Mei

Bulldog — Bloomsbury | Muzzle Model

Rick Owens?

The poster-girl for responsible dog owners

Here, the poster-girl for responsible dog owners, Mei, is modelling her gorgeous and well-fitted muzzle (all credit to her owners!).

As she is a bully breed, they felt obliged to obey the XL bully laws in case she was mistaken for one. This meant in public places she wears a muzzle. At the same time was one of the calmest and sweetest dogs I looked after, and her obedience training was absolutely stunning!

Muzzles have bad PR

However, muzzles have bad PR. We reflexively respond to them with fear and alarm as they seem to indicate an aggressive and unpredictable dog.

Yet a muzzle is also a wise and careful piece of safety equipment, and it's often most responsible owners who put their dogs in one. Despite their slightly mediaeval aesthetics, if you give your brain a bit longer to process a muzzle, a dog wearing one has actually been made safer and is physically separated from harming you.

Muzzles need to be slowly introduced

But you'd be forgiven for any unease around a pup wearing one as muzzles, despite their efficacy, need to be slowly introduced to a dog.

Many people rush this process, forcing dogs into restrictive and uncomfortable equipment. This can be a claustrophobic and unnerving experience if the introduction is hurried or if the dog's autonomy isn't respected.

In fact, suddenly muzzling an already aggressive dog out of the blue can make them even more aggressive and thus makes the original problem much more difficult.

If you suspect your dog may benefit from a muzzle

If you suspect your dog may benefit from a muzzle, this could be for a number of reasons. They may have started becoming aggressive or biting and, not only do you want to protect humans and animals, by stopping the behaviour happening you are also stopping it becoming a habit. This can give you much more peace of mind during a walk and calm down your relationship with your dog when you are outside.

They could be on a certain breed list, like XL Bullies and may be required by law, or certain business establishments, to wear one. Or a dog could be scavenging food off the floor which is making them unwell

Perhaps they're on a strict diet and you don't want to risk an upset tummy. You may know you will be walking past dangerous objects (e.g. the huge amount of broken glass after last season's Arsenal Parade) or, for a lot of dogs, they find the vet and all the poking and prodding that happens there, quite stressful.

By conditioning your dog to enjoy wearing a muzzle, vet trips can become so much calmer and easier and can save you having to sedate your dog for simple procedures.

Even the calmest dog could become aggressive

For this reason it makes sense for all dogs to be properly muzzle trained as you never know when even the calmest dog could become aggressive.

In that moment, putting a muzzle on that they are already comfortable with will make the world of difference. If your dog suddenly goes from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde, a new and scary piece of equipment is the last thing that will calm them down.

Muzzle training is also an excellent way to bond with your dog, help them to trust you, and to learn about their comfort levels.

GDG Dogs can assist you

By conditioning a muzzle slowly and carefully you are showing you that you respect their space and encourage them to make their own choices.

GDG Dogs can assist you throughout this process, either by visiting your home to teach you the steps of slow and responsible muzzle conditioning or by conducting the muzzle training with your dog independently.

Your dog will never be pushed beyond what they're comfortable with and a muzzle will only help their behaviour, not exacerbate them.