Breaking the Muzzle Stigma

Shedding light on muzzles, one dog at a time.

Most people equate muzzles with dogs who are dangerous and/or with dogs who bite. But that could not be further from the truth. A muzzled dog is NOT a “bad dog.” The sooner we can move away from this common misconception, the sooner we can expand on the benefits of muzzle training and allow more dog owners to feel comfortable when they find themselves in a situation where a muzzle may be needed. And the sooner we can do that, the sooner the dogs in question can reap the benefits as well.

When Used Correctly, Muzzles DON’T:

Harm the dog

Stress the dog

Mean that the dog has bitten

Or mean that the dog displays any aggression

Represent a careless owner

Necessarily inhibit behavior

Cause a dog to have a decreased quality of life

Teach the dog to change their own behavior

Muzzles DO:

Keep people safe

Keep other animals safe

Keep the dog wearing it safe

Keep dogs alive

Keep dogs in their homes

Keep dogs out of shelters

Keep up the owner’s confidence

Keep up opportunities for training

LET DOGS EXPERIENCE MORE IN LIFE

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND:

• Muzzles need to be conditioned, they cannot just be placed on the dog and used.

• Muzzle choice needs to be assessed carefully, taking into account a dog’s history, motivation, when the muzzle will be used, where the muzzle will be used, and for how long the dog will be wearing it.

• Muzzles have to fit appropriately, as even the “correct” muzzle can be ill fitted.

• Muzzles are not all created equal, some types should never be used, and you can even have multiple muzzles for multiple situations.

• Muzzles are not to be used 24/7.

• Muzzles need to be used in conjunction with behavior modification, as they are not a bandaid.

• Muzzles should be used under the guidance of a professional.

I always hear how people "feel sorry" for dogs

who wear muzzles. Many owners hesitate to muzzle train their dog because they are worried about what other people may think. And many owners also hesitate to muzzle train because they themselves think that muzzles are “bad.”

And yet, muzzles allow dogs to have a life that

they otherwise wouldn't be able to have, for the better. While of course, muzzles are often used for situations where there is a history of or a potential of aggression, they are also used in situations that have nothing to do with aggression at all.

When muzzles are chosen, sized, and conditioned correctly, there’s no reason to feel sorry for the dog. We should never project our own feelings and opinions onto our canine companions, even though it happens quite a lot. We should also never concern ourselves with what other people are thinking in regards to our dog wearing a muzzle - if we choose a muzzle for the right reasons and it improves our dog’s quality of life and/or the safety of those around us, then it doesn’t matter what other people think. There’s a reason that “don’t take anything personally” is part of the Four Agreements!

The resolution is education.

REASONS WHY A DOG MAY WEAR A MUZZLE:

For dogs who fight with housemates.

For dogs who go after bufo toads.

For dogs who need a safe way to be off leash.

For dogs who eat things they shouldn't.

For dogs who are wearing bandages.

For dogs who have sutures.

For dogs who are aggressive to their owners.

For dogs who are very predatory.

For dogs who are meeting new animals.

For dogs who get upset at the vet.

For dogs who learn to wear it "just in case."

For dogs who want space.

For dogs who are afraid of new people.

For dogs who are destructive when confined.

For dogs who eat poop.

For dogs who have had foreign body surgeries.

For dogs who have owners who want space.

For dogs who are subjected to BSL.

For dogs who are required by law to wear one.

For dogs who have bitten.

For dogs who have not yet bitten.

For dogs who have responsible owners.

For dogs who are learning.

For dogs who want to live and not die.

I have thousands and thousands of client-dog teams who have successfully muzzle trained over the years and have reaped the benefits. I have had clients who would have had to euthanize their dog if they did not muzzle train, so the muzzle literally saved the dog’s life. I have had clients who were able to stay in their neighborhood and didn’t have to move out by muzzle training their dog. I have had clients be able to successfully have dogs live together who use to fight as soon as they entered the same room. I have had clients be able to have their dogs receive much needed vet care without sedation thanks to using a muzzle. I have had clients be able to travel with their dog and take their dog places that they never would have been comfortable in doing so without the muzzle. I have had clients with dogs who were able to finally make friends with those outside of the family by using a muzzle. I have had clients use the muzzle for situations where Elizabethan collars for recent surgeries or injuries were too stressful. I have had clients who needed to have their dogs muzzled in order to travel to other countries due to breed specific regulations. I have had clients whose dogs have had multiple foreign body surgeries and one more would have been the end of the dog if we didn’t use a muzzle to safeguard eating things in certain situations. I have had clients who had beautiful backyards that their dogs could never run around in at night because of Bufo toads until they did muzzle training. I’ve had clients do muzzle training just so they knew their dog could wear one if they ever needed one, even though they didn’t need one at the time. I’ve had clients who absolutely refused to ever use a muzzle, turn into muzzle advocates after seeing what they can do for dogs. And I’ve seen so much more.

Muzzles keep dogs alive, families together, and

everyone safe.

Break the muzzle stigma.