Muzzled Dog

[IloveAntbuthateDec]

HI. I am a member of a large dog walking group. My dog is 2 years old and is not at all aggressive. We recently adopted him and are still learning about him. However he is over friendly and would race up to other dogs and get in their face. For this reason I keep him on a lead. I was going to take him on a large group walk today until one of the members stated she would be taking her dog who will be muzzled. When it was aked whether the dog was aggressive or reactive she replied that her dog was neither aggressive or reactive. Someone suggested may be the dog was a scavenger and would eat anything and everything. Owner said this was not the case. She made no attempt to offer explanation to why she felt the need to muzzle her dog for group walks.

I don't feel comfortable being around a lot of dogs I don't know but feel very intimidated by being amongst dogs wearing muzzles especially if I have no idea why the dogs are wearing muzzles. Can you please educate me reasons why a dog would need to be muzzled?

Why would you be intimidated? The dog can't harm anyone if muzzled?

Ive no idea why she muzzles the dog if not for those reasons, does seem a bit odd. Only thing I can think of is that she doesn't like random dogs bounding up to hers and think other people will keep their dogs away more?

I wouldn't worry about it.

If the dog is muzzled then you have nothing to worry about.

Honestly, I think it's fine, I have greyhounds and if we go on a group walk I at least take muzzles, they've never been aggressive, but they are big dogs and some people would prefer that I muzzle them, which is fine by me.

Maybe it chases rabbits, birds or cats...maybe she's had issues on group walks before and wants to be sure her dog can't be accused of biting, maybe it grabs the lead (seems a bit extreme for the last one, but hey, it's a possibility)

But it's stupid to be more worried about a muzzled dog than one without one on because the muzzled one can't bite even if it wants to...

Well obviously I'm not worried about the dog biting me! That wouldn't happen if it is muzzled would it? I joined a group walk because I want to socialise my non aggressive dog. I don't really want aggressive dogs around him. For example a muzzle wouldn't stop a dog from growling, barking and showing aggression. The group was supposed to be set up for dogs who are good natured and enjoy the company of other dogs and people.

What sort of dog is it?

Some breeds, sighthounds especially, can be a bit nippy when they're playing. I've got whippets and have had a couple of incidents of accidentally nipped ears when they've been charging around together. I don't let them play chase with other dogs but if I did I'd have them muzzled just in case.

As tabulahrasa says it could also be that that the dog in question has a high prey drive and the owner is trying to prevent it catching small furries.

I used to have an aggressive dog and found that muzzling him did stop him growling and showing aggression. He was totally submissive if he was muzzled. It was like he knew there was no point starting something he had no hope of winning.

If it lunges or barks...just walk further away, being barked at from a distance won't do your dog any damage.

Some sight hound rescues ask that their dogs are muzzled in public once adopted I think.

Mine is conditioned to a basket muzzle, he can still bark, growl, drink and receive rewards wearing it. He has a sensitive tummy and it stops him from eating what he shouldn't when we are out.

A muzzled dog growling near your non aggressive dog won't make your dog aggressive.

I guess part of socialising your dog is to expose them to the reality that not all dogs are friendly, playful etc. I don't see anything wrong with this.

A while back whilst walking my beast, I met a lady walking her muzzled lurcher. We hadn't met before and she obviously felt the need to explain why her dog was muzzled. Apparently it was because he liked to eat other dogs' poo...

Niiiice!

As I already said in my post the owner stated the dog is not aggressive or reactive and he is not a scavenger. Hence my post - I couldn't think of any other reason why a dog would be muzzled. Anyway problem solved. Friends who went on the walk yesterday with muzzled dog have said despite the owners constant denial that the dog is aggressive, apparently many walkers left the group because the muzzled dog is in fact aggressive and furthermore the owner was unable to restrain him on a lead. It sounds like the walk turned into chaos - Thank goodness for the muzzle otherwise chaos could have been carnage!

Its a shame that she wasn't responsible about her dogs behaviour. Maybe she was thinking that socializing would be good for her dog but the aggression is often a fear based reaction so forcing them to be closer than comfortable with can put progress back.
So many reasons to use a muzzle, but most people are happy to give an explanation.