Questions about muzzling your dog

[ArkAtEe]

My dog's never hurt anything except a field mouse he dug up but he is very insecure and will bark/growl/lunge at certain dogs he doesn't know (usually males, it tends to be females he never has a problem with) so he's kept on the lead around dogs he doesn't know.

We're pretty sure he's just insecure/fearful not aggressive as we've successfully managed to bond him with plenty of dogs he's previously hated (with their willing owners of course) but obviously this is not practical with every dog we come across.

So we're thinking of muzzling him as people are always letting their off-lead dogs approach my on-lead dog and there is a 50/50 chance my dog will now be happy about this. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with muzzles and if they helped or hindered??

Also, before anyone suggests avoiding places with off-lead dogs -- Walking my dog on the road side is not practical as I have had to rush across busy roads to avoid an oncoming dog and we can't get very far without walking along a main road where I live. At least with parks and fields I can give others a safe distance to pass my yappy dog.

[ArkAtEe]

I don't know if this helps you get a clearer idea...
Our friend has a poorly socialised in-your-face kind of dog, we met on leads out in a field. Their dog was trying to pull itself to greet my dog and my dog didn't like him so we didn't get close obviously. We went to opposite ends of the field and walked parallel to each other at a distance both dogs were calm. We got closer and closer, always walking parallel and always keeping the dogs calm until eventually we were walking side by side and both dogs calm around each other. It went better than we ever expected and we continued with our walk. We ended up in our back garden and the two dogs were playing like best friends - and not simply tolerating each other either but really enjoying each others company.

[ArkAtEe]

Another example of his behaviour... We were finishing our walk coming round the corner onto our road. A dog comes flying round, I see his body language tense up but it's only one of his favourite dogs in the whole world who lives on this corner his demeanor changes so quickly to playful and friendly. It was weirdly one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, how his reactions switched between the two extremes in a seconds.

[anniehm]

There has to be quiet streets you can walk on to avoid the need to muzzle? Nowhere in the country is all busy roads, not even central London! Using a muzzle sends out the signal they are aggressive

[Veterinari]

Trigger stacking could still apply OP - the triggers don’t have to be other dogs, and they don’t have to occur on your walks - they could be other things that are gradually raising his stress levels and the first dog he sees on a walk is the one that tips him into reaction.

The example you describe last makes this sound even more likely. He’s already ‘stacked’, a dog comes flying towards him, he immediately tips over threshold into reactive irritation, then his ‘thinking brain’ kicks in, he recognises a friend and wants to play.

Think of it like having a really bad day - you’ve had a horrible day at work, the kids are whining, the dog’s Thrown up all over the kitchen, you’ve just got everything sorted and then the doorbell rings. Your immediate thought is probably ‘oh for f*s sake who is that!’ But when you answer it it’s your best friend with pizza and wine and suddenly your irritation evaporates.

Reducing potential stressors generally may well help

[ArkAtEe]

There has to be quiet streets you can walk on to avoid the need to muzzle? Nowhere in the country is all busy roads, not even central London! Using a muzzle sends out the signal they are aggressive

But he is aggressive? Also, I've said a couple times now our daily walk is very quiet and uneventful

And Veterinari thanks, that does make a lot of sense. He lives a pretty quiet life really. I'm home a lot and he's pretty chilled out. We've never had anyone over he doesn't love and even though he barks at the delivery people he's always pretty happy to see them when we open the door, I have to tell him to stay back as he's always wanting to say hello. He doesn't like being groomed so we do the bare minimum and he doesn't like the clipping noise harness

[ArkAtEe]

Sorry posted too soon. Clipping noise his harness makes and have been suggested a type of harness that loops round (but not a choker type)

[Veterinari]

It may be that if he dislikes his harness that is enough to make him feel irritated/trapped when another dog approaches. Lots of dogs are worse on-lead as we remove the option of ‘flight’ from their natural fight or flight stress response. And this coupled with a harness that he feel ‘trapped’ in could be enough.

I’d think about replacing the harness (not with a prong/choke/e-collar ) with something he’s more comfortable in. And continue the counter conditioning practice that you’ve already done with your friend’s dog - that kind of practice will help