Put a muzzle on it – Training your dog to wear a muzzle

Have you ever had your fingers chomped by a dog? Muzzles aren’t just for dangerous dogs, all pooches should feel comfortable in one for those testing times at the vet, groomer or in the event of an emergency. 

Even well mannered dogs will bite if they’re scared or injured.

And if your dog’s unpredictable behaviour around other animals or humans is causing you concern, getting them used to wearing a muzzle is a great option.

With a muzzle, you can be confident that your dog won’t harm anyone else when you take them out for a walk.

Amelia wearing a muzzle at the dog park

 What type of muzzle should you use?

Make sure you use a basket muzzle so that your dog can pant.

Dogs don’t sweat so they need to be able to open their mouths when they’re hot.

Nylon muzzles are designed to keep dogs' mouths shut so never use one of these if your dog will get hot for any reason, for example, if you are taking your dog for a walk or she is sitting in a hot car.

It’s important to get the correct sized muzzle. Your local pet store or vet can help you select the right one for your dog’s breed and size.

Wire or metal muzzles can be very hard and getting knocked by one will cause bruising. Choose a plastic basket muzzle because they are soft enough for dogs to play together safely while they are wearing one and you can also cut a larger hole in the muzzle for poking treats through.

Here’s how to train your dog to enjoy wearing a muzzle

Help your dog to build up a positive association to the muzzle using the steps below.

• As always, load yourself up with your dog’s favorite treats and keep the training sessions up-beat and short.

• Cut the treats into long thin pieces so you can poke them through the muzzle without getting your fingers munched. 

Repeat each step many times so your dog is comfortable at each stage before moving to the next one.

1. Show the muzzle to your dog and when they sniff it, give them a treat.

2. Place the muzzle over their nose and immediately take it off and give them a treat and loads of praise.

3. Increase the amount of time the muzzle is over their nose before removing it and treating.

4. Put the muzzle on, do it up and treat. 

5. Increase the amount of time the muzzle is done up, before removing it and treating.

When your dog can comfortably wear the muzzle for five minutes, take them out on a walk. That way they’ll get used to wearing the muzzle in different settings.

You can treat them throughout the walk and don’t forget that the walk itself is a treat.

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“3 Simple Tactics for Raising a Well-Behaved Dog”