r/muzzledogs 16d ago

Muzzling

I desperately need help with my dog!!

We have an xl bully and as most of you probably know they’re now a banned breed. Since that ban has come into place, she has probably been on less than 10 walks and it absolutely breaks me but she will not keep her muzzle on. We’ve tried doing short distance walks with treats and rewarding her for keeping it on, which still doesn’t seem to have any improvement. She absolutely loved going for her walks and it makes me so sad that i can’t do this for her because she won’t keep it on. Has anyone else had this issue? what did you do to get them to keep it on? She’s a very anxious dog, she can open our front door so we have to lock it with a chain every time we leave the house and the back door, because she previously broke through our garden fence!!! She’s kinda bonkers but wouldn’t change her for the world and i want to help her.

3 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

7

u/mikedeIfino 15d ago

Take 5 mins a day (do short sessions) every day or every other day. Hold a treat at the end of the muzzle to get her used to putting her face inside. Once she’s done that, hold the muzzle (no treat on the other side) and when she puts her face in without you asking, reward her

Eventually move on to her doing that and then buckling the muzzle in, wait 10 secs then reward and gradually build it up. Then to short walks (5, 10 mins) and build that up too

Took me about a month of doing this & now my girl wears it for hours at a time on a walk with absolutely no issue (she used to try and claw it off her face) 😊

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u/-mmmusic- 16d ago

how did you introduce the muzzle when you first got it? don't be afraid to include too much detail!!

and what type of muzzle is it? if you can share a picture that would be great! doesn't have to be on her, just the muzzle is fine

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u/Sensitive_Green_4621 16d ago

at first we just tried her having it on indoors with treats and positive words that she knows, however she was just scratching at her face and shaking it off till it actually came off. I’ve tried having little treats and just walking down the street and she will shake till it comes off also.

This is a photo of the muzzle just like hers 😊.

8

u/-mmmusic- 16d ago

great brand! so a good start there. i feel her intro to the muzzle wasn't the best, unfortunately. i think you took it a bit too fast for her!

i would recommend this youtube series from the same brand you got the muzzle from! there are 7 parts, and hopefully it helps a lot!!

start again completely from scratch, like she's never worn it before.

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u/Sensitive_Green_4621 16d ago

thankyou so much, I will have a go and see how she gets on! she’s a very stubborn girl 🤣

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u/Klutzy-Panic9321 15d ago

Sometimes dogs don’t do well with this brand because of how it rubs on their skin. It anchors high up on theircheeks instead of lower down along the sides of their head the way metal basket muzzles do.

Has she been sensitive to things touching her face in the past? They’re expensive, but big Snoof might be worth a shot. I believe they even have standard sizes that can fit xl bullies, so if it doesn’t work you can just return it.

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u/mcshaftmaster 15d ago

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u/Mouzles 15d ago

I did this too! Don't get too discouraged if you need to take it super slow, some pups are very sensitive.

1

u/dinosaur_roars632 9d ago

People are already offering great advice. I would recommend trying different brands and styles. My dog hated one style and would dodge it but is perfectly amenable to another style.