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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why muzzling a dog is so hard?

34 replies

caffelattetogo · 19/09/2023 18:14

I've had dogs all my life. Love them. All of them would wear a muzzle if required - for example when travelling on a ferry, or we had a couple of garbage raiders who had to wear them on walks to stop them eating rubbish. We used the basket type ones, so no breathing issues.
It wasn't an issue. We put the muzzles on, the dogs looked slightly baffled but forgot about it. No issues.
Why are XL bully owners making out it will be so hard to muzzle their dogs in public?

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 19/09/2023 23:08

Schnauzersaremyheros · 19/09/2023 23:05

I am on several facebook groups for staffies/bullys/XL bullys, and most of the people on there are already in the process of muzzle training their dogs, ready for when the ban comes in. I am about to start training my staffie x too.
There are more responsible bully owners than people make out. I wish this witch hunt would bloody stop - always the VERY small majority that spoil it for those of us who are responsible owners.

That has been my experience too.
The irresponsible twats wont care, wont muzzle, and will risk their dog being removed. I feel sorry for the dogs tbh. They deserver better.

Lahdedahiam · 19/09/2023 23:14

@caffelattetogo have you considered teaching the leave command to your dogs?

NotAMug · 19/09/2023 23:39

Lahdedahiam · 19/09/2023 23:14

@caffelattetogo have you considered teaching the leave command to your dogs?

I have a pug and he is brilliant if I say leave it, the trouble is when I haven't seen something first so don't tell him, he is so greedy. He is much better than he was when he was really young. Our other large breed dog is much the same but he likes to eat non edible things so is a nightmare. Luckily he seems to have grown out of it.

I have been told that teaching them to only eat things when told they are allowed is a better way of training, rather than leave it. I definitely wish we had done that in the early days.

Our trainer is offering half price muzzle training for XL bullies currently. I know her and many other trainers are very upset about the ban.

wheresmymojo · 19/09/2023 23:41

I would put a muzzle on my dog if she were an XL Bully with no push back...

However, I would be sad for her TBH.

She lives for frisbee and balls and no more of that for her.

She's been lunged at by smaller dogs two or three times and became very anxious about other dogs for a while and started to be reactive to other dogs on lead. We got her over this within a few weeks but an important part of that was allowing her to be off lead (she has good recall). Being on lead made her feel trapped and that she wouldn't be able to escape if she was attacked.

So if she was threatened by smaller dogs again (inevitable I think as owners don't seem to think they need to train small dogs!) and was muzzled and leashed with no alternative she'd become a very anxious dog.

As it is she's now a happy thing and loves interacting with other dogs both on and off lead, but regular off lead time is an important part of this.

Plus, let's be honest, you can muzzle train a dog but it's not going to be pleasant to have to wear a muzzle every time you left home.

I mean look how humans felt about wearing a mask for a few months...

wheresmymojo · 19/09/2023 23:43

Swansridinghorses · 19/09/2023 18:21

I do agree all dogs should be muzzle trained. I own and work with dogs. However I don’t agree with just putting it on and assuming they’ll get on with it…
Best results are achieved from positive reward based introductions.
but nothing worse than needing to muzzle an already stressed dog and an owner not being able to and dog being traumatised as it’s never had one on before

Genuine question (I'm in favour of the ban)...

Do you anticipate a spike in attacks on owners because they don't do the muzzle training and/or during initial training the XL's snap?

dontchaknow · 20/09/2023 00:00

I agree with a PP that it is sad to have to muzzle a dog, thus putting the kibosh on frisbee games and the like. But there are an awful lot of big powerful dogs about these days, and I'm sorry but safety is paramount. All dogs might bite, and a bite from a dinky toy dog is bad enough, but these big breeds can do real damage and actually kill people. So, sad as it is, I'm in favour of dogs - actually all dogs,even toy breeds - having to wear muzzles in public. A blanket ban is easier to enforce, and the pain in the arseness of it all is worth it to save some poor sod being attacked. If you want to take your chances with your unmuzzled dog on your own secure premises, then you can feel free. But the public have a right to go about their business unmolested.

FrangipaniBlue · 20/09/2023 00:47

You don't understand, really?

Can your brain genuinely not fathom that all dogs are different and not all of them will take to muzzle training?

So obtuse.

Original poster
caffelattetogo · 20/09/2023 07:40

Lahdedahiam · 19/09/2023 23:14

@caffelattetogo have you considered teaching the leave command to your dogs?

These ones are sadly no longer with us (although lived to a happy old age). Like a PP said, they would leave if I spotted the treasure first, but if I hadn't seen it, it would be down in one gulp. Mostly rubbish left near overflowing bins. Current dogs will leave it, no issues.

OP posts:
Azaeleasinbloom · 20/09/2023 07:49

I agree that teaching your dog to be comfortable wearing a muzzle is important, as is learning which muzzle shape works best for your own dog.

In addition, teaching your dog not to freak out when meeting a fence-faced animal , is also a useful skill. I have seen dogs get all barky and snarly when confronted by my friends Golden Retriever in full - stop -eating-crap- muzzle.

Kind of wish we had covered it in Good Citizen classes.

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