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The doghouse

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Original poster

Muzzle experience

10 replies

HappiestSleeping · 18/10/2023 01:21

My shithead lab has the shits this evening having eaten a mouldy banana in the park before I could stop him.

It isn't the first time, but he got away with it on previous occasions.

I'm thinking about trying a muzzle to stop him scavenging, however, he also likes to nom horse and cat shit (🤮). I suspect he would try even with a muzzle on, and I am not especially keen on having a shit covered muzzle.

Does anyone have suggestions please? Either for a suitable muzzle, or options on how to stop him scavenging. He is good with 'leave it', but that relies on me seeing what he's looking at before he gets it. He was even on a lead today and was still too fast.

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 18/10/2023 06:32

Mine has a BASKERVILLE muzzle to prevent scavenging after two emergency operations.

Occasionally he has tried to eat fresh horse poo through it but generally it gets a little dirty at the end of each walk with dirt mainly due to him having his head into everything as he's a WCS. I just rinse it at home to keep it clean.

It has solved the issue but whilst he knows he has to have it on him when walking he still tries to get it off his head when he finds something he is desperate to pick up. Oh and everyone thinks he is vicious so I spend my time shouting to other walkers that he's fine.

Giggorata · 18/10/2023 07:13

I muzzle the big dog for the same reason, purposely using a robust plastic one that can be rinsed if she does try to shove her muzzle into something ghastly.

She isn't vicious but isn't particularly friendly to strangers or other dogs, so the muzzle also deters people from bothering her.

margotrose · 18/10/2023 07:14

As @BiteyShark said one of the main "problems" with muzzles is people link them to aggression so you will get people avoiding you and your dog and potentially treating him very differently.

A well fitted muzzle is a great thing although not always foolproof - it needs to be a basket style so your dog can still pant, drink water and take treats.

Original poster
HappiestSleeping · 18/10/2023 09:06

Thank you all. Did it take you long to get them used to the muzzle?

He's been up several times in the night. Interestingly, it isn't the first time he's had bananas, but it is the first time the reaction has been so bad. I hope it is a one off.

OP posts:
sockarefootwear · 18/10/2023 09:25

Re: getting used to the muzzle- if you muzzle train your dog (ie don't just pop it on and use it, gradually introduce it and make it strongly associated with positive things like treats etc) he will deal with it better. There are some really great videos on YouTube. I have a rescue dog that wears a muzzle in public and it took a couple of weeks' training to go from seeing the muzzle to wearing it for an hour or so but he accepts it (and actually gets excited to see it) and does not try to remove it/avoid putting it on. And that's a dog who was fearful of human touch.

BiteyShark · 18/10/2023 09:26

We tried to put treats through the muzzle to get him to put his nose in. That was for a few days but then we just put it on right before a walk and let him loose.

I know he doesn't want it on his face but he tolerates it especially as it's only on just before he exits the car and I take it off to briefly walk back to the car on a short lead.

muddyford · 18/10/2023 13:27

My two years old Lab has just discovered acorns. After spending a year training him not to eat dog poo I am wondering about restarting training with a muzzle. He has one with a sort of panel half an inch in from the end so he can't easily push it into something grim and get it to ooze through.

Original poster
HappiestSleeping · 18/10/2023 15:27

muddyford · 18/10/2023 13:27

My two years old Lab has just discovered acorns. After spending a year training him not to eat dog poo I am wondering about restarting training with a muzzle. He has one with a sort of panel half an inch in from the end so he can't easily push it into something grim and get it to ooze through.

Mine is a rescue and was just over 2 when I got him. I've been working on training the basics first, but this is becoming a bigger problem. He is so fast. I get a slight warning as he catches a scent he likes, and pulls towards it a little harder than when picking up standard pee-mail. I will have to be extra vigilant until I can get him trained in the muzzle.

I'm sure he will be most pissed off with me. Shame he wouldn't have associated having to go out every three hours during the night with the banana peel he ate.

OP posts:
margotrose · 18/10/2023 15:59

It took us about 4-6 weeks to muzzle train ours though he doesn't actually wear one - it was just something that we did as part of his puppy training. We put treats in the end to get him to stick his nose in, then he did it without the treats and we gradually extended the time he had his nose in, then did it up etc.

He didn't like wearing one but he tolerated it at least.

Giggorata · 18/10/2023 16:03

Mine now associates it with going out, one of her favourite things, and will put her nose into the muzzle herself.

I forgot to mention that it is a basket type one, where she can pant, etc. I think that is very important, too.

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