Muzzle

[failedmydog]

Does anyone use a soft muzzle or any muzzle on a dog?

We have a referral to a behavioural trainer but our youngest dog is very stressed and is guarding our property, he's started to really get stressed with any delivery's and delivery drivers entering the property.

He will run and bark at them, no growling just threading behaviour.

We have a sign up to not enter, we have let everyone know to call, knock or let us know so we can put him away and he's not always inside.

But now we have a situation where while waiting for the training to start I'm actually concerned he will escalate .

Any other suggestions? As I think we maybe waiting a while for the referral.

Soft muzzles should only ever be used in an emergency as they don't allow dogs to pant, drink or take treats. So, you would use them if you were getting an injured dog to the vet, or if an aggressive dog was being treated at the vets, but that's it.

You need a Baskerville muzzle. It won't let the dog bite, but it's safe and can be used for longer periods of time. It also allows you to train while still keeping the muzzle in place. You'll need to muzzle train beforehand, though - it can take a few weeks for dogs to be comfortable wearing a muzzle. It's fairly easy to do but it just takes time and consistency/repetition.

Check out "Muzzle Up Pup! The Pro Muzzle Community" on Facebook - it's based in America but the advice etc. is universal.

If I am reading your OP correctly, you are talking about the dog wearing a muzzle all day/every day - because you're trying to protect against unexpected callers, such as deliveries?

That's unfair on the dog. Better he is not allowed to roam in gardens etc, so is always somewhere safely away from the front door. Perhaps using a baby gate to block off the hallway etc.

Not all day no, my DH works from home so most of the time the dogs are inside or with him under supervision, this is just for the odd occasions when he's on calls or the dogs are outside without him being able to supervise.

In essence the issue has just escalated as a delivery driver ignored the signs came in and scared him as the driver walked from further down the street, we would normally have him on hearing a van.

The same driver did the exact same thing again the next day.

So we need to protect both party's while we resolve this escalation of guarding.

He's always guarded and barked but he air snapped and circled, and It's bit something we can ignore at all.

We had discussed a muzzle before but while waiting for the referral I felt it maybe a good step to explore.

Thank you, I was just on w website, I'll get clued up on introductions.

Wouldn't it be easier to lock your doors and then just shut him in the kitchen or wherever before opening the door?

Not all day no, my DH works from home so most of the time the dogs are inside or with him under supervision, this is just for the odd occasions when he's on calls or the dogs are outside without him being able to supervise.

Isn't the obvious answer that you never let the dogs outside with supervision?

Yes, but on occasion my DH could be on calls for hours on end so they are allowed out without us.

We have an acre of land and gates, so it's people entering the gates that we are concerned about.

It's a balance between him being kept inside for longer periods. Or being allowed to be out but being safe.

I've got greyhounds who are well used to wearing a muzzle but tbh I would take a step back and try to think of another solution.

Muzzles still hurt and it's still 'allowing'? The dog to go over threshold and become aggressive.

I'd try and think of gates being locked. Postbox/lock box out front. Clear signage etc.

We have all of those measures in place, unfortunately we can't control the humans that ignore them.

We have the referral to help work on the behaviours.

I'd love to think of another option, I see this as a hopefully short term approach, and thank you for your thoughts.

I'm not sure how he will respond to the muzzle if we go down this route but I fell given the most recent incident with the delivery driver, I'm trying to think of a solution.

Sorry we haven't "locked" the gates. That's another option.. we also have a doorbell, to ask people to ring.

All my dogs are muzzle trained, for their own safety - incase it's ever needed.

I second checking out the muzzle up pro community group on Facebook. They will ensure you buy a correctly fitted muzzle and don't have to return etc - you can post any questions you have and they will give you professional guidance for free :)

Muzzle's are perfectly safe and fine for dogs to wear so don't listen to anyone tell you different (Aslong as they fit correctly).

Thank you so much.

It's just shit isn't it when people ignore clear instructions.

We had a mailbox outside and sealed our letterbox to stop dogs barking and slamming into the door but lots of people still ignored it. So annoying!

It's really annoying but if I'm being honest the way he reacted was a massive wake up call for my DH and I think something I've been pushing to address he is now understanding how important it is to work this as a team.

I think it may turn out to be a positive shift for us, to address an issue head on.

Finally the understanding that our beautiful dog could be destroyed sunk in.

Could I ask is it "muzzle up professional" group I'm looking for?

It's the muzzle up pup pro muzzle community which another user recommended - not everyone there is a "professional" as such but all the admins/moderators etc have experience working with all sorts of dogs which require different muzzles etc and know which muzzles are best to keep your dog safe.

Just read more into your post and we have the exact same issue with people coming onto our property - usually through our top gate instead of our bottom gate - without ringing the buzzer😅. It's a nightmare. No one pays any attention to "Dogs Loose on property" signs either, I just have them there as a legal backup incase anything was to happen.

It's a balance between him being kept inside for longer periods. Or being allowed to be out but being safe.

I'm really sorry but if you have an aggressive dog then you need to keep them inside if they can't be supervised or left safely outside.

Adult dogs who have been walked and toileted will be fine indoors for several hours without the need for garden access.

Also, any signs about dangerous dogs or loose dogs won't make any difference if your dogs did bite someone.

The law recently changed and dogs must now be under control on both public and private property, including private gardens and inside homes.

In fact, a sign could go even against you as the courts will argue you knew your dog was dangerous and failed to do anything about it.

Honestly, I know it sounds harsh but you must have your dogs under control. If they can't be supervised outdoors then they need to stay indoors, or in a fully enclosed run so they are away from anyone who comes onto your property.

Well it's not that recent. It was 2013!

I agree though that you need to plan for humans being stupid. Putting things in place to stop the possibility of this ever happening - fencing or whatever is necessary - will be crucial to both your dog and you. Crucial for keeping them safe and you from being on a knife edge of anxiety.

I would also muzzle train - Chirag Patel's video on doing it is really good.

The problem is whenever he is practicing the behaviour it is self-reinforcing. No training will work because every time he does it it will get worse, like practicing any trick. Add to this if something negative happens, for example a driver shouts at him and frightens him more you risk the problem getting even worse. In training like this you need to control every single second of every interaction to change the response. You 100% need to restrict access to get anywhere training wise, not to mention the liability issues.

Can you fence a small run around the back door? We have one so the dogs can go in and out in nice weather but not onto our land unsupervised which would keep him from others. Otherwise hours on end wouldn’t be the end of the world realistically, many many dogs manage 5-6 hours without a wee!

Personally I would never allow mine out unsupervised with anyone. All of mine would be a bit freaked out with a stranger on our property without some direction from me and they are usually rock steady. It only takes a scratch or for someone to even feel threatened enough to complain and your in big trouble. Also being whacked with a dog wearing a muzzle still bloody hurts!

You have an acre garden. Is there capacity to Chuck some money at the issue and fence off an area he can play and run in but that stops him from coming near your entrance?

You're obviously right to be taking responsibility, but I can't help think removing him from the stressful situation is a better answer.

I appreciate that may be hard, we have a large space like that too and it would be awkward here as well but doable with some creativity.

Well it's not that recent. It was 2013!

Don't say that @Clymene - 2013 feels like yesterday sometimes 🤣

Yes we have plans to fit further fencing, and are going to do everything to ensure he can't reach anyone - but I'm exploring the muzzle options as well, the Facebook pages are so helpful, thank you.

He's on high alert again and pretty stressed.

We had an incident a year ago when he was an 18 month old he was safely behind another area and I was outside talking to some neighbours, he was barking and bouncing but 100% secure, behind a 5 bar gate.

I said to them please just ignore him as he gets bored and walks off. To which one of the neighbours strides past me towards the gated area, put his hand through the gate and said "oh shut you up stupid dog" in a loud voice.. while waving his fingers at him.

My dog lunged at him and the guy turned to me and said "you've got a bloody dangerous dog"

Luckily the other neighbour defended me and said she clearly told you to ignore the dog you idiot...

But since that one incident we've managed successfully to keep him away. (The dog and the neighbour!)

The recently delivery guy ignored signs and came into our land 2 days in a row.

And has started the cycle again.

I'm aware of the law changes, thanks for flagging that, we have a family member who's legal and another who's in the police.

And thanks for making me feel old 🤣🤣

He's a big breed so yes being whacked with him in a muzzle would still hurt!

I'm taking this so seriously but that did make me laugh.

The keeping him indoors for 4-5 hours when we have 4 dogs with different wee needs maybe tricky but not impossible, to be honest he does snooze from 12-4/5 even with my DH at home so those hours are mostly ok.

This was an isolated lunch time where our dog happened to be out and the driver gave no warning to took us all by surprise.