Dog’s Bite
Let’s face it: most people think a puppy needs a restriction around its mouth because it’s aggressive or dangerous. The sight of a muzzle may cause people to keep distance or move to a safer area. All dogs, including puppies, small dogs, and the friendliest of dogs will benefit from wearing a muzzle.
Dogs Bite out Fear or Pain
Despite evoking fear, muzzles will come in handy in different situations, especially when in a veterinary office. If the canine is in deep pain, his or her instincts may direct it to bite. It’s doesn’t matter how friendly he or she is or the fact that it doesn’t have a single mean bone in his or her body.
So, when you or any other person touch a canine that is in pain or fear, biting is a reflexive action. So, don’t let your dog acquire a “bite reputation” when you can easily avoid it.
When Do You Need to Use Muzzles?
- a) During Veterinary Visits
Is your puppy in pain or nervous when at the vet’s office? Chances are, the staff will restrict it if they see the need to do so.
The vet staff may do this by tying the muzzle shut with a gauging strip or slipping it over the dog’s nose. Well, such an experience can be scary for a dog that’s wearing it for the first time.
- b) In Public Places
A muzzle will come in handy when you visit an area that has relevant laws to guide the exercise. According to these laws, you’ll have to restrict your canine when walking in a public space. For example, a country like Italy demands you to restrain your pet even on a cruise trip.
- c) New Introductions
You can restrict your canine for a variety of reasons. Like in a situation where you expect, it to become defensive or fearful.
It will also be a temporary solution to a dog that ingests items that may compromise their health and safety.
Why Should You Do Early Training?
Always train your pups to wear a restriction earlier on in their life. As such, when muzzling happens later in life, they won’t see the experience as intimidating.
But what happens if it is old? Well, you can condition it to adorn a muzzle. Without proper training, your puppy will dislike it as its being restrained or forced to have it.
Once on, your pet will try to rub it against the floor, people, and furniture to remove it. Such a puppy is likely to feel emotionally distressed. Don’t let this happen.
Here is how to train your pooch to adorn a muzzle.
- a) Make the habit a Positive
Why are you teaching your pup to adorn a muzzle? I believe the objective is to make your pet love the muzzle to an extent he or she wants it voluntarily.
It’s easy to create a positive association between the pup and the muzzle. You can accomplish this by using a method that’s known as shaping. For this to work, you’ll need a dog, a muzzle, a tasty treat, or a clicker which may be optional.
- b) Use Shaping to Train your canine to Love a Muzzle
Shaping is a Teaching method where you reward your pup for successive approximations to the final behavior. It is a step-wise approach.
With shaping, you’ll reward your pet once it progresses to the next step.
- c) Use a Clicker
Use a clicker to mark your expected outcomes with shaping. But what’s a clicker?
It’s a noise-making tool that informs your puppy that he or she will be earning a treat due to their performance. While it offers a cutting-edge precision, it’s optional to use.
When using a clicker, you’re free to use a verbal marker like “yes” to precede the treat.
- d) Use Treats to Reward Your Dog
If you want your pet to accept and love the muzzle, you must develop a positive association between the two. For instance, clicking happens when a pup looks, walks toward, and sniffs the muzzle. Be sure to award a treat when the restriction is available. You’ll do this in the hope of generating a conditioned emotive response.
With time, you can ask your dog to put his or her nose through the coil. Do this with temporary support of food lure. With time, add a verbal cue as you fade the food lure. You don’t want the canine to rely entirely on the presence of the treat. That would defeat the entire training purpose.
Safety Tips When Using a Muzzle
- It restricts your dog’s ability to drink water or to pant. Therefore, don’t leave it without supervision.
- Be careful during the warm weather as it may result in a heat stroke.
- Different types of muzzles are available in the market. Choose the best one that’s ideal for your dog.
Simple Steps for Teaching Your Canine How to Wear a Muzzle
- Introduce it and let your pet sniff. Give a treat and repeat this for some few times.
- Touch the nose of your puppy with this device and give a treat. Repeat the process until he or she becomes comfortable.
- Hold the treat on the one hand and the device on the other. Ensure it has to pass the nose through the device to get the gift. Repeat the process for some time.
- Slip the restriction gently onto your dog’s nose and give it a treat. Remove the restriction and repeat the steps for some time.
- Put on the muzzle on your puppy and fasten the buckle. Give a treat and remove it immediately.
- Repeat process five, and count to five, give a treat and remove the muzzle.
- After removing the muzzle, increase the time the muzzle is on and give treats.
Conclusion
If you have an aggressive dog, then ensure it has a restriction around its mouth to prevent it from biting anyone. However, commit to change the underlying problems that make your pup act aggressively.