As I mentioned on another thread, I think it's a really important thing to train our dogs to accept a muzzle. Even if you never need to use it, it's a fun game for them. Here was a little session I had with all of mine this morning. I do this almost every morning, sometimes get as far as clipping it up, but keeping it all really low expectations. You can see they're all more than happy to put their noses right in. Apologies for the video orientation, I normally do things landscape, but I couldn't get their waggy tails in that way round!
Yes, I think you're right , muzzle training would be a good thing. Doing it like you are, normalising it, on a daily basis would be very positive I think. Inspired me now to do this with Cassie.
I have clipped it up on Shadow a couple of times. When I do this, I spread pate on the inside, clip it while the dog licks it and then remove it straight away. I'll try to get some video of this progression at some point.
Two of our friends use muzzles on their Sammies to stop them from barking. They put the muzzle on if the dog is barking incessantly, and then take them back off after a few minutes. Some times they just hold up the muzzle and the barking stops. We also did this to the Sammies when they were riding in the Wayback of our Subaru, to keep from going deaf. We have considered using it as a bark control training aid for Tilly and Cooper, since Cooper can get really loud playing bitey face, and Tilly can be obnoxious when she wants to go out on the deck, and we don't want the door open. On the very few times we put a muzzle on them, neither of our dogs have been upset, and neither was hard to put the muzzle on. I am really not worried about biting, since all of our Labs have learned not to bite people, after the puppy bitey period. I trust them completely on that score. You could get kicked by one of our dogs trying to get away from something, but not bitten. I wish I knew how they learned that behavior so well.
How do the muzzles stop them barking? I don’t worry about biting in normal circumstances these days, but there may be a time we are travelling somewhere where they need to be worn or if they are badly injured to the point they bite instinctively. You just never know. I may consider using one on Shadow in certain situations as we work through his dog reactivity issues, not because I would ever knowingly put him in the situation where he might bite but to put any helpers’ minds at rest for their own dogs.
It doesn't stop barking completely, but it is a fabric mesh muzzle that keeps them from opening their mouth very far, so they can't do the big (high pitched) Sammy bark. It would probably work on Tilly, because when she barks she opens her mouth pretty wide, and also her front paws leave the ground on each bark. The only time Cooper's bark is bothersome is when they are playing bitey face, which is usually while we are trying to watch TV. We really haven't tried the muzzle for barking with either Cooper or Tilly, because they aren't problem barkers. With our friends Sammies, they just put it on for a few minutes and then take it back off. It would not be a good muzzle for a dog to have on in hot weather, or for a significant walk, because they would not be able to pant normally. Our friends previous Sammy often rode with us on trips to the coast or mountains. He would bark continuously for the 1/4 half hour and often for the last half hour of the trip (he knew the route). He apparently did not like my driving, or didn't think I was going fast enough. We often blame Tilly's deafness on Blitzen's barking. Her current Sammy is not as bad in the car, but will bark continuously at a dog on the other side of a fence.
The Mesh Fabric Muzzle is open on the end, so the dog can still drink, and get his tongue out, but not open his mouth very far.
