stressed easily I'm just carrying it about with me at the moment so he gets used to seeing it. Next step will be cheese through it. He adores cheese.
- Location
- Isle of Man
I didn't put anything in the muzzle in the end, I waited for Coco to put his snoot in of his own accord. Then marked & rewarded. We gradually increased the duration, mixing up longer and shorter ones. Then I would just drape the strap over his head sometimes. Then I tried clicking it shut & opening it immediately - gradually increasing the duration.
We are up to putting the muzzle on, clicking the strap shut and doing a short recall, or a down/sit. Coco really likes the muzzle game and will pester to play it, but if he's in a down for more than a couple of seconds he starts to paw at it, so we take it back a bit.
I find it very fiddly to pop a treat through the muzzle, I get covered in slobber!
We are up to putting the muzzle on, clicking the strap shut and doing a short recall, or a down/sit. Coco really likes the muzzle game and will pester to play it, but if he's in a down for more than a couple of seconds he starts to paw at it, so we take it back a bit.
I find it very fiddly to pop a treat through the muzzle, I get covered in slobber!
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Top tip: Primula squeezy cheese
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
I didn't to start with, I followed the guidelines posted on this thread by @Jennifer, but since Cassie was enjoying the game and started to put her snoot (great word!) in of her own accord, (miss inquisitive) I added the peanut butter as an extra! I've done up the clip today, no problems there so far. So just need to build up the time now.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
So @SteffiS and @Emily_Babbelhund I'm resurrecting this thread!
I've been doing some muzzle training in the last 2 weeks. The good thing is that she gets quite excited when she sees me get it out, squeezy cheeseis a very powerful thing I think. Today we managed 1 minute 45 seconds with the clip done up. She tends to push the muzzle against something so that she can lick it all off, but did stop today before I took it off with out trying to rub it off her face.
So I think we are making progress. I'm not quite sure how to progress from here, anyone any ideas?
I've been doing some muzzle training in the last 2 weeks. The good thing is that she gets quite excited when she sees me get it out, squeezy cheeseis a very powerful thing I think. Today we managed 1 minute 45 seconds with the clip done up. She tends to push the muzzle against something so that she can lick it all off, but did stop today before I took it off with out trying to rub it off her face.
So I think we are making progress. I'm not quite sure how to progress from here, anyone any ideas?
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
@Selina27 from my point of view, it needs a resurrection as I basically just gave up and have returned to yelling, "Leaaavvvve iiiit!" every few minutes. Which is oh so much nicer than taking the time to train muzzle wearing, right? (Yes, that was irony).
If you and Cassie are getting bored with working for time, how about changing locations as a next step? Remember to push the time back to very short again as a new location is just about starting from scratch from Cassie's perspective.
Ok, now any ideas for me? Maybe I should give the squeeze to Carbon AND to myself as a form of reward to do the training ?
If you and Cassie are getting bored with working for time, how about changing locations as a next step? Remember to push the time back to very short again as a new location is just about starting from scratch from Cassie's perspective.
Ok, now any ideas for me? Maybe I should give the squeeze to Carbon AND to myself as a form of reward to do the training ?