Why Muzzle Training is Important For Any Dog to Learn

Many people shy away from muzzle training their dog because of the negative connotation it usually carries, or they don't think their dog would ever need to wear a muzzle. However, muzzle training can be one of the most important skills any dog learns. Let's take a look at situations where it pays off for your dog to be muzzle trained.

Why Muzzle Training is Important For Any Dog

1. Muzzles can be great for preventing dogs from eating things they shouldn't. For example, muzzles can be life savers for dogs who relentlessly eat poop or suffer from pica (eating inedible objects).
   

2. Muzzles may become legally required for certain breeds. At the moment, not many places in the United States have breed bans or restrictions, but it could certainly become the norm. For example, XL Bully breeds must be leashed and muzzled in all public spaces in the United Kingdom (among other restrictions).
   

3. Muzzles can ensure your dog gets critical veterinary care. Any dog with teeth has the ability to bite. Even the most well-mannered dog could snap if in extreme pain or discomfort. Many veterinarians will refuse to treat dogs who pose a bite risk unless they are either medicated or muzzled.
   

4. Muzzles can make grooming easier. Some dogs do great at the groomers, some simply tolerate grooming, and others find it anxiety-inducing. Just like with dogs in physical pain, dogs under mental or emotional stress are more likely to bite. Not all dogs need regular grooming, but at some point in time most dogs need a bath, brushing, or nail trim. Some dogs require regular grooming to keep them healthy, such as dogs prone to developing fur mats, like Poodles and Doodles. Similar to vets, many groomers will refuse to provide services to dogs who are dangerous to handle.

   

5. Muzzles can be helpful when introducing a new dog to a new home. When dogs are re-homed or adopted from a rescue or shelter, the change in environment can be quite stressful for dogs. Introducing dogs to a home with young children, elderly adults, or other dogs can prevent bites out of fear as household dynamics are shifted and everyone gets used to each other.
   

6. And most commonly known, muzzles help keep everyone safe around fearful, anxious, reactive, or aggressive dogs. Dogs facing significant behavioral challenges are more common than ever. It's estimated that nearly 75% of dogs exhibit some sort of fear, anxiety, or reactivity. These dogs deserve to live a fulfilling life and receive help in overcoming their challenges, and it is crucially important for dog guardians and trainers to make safety for everyone a top priority when helping these dogs.

It's best to start muzzle training before you really need to use the muzzle. For muzzle training to be successful, it's important for dogs to have a positive association with the muzzle. Putting a muzzle on a fearful or nervous dog for the first time in a vet's office or at the groomer's is likely to make the dog feel even more nervous, anxious, or fearful. These negative feelings can become associated to the muzzle or what the muzzle might predict is coming next. While it's not impossible to rebuild trust and a positive association after a negative experience, it is significantly easier to muzzle train dogs when they don't have any previous negative associations.