Muzzle Training: Important for Dog and Owner

Every dog owner should start muzzle training as early as possible so that the beloved four-legged friend feels wearing the muzzle as normal via a positive association. Unfortunately, a muzzle has a negative reputation, although it can serve an important purpose in many situations.

When is the Muzzle an Important Tool?

In various federal states, there is a requirement for certain dog breeds and sizes to wear a muzzle. Failure to comply can result in severe penalties. Situations where a muzzle requirement may exist include:

• Bus and train journeys or journeys by public transport
• Generally always in public, with specific breeds or mixed breeds

Be sure to ask about the regulations of the respective (federal) states before an upcoming holiday trip. This also applies if you are only driving through one country – your dog can urgently have to go out of all places where a muzzle is compulsory.

Even apart from the muzzle requirement, it can make sense to put a muzzle on your dog and practice this situation in advance with the muzzle training.

1. Poison baits are an annual hazard. If you live in an area where these occur more often, you should generally take a muzzle with you and be careful that your dog does not pick up any objects. Anti-poison bait training might also be helpful.
2. Your dog has had surgery. Healing wounds itch and you have to stop him from licking the wounds? He can handle a funnel well at home, but not on walks? Even then, a muzzle is a good plan B.
3. You can also be injured in an accident every day. Whether you get into a traffic accident or slip off while hiking with your dog. If you and your dog have to be rescued by a third party, it is a great advantage for helpers and rescuers if your dog can be secured with a muzzle. The stress level in such a situation will be extremely high and shock or pain may cause your dog to bite to protect itself.
4. At the vet, you also need a muzzle for your dog for protection. Here, too, it has nothing to do with dangerousness, but with preventive measures.
5. One of the other dog owners has been forced to wear a muzzle.
   With all the points listed, it would be unfavorable to simply put a muzzle on the dog, because in all cases there is time pressure. It is much better to carry out muzzle training in small steps in advance and to give the dog the opportunity to associate the muzzle with a positive experience.

What Kind of Muzzle Should it Be?

First, find out about the different types of muzzles that are available and which fit is right for your dog. You may have a muzzle specially tailored to your dog, then you are on the safe side and your dog will be happy to wear it. He needs enough space to pant, to take in water and a treat should also fit through. The muzzle should not touch the nose and should not be too close to the lower lids of the eyes. It should sit firmly on the head and not be flexible so that there are no pressure points.

Muzzle Training in Practice

Create the right conditions for your training:

• Plan enough time for your muzzle training
• It should take place without interference and in your home
• Watch your mood! Be positively motivated and enjoy it. On bad days, leave the muzzle in the closet
• Have a special reward ready for your dog, so he looks forward to the training

Step 1

First, take the muzzle in your hand and put a great treat inside. Encourage your dog to come to you and entice him to put his snout in his muzzle to get the treat. Meanwhile, calmly acknowledge him with words. After a few seconds, remove the muzzle and hold it so your dog can’t see it. Dissolve the training situation and repeat the exercise after a few minutes. Your dog should make a connection: whenever the muzzle appears, I find a treat in it and my mistress is happy – so the muzzle triggers a good feeling. Make sure not to fasten the strap at the back of your head in step 1.

Step 2

If your dog likes to put his head in the muzzle, the period will be increased in small increments. You can do this by tilting the treats a bit so your dog doesn’t get to them right away. Frustration must not arise and the strap still does not close.

Step 3

Your dog willingly and happily puts his snout in the muzzle and can bear it well? Then take the two straps carefully and put them over the back of his head. Fix them with two fingers – of course not too tight. Wait a moment and return to the starting position. You also train this exercise until your dog remains willing and relaxed for some time.

Step 4

Now you change the exercise. If your dog wears the muzzle and you fix the two ends of the straps with two fingers, you start moving in one or two steps. This is a new challenge for your dog and changes the previous training.

Step 5

While you have been holding the muzzle with one hand below the snout so far, you now begin to remove your hand at short intervals while holding the straps at the back of your head with two fingers. This is how your dog learns to wear the muzzle with its snout. Repeat this until your dog gets used to it.

Step 6

Now it’s time to fasten the straps. As with the previous steps – of course for short moments. Then the decisive phase begins. Still at home, you muzzle for brief periods and casually do some chores. Always remove the muzzle when you feel your dog is comfortable. There must be no attempts to get your dog to wipe the muzzle off. This shows that one of the steps proceeded too quickly. Then start again at step 3.