all dogs should be trained to accept a muzzle.

 

Oskar is very compliant, and accepted a muzzle very easily. I needed to find a muzzle quick, as he had some dental work done, and cannot be allowed to pick up sticks, balls, etc. I grabbed a muzzle from a local Pet Store that was in the area of the Veterinary clinic. It looks like a knock off of the brand I posted below. It works just fine, I only need to use it for 17 more days, till we go back to that Vet and get his 'crowns'. This is the muzzle I got for Oskar: Mud Bay | Buy Coastal Soft Basket Dog Muzzle for USD 16.99-28.99 | MudBay It does the job, and the only one I could get in a hurry. My husband suggested a muzzle, I wasn't expecting to need one.


If I'd known, I probably would have gone with the company below:

Baskerville Muzzle - Company Of Animals UK

A Baskerville Muzzle provides you - and those around you - with reassurance in a wide range of situations; seeing a muzzled dog shows responsible pet parenting.

companyofanimals.com

 

Agree that muzzle training is just as important as crate training a dog. Whether we use them day to day or not, all dogs should be desensitized to them.

I haven’t had a dog that needed to use one when going to a vet, but the fact that you are asking the question is great and tells me your dog probably does need one at the vet . It’s better to be safe than sorry. From what I have noticed over the years with different vet clinics is that GSDs have a bad rap and they’re always, I mean always, surprised to meet a GSD who is playful, social and affectionate toward strangers. It’s not common. So the vet and staff are cautious with GSDs from the start. If your dog has any proclivity to bite or growl at them, muzzling is best. Not only from a legal standpoint but also so they can comfortably do their job properly.

 

I muzzle my dog when we go to the vet She was a pup when Covid began and then when I started going in with her I muzzled her She’s not social. She has always been well behaved at the vets office and she’s been to a number of different vets. I noticed they give us bigger rooms. At urgent care they baby talked to her. I need a different muzzle though because when we are done she takes it off- the receptionist thought it was funny. The muzzle also helps me feel comfortable

 

A muzzle on a GSD period makes the vet techs feel better. I always used it precautionary before for dogs in the lobby because mine has never been friendly with them from a pup, but mine has also grown into not liking the vet after stuff she's had to have done there. I use a Leerburg metal basket muzzle because she can pant and freak out comfortably. The leather basket muzzle she managed to get jammed on her nose and got a bloody nose, and then was sucking the muzzle onto her face enough it was not letting her breath easily. She was probably growing out of it at that point, but I went with the metal and a bigger size for more air flow. They do hurt though on people 😅 I've gotten punched with it by her before doing nails and they bruise pretty good. So the leather is better in that regard. I sent Leerburg her measurements directly and asked them what size to get because it's very confusing, and if you get it wrong you have to pay return shipping which is $12.

 

All dogs should be muzzle trained.

Also, all puppies should visit their vet frequently enough during early socialization that it's a fun place and the staff gets to know them.

All puppies should have examination training done so they know what to expect and it's not a novel or scary thing.

I think the Baskerville muzzles are a good cheap option for a dog that doesn't exhibit crazy aggression. They don't hold up to rough treatment over time.

I use padded leather muzzles used for bite work training because I have them. They are far superior to anything plastic and they will not come off if sized and installed properly.

 

I tend to believe all dogs should learn to wear a muzzle calmly .. even if they never have to!

 

I have used muzzles on all my dogs for many years now. I have nylon exam muzzles and a wire basket muzzle.
The tech at Shadows vet clinic calls them nose cozies and it cracks me up. Muzzling at the vets is just good practice. It keeps everyone relaxed and safe. The exam muzzles have the added bonus of being small and able to be stuffed in a pocket or glovebox.
Shadow wore a muzzle on walks for years since she responds poorly to strangers grabbing at her and people are weird.

 

I think the nylon exam muzzles are fine for a snarky dog that doesn't really intend harm. A dog intent on a real bite can still do a lot of damage with a nylon muzzle. I have a scar I can't show on a family forum from a dog in such a muzzle.

 

I agree. I would not put one on a dog that was serious. They are fabulous in emergencies, when a hurt or frightened dog may lash out, and I use them for the vets because I don't like nervous people working on my dogs.
Shadow beats me up with her basket muzzle, she quickly learned to smash it into my knee when she didn't like what we were doing! 🤣 I'm happy she doesn't need it anymore, vindictive cow.

 

What are your thoughts on muzzling a dog in tight social situations? Especially the vet for instance.

I was thinking of getting Artemis a well-made basket muzzle for these scenarios. Get her acclimated to it over time, so she doesn't really care if it is on or not - or at least doesn't mind it too much.

I've had GSDs without muzzles that definitely would bite in the same situations, but I'm getting to a point in my life that I'd really not have to be a "Billy the Kid" quick draw. Not to mention, my anxiety would almost certainly travel down the leash and probably just worsen her experience.

Not that a muzzle is foolproof, but I feel like it'd help take the emotions down a notch while I still figure her out and build up my confidence. Everyone locally says her temperament is good, but she is very suspicious of strangers. No, she doesn't lunge or try to bite anyone, but she will bark up a storm occasionally.

So anyone have any experience with muzzles in similar situations? Types to get/avoid? Behaviors/activities to avoid with muzzles? Things I may not even be considering?

We probably would never use it for socializing/engagement because we rarely get within 10 ft of people. Mainly for the vet. I don't want to start a bad behavior in myself by avoiding the vet because of my uneasiness with her in close proximity to strangers. AND I don't want to send her the energy "My human here is always nervous when we get close to people we don't know."

Just a reminder - Artie is 9 months old.

Thanks in advance.

We used muzzles in k9 work more for teaching the dogs there were others ways to take out suspects being center punched by
100 pound GSD RUNNING 30 mph was a
Sure way to get knocked flat . The bad part about muzzles in public we thought was it promoted a bad image like we had bad dogs muzzle training was good in that it made
Trips to the vet easier as long as you can control barking and growling. We used then in obedience training socializing the dogs in a group so they got used to wearing them anytime. It did take a while . Dogs figured out that muzzles could be used in defensive as well as offensive situations . Muzzle was like battering ram .

 

I'm in favor of muzzling any time there's concern about nerves, picking up dangerous objects, or bite risk.

Nerves...that can be yours or the dogs, to be honest, because the dog WILL pick up on your nerves, and be upset themselves.

Personally, I have used muzzles in unfamiliar places on my nervy lab mix and gladly. I find that the weight across the bridge of his nose actually calms him down. I don't have to worry about him losing his cool, and can in turn confidently handle him and navigate the situation as a leader should.

I muzzle trained both the pups as they came to about 8 months. I used peanut butter on the inside of the cage to create a positive association, feed treats through the front and just let them wear it until they began to be bothered by it. The time frame gets longer on its own.

The benefit to that is that when the girls' get together to play now, I can muzzle them for the first few minutes of play, as they work out their initial arousal...and then take them off once they calm to where they're not trying to eat each other lol.

In the vet situation, Trixie was muzzled for a month or two due to a bad experience with an ear infection. We changed vets and the new vet met her with muzzle on. Soon, they didn't use it and she was comfortable with them. But I wasn't chancing my 14m old girl getting a bite history over a poor experience with a sore ear....I didn't THINK she'd bite...but she was not above placing her teeth on your hand to say "stop that" so I wasn't 100% certain she wouldn't...

She's too long in the snout now for a Baskerville so I've been looking for one that fits, but is not too scary looking. She's a chicken bone thief. Will find them if they are left on the curb for trash day.

 

My dog used to get hyper at the vet.

Aside from when my dog actually needed to go to the vet, we would schedule visits just for training and socialisation purposes. I picked timings when it was not very busy so it would be easier to succeed / less distractions or stimulating environment.

Now going to the vet is stress free for me. My dog knows the process - we make the appointment, wait in the waiting room, get weighed and go to the examination table for examination by the vet. He does all these things without prompting by me. The vets and assistants do not muzzle him, and he is cooperative regardless of whether it is an examination, vaccination, blood or stool sample. The moment we’re done and he is off the table, he lets out a couple of barks, I guess to release tension, but that’s not a big deal. Then we stand in line for the cashier in a busy waiting room again with several other barking / stressed out dogs.
For grooming they do muzzle him sometimes, but that’s usually to make some unfamiliar person feel at ease than because of any action from him.

The one thing which I wish I had learned much much sooner was to be mindful of my emotions, and how they influence my dog. It’s like a vicious cycle- one day for whatever reason a dog may react to something. Because of that the next time the owner will become apprehensive and the tension will travel down the leash - prompting the dog to react, and it becomes a cycle.
I found that being casual and detached in mental state means my dog is also calm.