Muzzle Training

Getting your dog used to wearing a muzzle is a really positive thing to do. A well fitted, comfortable muzzle keeps your dog and everyone around them safe, which is extra important if your dog is fearful or reactive. A muzzle not only prevents bites but also prevents your dog eating anything on the ground they might find. Muzzle training means your dog is more prepared for wearing one should they need to at the vet’s, which will occur for most dogs at some point in their lives. As mentioned in our post on reactive dog equipment, nothing keeps other people and dogs away quite like a muzzle does. This is because there is an unfortunate stereotype that a dog wearing a muzzle must be aggressive, which is not necessarily the case. But, this negative stereotype can be helpful when it comes to keeping others away.

Finding the right muzzle

There are a number of different types of muzzle available on the market. You’ll want to measure your dogs nose and face to make sure the muzzle you choose fits comfortably. Too loose and it may come off easily. Too tight and it will be uncomfortable for your dog and likely something they will try to avoid. Whilst wearing it, your dog should still be able to pant freely, drink water and take treats through the bars without difficulty. One brand to look into is Baskerville for breeds with a standard nose, such as Labradors and Spaniels. Baskerville produce the Ultra model, shown in the image above. They also make an anti-scavenge muzzle, shown below. They also make muzzles for short nosed breeds such as French Bulldogs and Pugs. For sighthound breeds, have a look at The Greyhound and Whippet Shop. You may see fabric muzzles available to buy but these are designed for grooming and are not bite proof. The Muzzle Up! Project has a useful guide to measuring your dog for a muzzle here.

Muzzle Training Plan

You’ll want to do at least one and ideally multipe training session for each step of this muzzle training plan, particularly the later steps. Go slow and steady and you are likely to have a dog who is happy to wear their muzzle.

Step 1: To start, hold the muzzle behind your back in one hand. Have some treats ready in the other hand. Present the muzzle in front of your dog then place it back behind your back. Throw a treat on the floor for them to find with the other hand. Throwing the treat away allows you to reset the game. Repeat this step a number of times- at least 10.

Step 2: Fold the straps of the muzzle back so your dog can easily push their nose into it. If you’ve done enough practise of step 1, your dog should be happy to approach the muzzle. If not, go back to step one and keep building a positive association between the presentation of the muzzle and treats appearing. We want your dog to be pushing their nose into the muzzle and not you pushing the muzzle onto their nose. Hold the muzzle in front of them and reward by throwing a treat as soon as they make contact with the muzzle.

Step 3: In this step, we are looking to get your dog comfortable taking food through the end of the muzzle. At this point your dog should be happy to push their nose into the muzzle. If not, go back and repeat earlier steps. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for them to push their nose into it. You can then feed them their reward through the bars of the muzzle. Again repeat this steps multiple times so your dog is used to taking food through the muzzle.

Step 4: You can now start to practise actually clipping the muzzle on around your dogs neck. To begin with, clip the muzzle up loosely, reward them with it then take it off again straight away. Practise this step several times with your dog having the muzzle strapped on just for a few seconds before you remove it. Over a few sessions you can tighten the straps of the muzzle until it is tight enough that it won’t slip off but is still comfortable for your dog.

Step 5: The last step in this muzzle training plan is to get your dog comfortable wearing the muzzle around the house and on walks. Whenever you put your dogs muzzle on, make sure it is a sign that good things are coming for them. It should be a reliable predictor of their favourite things- tasty treats, playtime, praise and fuss. Start with a few seconds then minutes at a time at home and on walks.

Top tips

Don’t rush to the end goal and attempt to just put the muzzle straight on your dogs face. This should be a slow and steady process that teaches your dog that great things happen for them every time they see the muzzle.
Always keep a close eye on your dogs body language when muzzle training. If you start seeing stress signals, such as lip licking, yawning or backing away, take a break. In your next session, start at a lower level, such as just presenting the muzzle to your dog and throwing a treat for them to find.
A muzzle should not be used as a punishment or to ‘control’ barking or other unwanted behaviours. It won’t change how your dog actually feels about the thing causing them to bark and will likely just give them bad feelings about wearing a muzzle.

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