Muzzle Training Your Dog

Why should I muzzle my dog?

If you know your dog has aggressive tendencies or is concerned in certain situations, then it is irresponsible to risk the health of others by not taking suitable precautions. In a survey of 7,500 schoolchildren in the U.K., 1 in 3 reported being “attacked” by a dog at some time, although the majority of these incidents occur in the home with a dog that is familiar to the child. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, owners can be prosecuted and given a criminal record if their pet is seen to be a threat to anyone and their pet can be destroyed. 

A muzzled dog will often be avoided by people and so muzzling may also help prevent your dog from being provoked to attack and may save him from unwanted attention from strangers if he is fearful.

Aren’t muzzles cruel?

Muzzles themselves are not cruel, but they may cause welfare problems if they are not used appropriately. If the guidelines below are followed, your dog should actually enjoy being muzzled. The most common errors people make when muzzling dogs are to only use a muzzle when something “nasty” is going to happen to their dog, e.g. when he is about to be injected or experience some other potentially frightening or painful event, and secondly to expect him to instantly accept the muzzle.

What types of muzzle are there?

There are two common types of muzzle. The basket muzzle and the nylon muzzle. Both have their uses. The basket muzzle allows your dog more freedom to pant and drink, if properly fitted. Feeding titbits through the muzzle is possible. The nylon muzzle does not allow the dog to open its mouth however, the dog may still be able to give a small nip with this type of muzzle and it is not recommended for use over long periods as it can significantly reduce the dog’s ability to pant.

How do I train my dog to enjoy being muzzled?

1.  It is important to find an effective and comfortable muzzle for your dog. The muzzle must fit correctly, neither too loose, so that it can slip off, nor too tight so that it causes discomfort. Finding the right one may take a bit of time but it is worth shopping around.

2.  Your dog should not be muzzled for the first time in a conflict situation. Show your dog the muzzle, let him sniff to investigate it and give him a treat before putting the muzzle away. Repeat this procedure several times. This starts to build a positive association with the muzzle.

3.  Gradually expect more from your dog when you introduce the muzzle. For example place a treat in the bottom of the muzzle, or hold the treat below the muzzle so that your dog has to place his nose in the muzzle to eat it. After a few repetitions he should eagerly put his nose into the muzzle seeking the titbit. The aim is for your dog to put his nose into the muzzle rather than for you to put the muzzle onto his nose!

"The aim is for your dog to put his nose into the muzzle rather than for you to put the muzzle onto his nose!"

4. Then place something tasty and sticky at the end of the muzzle such as cream cheese, vegemite or peanut butter. Your dog should now be eager to put his nose into the muzzle and now your dog should feel more comfortable leaving his nose in the muzzle while it licks out the treat. You need to repeat this at least 10 times so that your dog feels comfortable

5. The next step is to leave the muzzle in place without fastening it and reward your dog while he is wearing it, for example by smearing the inside of the muzzle with something like cream cheese or pate. Slowly increase the time you leave it on from a fraction of a second to a few seconds and no longer reward your pet every time.

6.  Now that your dog accepts the muzzle as a good thing, especially if he is still, you can try fastening it. Again the length of time that it is left on needs to be increased gradually. It is good to keep your dog stimulated and occupied while he is wearing the muzzle by engaging in rewarding activities with him such as a short walk in a non-challenging environment or a game. You should aim to work towards keeping your dog muzzled for about thirty minutes and in the early stages of this training try to avoid activities that your dog perceives as negative or challenging. 

7.  Start muzzling your dog now before you go for short walks, but continue to avoid situations which might arouse your dog. If you feel you must take the muzzle off for some of the time, do it when you are near to home at the end of the walk, when play etc is over, and get your dog to keep close to you on the lead as long as the muzzle is removed. Always give him lots of praise before you take the muzzle off.

Once your dog is comfortable wearing the muzzle in positive and rewarding situations, you can begin to muzzle him before you encounter known conflict or problem situations. Your dog should still be muzzled at other positive times as well so that it does not start to resent or predict these few necessary occasions. It is also a good idea to occasionally feed titbits through the muzzle to maintain a pleasant association with the muzzle.

You should never remove the muzzle when your dog is trying to remove it (unless your dog is at risk of injury). He can be encouraged to leave it alone by a slight tug on a lead and by giving a treat. When he relaxes, the muzzle can be removed.

Muzzle training takes time. Puppy classes are the ideal place to start this training and do not expect too much too soon. The important rule is to work at a rate that your dog can accept and tolerate. This may mean that the whole programme may take a few weeks rather than a few days.