A well-behaved muzzled dog isn’t a “bad” dog. There are multiple reasons an owner might choose to muzzle their dog, and it’s a good idea to get your puppy used to muzzles while they’re still young. Reasons for muzzling could include:
- To prevent indiscriminate eating of objects
- To prevent injury to other dogs or people, whether due to aggression or mouthiness
- To improve safety when introducing your dog to children or other animals
- To protect veterinary staff and other animal care workers who sometimes must work with your pet when your dog is uncomfortable or in pain
The best kind of muzzle for most situations is a basket muzzle. Basket muzzles allow dogs to open their mouths but prevent biting. Your puppy can still pant and drink water, which is important for preventing overheating, especially if the muzzle will be on for a prolonged time. Basket muzzles also allow you to easily give treats as positive reinforcement, which is essential when training. Praise and petting may not be sufficient for reinforcing some behaviors, so you don’t want to lose the ability to reward your puppy with tasty treats.
Follow these tips to get your puppy used to a muzzle:
- Work with the muzzle during periods of calm. If you only put the muzzle on your puppy when they’re scared or stressed, they will develop a negative association with it.
- Place the open muzzle in your palm with treats in the nose end. Once your puppy is comfortably approaching the muzzle to take treats, you can move toward actually placing and fitting the muzzle.
- As you place and fit the muzzle on your puppy, make sure to constantly reward them. Keep the muzzle on only for short periods initially—no more than a couple of minutes.
- Gradually increase the amount of time the muzzle is on, and ensure your dog remains calm and relaxed. You want your dog to associate the muzzle with treats and calm times.
Another type of muzzle is the soft or sleeve muzzle. These should only be used temporarily if a basket muzzle isn’t available. Your dog will have difficulty panting or drinking water with this muzzle, and they could still nip you.
Remember—a muzzled dog is a safe dog, not a bad dog! Please reach out to your VCA care team with any questions you have about muzzle training.
Interested in learning more about other tools for training feisty puppies? Learn more about Head Halter Training for Dogs.
