Muzzling drama

[Noquiet]

My dog needs to be muzzled for vet visits. I just can’t get one on, she goes crazy. I’ve tried the gentry slowly method, and it was going ok, but the problem comes as I can’t clip the damn thing quickly enough, then she knows it’s being attempted, and it’s a lost cause. Can anyone recommend anything that is very easy to fit and also how best to deal with being aggressive to me when I try to put it on. It’s a nightmare. I’ve tried Baskerville and the sleeve types. Crossbreed collie.

Is it worse at the vets? Or in general is she a pain? I know you said she can be funny with you (I’m assuming not trying to bite though) but some dogs are noticeably just more distressed at the vets.

It may well be worth asking the vet if they’ll do an outside appointment and seeing if that works - particularly if it’s minor check ups etc.
My partner does those for a few of his ‘special cases’ - he sees the dogs in the car park! He can’t do a proper check up and give them boosters etc, but for routine worries such as lumps, behavioural changes (not eating etc) he’ll meet the dog in the car park as though he’s some randomer on a stroll and give them big fusses (using it as an opportunity to check them over) and decide from there if they need to be medicated for a more in depth examination.

If not, and it’s for boosters or something, then I agree with PP that some medication may be better - you don’t want to stress her out.

Must say, I’ve been sedating and anaesthetising sighthounds for 15 years and not found this to be true.

She’s bad with me too. She flails about, rolls over, twists, etc. I’m trying to be gentle, and she’s doing anything possible to make me stop. It’s almost like it’s a fear of what might happen.

Just to give you some encouragement- my dog wears a muzzle quite often if he's in public (he is a rescue and reacts aggressively when he's nervous). When we first adopted him he growled, snapped, ran away etc if we even attempted to put a lead or harness on him, let alone trying to go near his face to get a muzzle on. I followed some of the methods/videos suggested above- starting from feeding him high value treats whenever he saw the muzzle (not attempting to get it even near him), then if he sniffed the muzzle, then letting him eat treats from the muzzle (not attempting to put it on him let alone clip it), then cheese spread/pate inside the muzzle building up to eventually clipping it on. It took several weeks of training for a few minutes 3-4 times a day. There were special treats whenever the muzzle was in view, and taken away when the muzzle went away. Now he sees his muzzle and does a happy dance, puts his nose in it himself and I can clip it on one-handed in seconds. I really, really wouldn't have believed it was possible but it's definitely a case of slowly but surely and if dog seems uncomfortable at any stage go back a step.

@sockarefootwear thank you for your encouragement. Sounds like you’ve done a great job with yours! I’ve got loads of great suggestions from this thread. Need to start work properly now.