I need to muzzle train my dog. What's the best type of muzzle please?

[DeborahAnnabelToo]

It's for the vets. She's terrified and gets fear aggressive. I've heard that baskervilles can still allow a dog to bite? She has vaccinations booked for September so I have till then to get her used to it. She is not aggressive at all in any other circumstances, only at the vet due to various cock ups as a rescue pup before we got her and poor socialising. Any advice?

[PollyPolson]

A correct fitting baskerville will not allow the dog to bite

[Gingaaarghpussy]

I had a baskerville for my dog because he was fear agressive. It worked very well, you need to make sure that it is the right size. I also had a cloth one to stop him from barking everytime someone moved past our window.

[DeborahAnnabelToo]

Thanks both. I'll look again at the baskervilles. I hate the idea of ones which would hold her mouth completely shut as it would stop her panting etc. It's so sad she gets so terrified but I can't risk her biting.

[villainousbroodmare]

Your vet will have various sizes of muzzles that they use daily and will generally put it on themselves and for the least possible length of time. These muzzles will hold the mouth closed but the dog can still breathe, just not pant. I find it much easier if the owner just tells me that the dog may want to bite and then I can judge the situation myself very sympathetically and strategically. Also, you may not like this but we find that most dogs behave much better away from their owners, with our trained staff doing the handling. It's a bit like a kid who is naughty with his parent and good for his teacher. In lockdown we've been doing all the handling ourselves, with owners waiting outside, and honestly it has been so easy.

[DeborahAnnabelToo]

Hi Villainous, yes I agree re:talking to the vet and I have done, when I called to book her vaccinations I explained the situation. Unfortunately she's not better without me as she had to be taken to the vets by our dog walker with a piece of stick lodged in her hard palate and was so horrendous she had to be pinned down by the dog-catching implement (whatever that's called). I'm not even sure if the vets I go to are the best or most sympathetic. The vet didn't seem to believe she wasn't showing aggression in other circumstances, even though I told him she absolutely wasn't.

[vanillandhoney]

I would consider switching practises and trying to build up a positive association with the new vets.

Ours encouraged me to bring my puppy in regularly, even if we didn't have an appointment. He'd get lots of fuss and treats from the reception staff, nurses and vet. Then slowly build up to appointments - lots of treats and praise etc.

He now tries to drag me in every time we go past because he wants a pig snout

[villainousbroodmare]

Most dogs with something stuck in their mouths will be going a bit nuts, to be fair. For elective appointments for very anxious aggressive animals, I have a sedative drug combo that owner can administer about two hours prior to the visit, or if they really have their knickers in a knot, the night before and a couple of hours prior. It tames dogs very nicely.
Just be very straight up with your vet. Nothing worse than an out-of-the-blue bite to the face when the owner had a fair idea it could happen. Speaking from bitter experience here.

[LochJessMonster]

Look at greyhound type muzzles, they still allow dogs to eat, drink and pant.