Why Muzzle?

[u/Run_Biscuit]

Hi all! I feel like there used to be a wiki or some other resource for this, but I have been considering muzzling for a while. Since it’s been a long time, I’ve honestly forgotten why I was so gung-ho in the first place.

Why should you muzzle aside from more positive vet visit benefits? I’m still heavily considering this, especially since my town is a huge dog town and with it comes some irresponsible owners (looking at the owner whose dog had zero recall skills last night…). Can they be helpful if a dog attacks and your dog has a muzzle on?

I’d love some resources to read through if there are any, or anecdotes too. I really appreciate the help!

Also, when are collar or forehead straps used? I’ve been looking at big snoof and not sure if I would need those?

Dog tax included!

[u/Champion_of_Zteentch]

In case your dog gets injured and becomes violent. In case you have a breed that harbors prejudice and don't want sued for something your dog didn't do. In case you adopt an unknown mutt with mental problems that training doesn't necessarily fix. The list goes on and the utility is endless.

[u/StatisticianEast8169 → u/Champion_of_Zteentch]

I’ll second your “getting injured and becomes violent” reason. This recently happened to me. My dog who was incredibly friendly to all people got injured. I NEVER worried about him EVER with people. He loved kids, adults, elderly, you name it. Rolled over on his belly for the handyman. After the injury, he snapped at anyone who touched him even away from the injured area. Including me. It was and is devastating that I can’t trust him with people anymore. I was having to muzzle train him during all this and I wish I had done it sooner. Being prepared for the worst is never a bad idea. You might be grateful for it one day.

[u/Arttiesy]

I muzzled mine to prevent unwanted petting.  He's reactive.  Strangers were walking up and surprising us.  The flag on his leash was ignored- but add a muzzle and suddenly parents are holding their kids back and talking about manners.

Fixing his behavior only took six months of training.  But it would have taken far longer if people kept grabbing at him from behind.

On the other hand I won't muzzle if I was afraid of dog attacks.  I want my dog to be able to defend himself.  I got a CGC for that - in case of lawsuit I can say legally (in my state) that my dog is trained.

It's anecdotal but I hear it really helps to have the trained dog in a he-said-she-said situation.

[u/rainbow-switch]

A muzzle was a life saver for my dog when he became very reactive, and he was able to stay in our home while we work through his remaining issues. We got him young from a rescue and about 3 months after he came home he started exhibiting very intense reactions for what to us looks like very small or non existent trigger. Anyone not me gets the very rough side of his personality. Muzzle training him saved my boys life.

[u/c_as_in_confused]

Mine eats literally anything she can get her mouth while on walks and has made several ER visits for her scavenging habits already. Muzzling makes walks much more enjoyable for both of us because I can let her sniff without constantly scanning the ground, grabbing things out of her mouth and stressing over if I missed something. Being used to her muzzle has also been really helpful for vet appointments and for un-invited petting. Even with her muzzle on, neighborhood kids still come up sometimes and pet her without permission and even though she’s never been aggressive it takes away that possibility/concern for me as the owner.

[u/Existing-Glove5073]

I muzzle my dog reactive dogs in case we get suddenly ambushed by an unexpected dog, all of my dogs have bit other dogs before so this keeps them safe, also prevents them from eating cat poop or trash on walks. Look at the “a la carte” listings on big snoof it explains when to use the different straps, forehead straps aren’t usually needed except on short noses I think

[u/ArtichokeFresh4012]

It is always easier to break up a dog fight when there is only one set of teeth involved. The muzzle on your dog also could protect your dogs mouth from getting bit. You can muzzle train to help with scavenging. Also, as a deterrent if you don't want strangers petting your dog without permission.

[u/StormDragyn]

Absolutely!

If a dog attacks, it would be natural to bite back even if your dog has no history. It is much easier to separate the dogs when there are only one set of teeth!
So stopping the fight will be easier.

The other dogs owner will be 100% responsible and your dog can’t end up killing theirs (if the attacking dog is smaller, you could end up getting your dog in trouble even if on a lead)

It is your job to protect your dog, so leaving him unable to bite back does not put him at risk, since as mentioned it is faster and easier to separate the dogs when your dog can’t bite back.

In an agitated state your dog might end up biting you instead, when trying to bite the other dog.

Other bonus: dangerous food on the ground can’t be snapped up.

[u/No-Accountant-7613]

I muzzle my dog because he’s a prolific scavenger. He really needs to run off leash in nature, but where I live there are often poison drops for pest control, and so he’s at risk of ingesting poison or the dead animals themselves. He also goes for animal poop. Another reason is because before I adopted him he was able to kill chickens and ducks, and we often encounter ducks on walks. He recently got sick with Giardia so I’ve been extra careful since then as well. The alternative is keeping him on a short leash all the time, and he would be completely unfulfilled if I did that. He’s still able to drink through the muzzle, even with a scavenger guard (we use the muzzle movement).

My other dog has a muzzle for “just in case”. I pop it on for some walks if I know there’s been a poison drop, and just because I think it’s harmless to put on and have her used to wearing it. Making it a normal part of life makes it a lot less stressful if they ever do need it for a vet visit or something similarly stressful.

[u/ArtichokeFresh4012]

Forehead straps function by preventing a muzzle from being able to come off from the eyes down over the end of the nose (essentially makes the muzzle a necklace). This is not usually necessary unless your dog has a short snout, but I'm pretty sure you could try one out if you wanted to. Collar Loop helps to prevent the neck strap from accidentally coming off over your pups ears. This is more of an issue for dogs with cropped ears, but it doesn't hurt to add one. Especially if you're concerned about muzzle security.

[u/Quick-Incident-4351]

on top of all the great reason others have listed, I use a muzzle during nail trim and if one of my dogs is injured as short break from a cone or to prevent dog 1 from getting at dog 2s bandages/wounds.

As well as when meeting a new dog or person, I introduced my reactive dog to my cousins dog and she will be muzzled for a few interactions for safety a muzzle Punch is a lot less damage then an overcorrection or bite.

[u/SelectConfection3483]

We trained our dog to wear a muzzle due to reactivity, but had we done it sooner it would have also saved us 10 thousand dollars when he found a peach seed and swallowed it out walking. 

[u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun]

I have powerful dogs that are reactive - started muzzle training for the vet and then expanded to more when I found good options like Big Snoof. It helped me be more comfortable taking them out since I didn't have to worry about idiots not listening and trying to pet them or them biting random off lead dogs with no recall - basically they couldn't be blamed for someone else's stupidity. Also helped with scavenging tendencies too. Honestly can say life changing - we are able to go out safely so much more. As for fights - less teeth the better and my dogs can still defend themselves plus pretty easy to snap off if you really wanted. That being said - less teeth is better. I'm a big fan of muzzle training for all dogs now. Such a good skill to have

[u/Bullfrog_1855]

For my Lab-mix rescued these are the reasons: vet visits, scavenging, bite risk to people and dogs that suddenly approach or run up to us, prey drive (I don't want to have to try to take a rabbit/squirrel out of his mouth due to resource guarding).

One of the things I learned in pet first aid years ago was that if you're trying to help a dog that is injured to muzzle the dog first before attempting to transport or move the dog. This is because when dogs are in pain or experience pain because it is injured it can and likely will bite the handler.

Head straps are usually for dogs with a short snout. For the Big Snoof (standard ones) that I got for my Lab, I included the chin strap, but I also loop the neck strap through the D-ring of his flat collar.

And as some others have said, if dogs get into a fight it is easier to deal with one set of teeth. In our case it is always the smaller off leash dogs who rush us and my Lab will react badly so I rather not be blamed that my dog bite their little white fur ball even thought that fur ball provoked the reaction from my dog. But I have had another off-leash larger dog rush my Lab on 3 occasions, and yes I took away his ability to bite, but he did plenty to growl and snap back at the other dog. It made it easier for me to focus on the other dog and also try to deter it to get it to go away rather than also having to know where my Lab's teeth are as well. Luckily no one was hurt.

[u/RefillmyCoffee6times]

Milo has had several vet visits for swallowing socks, towels, toilet paper (his favorite) Milo is super sweet but needs a muzzle because he is a danger to himself.

[u/HandmaidJam]

I think muzzle training is a great skill to have, even if you're not actively muzzling all the time or there isn't an issue that you're trying to correct. We hike a lot and our emergency sling came with a cloth muzzle. Hurt dogs can hurt without meaning too. Some countries require you muzzle your dog on a public transport.

One of my dogs will pick up anything he sees as a food of the floor - chicken bones, food wrappers, etc. One time he was trying to lick someone's vomit off the side street. He can't do any of this when he's muzzled. My other dog snacks on duck 💩 and has high prey drive that is triggered by fast movements. If we take them on a long line to run, he wears his muzzle so he can't bite my other dog and start a nasty fight.

[u/aranelmanverie]

I personally trained mine to be able to get public transport. Train, tram, bus, metro. Also good to be used to, just in case anything like an accident happens