Many people find the idea of muzzling a dog offensive. The reality is that just like every dog should learn how to handle sitting in a kennel, every dog should also learn to wear a muzzle. This goes beyond just for grooming, but in case of emergency.
If your dog ever breaks their jaw, the treatment is to wear a muzzle for 6-8 weeks. If your dog should need emergency treatment and is biting out of fear, a muzzle is put on them for the veterinarian’s safety.
There are a number of reasons why your dog, even the nicest dog who would never bite, can end up wearing a muzzle, and if they don’t know how to be comfortable in one it can add to their distress.
If your dog does bite, working with them while they are wearing a muzzle can save you from injury if you make a training mistake. In order for this to work however, the dog needs to be very comfortable wearing a muzzle, so they can focus on the other tasks you are working on.
We saved this article for last because muzzle training takes considerably longer than any other aspect of groom training. It can take several weeks to months to make a dog completely comfortable with a muzzle, and if your dog bites, you should do this before starting the groom training course.
Each one of these stages could take a week or more to complete, and rushing the steps can cause your dog to be uncomfortable with the muzzle, setting the stage for making the rest of groom training difficult.
It’s important to spend as much time as it takes to make your dog feel comfortable in the muzzle before continuing.
If You Currently Muzzle Your Dog:
If your dog currently has to be muzzled for the vet or the groomers, and they absolutely hate it—don’t use the same muzzle for training. Make your current muzzle the “bad guy” and a brand new muzzle which looks different as the training muzzle.
Dogs do not generalize very well, so you can take advantage of this by training in a separate muzzle. When muzzle training is complete and your dog likes their new muzzle, you can use it exclusively.
This work should be done with a muzzle that allows for pant room, since the flat muzzle is typically for emergency use only. If you are training your dog in it, your dog will need to be able to take treats and spend a long time in it—things they can’t do with a flat muzzle. Check out our article on the different types of muzzle to find the right one for your individual dog’s needs.
Step One: The Pup Cup
I know what you’re thinking. “What?? We’re not putting the muzzle on the ground for them to inspect first?”
In a later step, we’re going to be teaching our pups to reach into the muzzle to get a treat, but it helps if your dog already has the concept of “reaching in” in place. For little dogs, a starbucks pup cup is the perfect size. Bigger dogs can use yogurt tubs a little bigger then their muzzle.
All you have to do is put a dollup of something yummy in the bottom of a container roughly the size of their muzzle and let them practice licking it out. It’s a fun game for everyone!
When they’re eagerly diving into the cup to get their prize, you can begin introducing the muzzle.
Step Two: Introduce the Muzzle
Place your muzzle on the ground and let your dog inspect it. Reward them for any positive or neutral interaction with the muzzle. Even just looking at it is fine. If they hang back and are fearful, toss treats to them.
The goal is for them to understand that when the muzzle comes out, it’s a good thing and is going to predict treats, fun or praise—whatever they like best.
If your dog is nervous and hangs back, you may have to work on this step over several sessions. You’ll know when to move on when the dog who hung back at first is now sitting right next to the muzzle, checking you for treats rather than looking for an escape route.
Step Three: Put Your Hand on the Muzzle
At first, we don’t touch the muzzle during introduction. If a dog is afraid of a tool, a human hand on the tool makes it infinitely more suspicious. This is why we add this step in before simply picking up the tool.
In this step, you’re going to associate touching the tool with something good. Touch the treat, and at the same time, offer the dog a treat. Repeat this 10-15 times. If your pup is happy about this, move on to the next step. If they are hanging back, toss the treats to them if necessary, and keep repeating the session once a day until they’re happy to approach for treats.
Step Four: Pick Up the Muzzle
Now that your pup is sitting close to you, watching intently to see when the magical muzzle touch will yield them a snack, it’s time to up the anty. Now you’re going to pick up the muzzle, give them a treat, and set it down. Do this 10-15 times, and monitor your dog’s response.
If picking up the muzzle was an anti-climax, it’s okay to keep it to one session and move on to the next. Otherwise, continue to pick up the muzzle, and offer a treat at the same time. If the pup is hanging back, toss the treats indirectly at them, and keep repeating sessions until they are comfortably sitting right by you as you pick it up to take the treat.
The next step will involve your dog touching the muzzle, so it’s important they are very comfortable around the muzzle. We’ll share more about that next week.
Similar Posts:
- Introducing the Groom Lead
- If You Know Your Dog Is Aggressive
- How To Muzzle Train A Chihuahua
- Interview with Muzzle Designer, Hillary
- How to desensitize your dog to mouth handling
