The dog muzzle: in which cases is it mandatory?
Has your dog ever worn a muzzle? If you don't have a categorized dog, your dog may have never worn a muzzle and you may not even have one at home! This was my case a few months ago… My dog being an adorable and very docile Labrador, it is a totally useless dog accessory for her. And since it is not a so-called categorized breed, it is lucky enough to be able to walk around with its mouth free to eat all the junk that is lying around...
This article is not a plea for or against the muzzle, nor an article for or against the categories for dogs but simply a practical article on the cases of everyday life or holidays where you may be asked to do so. wear one to your dog: to take the train, to enter a museum...
In this article, we are going to take stock together of when should you put a muzzle on your dog during the holidays? And above all, how to make your dog accept the muzzle?…
Hey yes, if he has never worn this kind of equipment, he may not be cooperative at all and for good reason!! But if this equipment is necessary for a few hours during a journey or a visit, it will have to adapt to it somehow...
So dog muzzle: instructions for use!
THE DOG MUZZLE: WHEN IS IT OBLIGATORY?
Before we start, let's understand what a dog muzzle. It is a device that is placed on the muzzle of your dog to prevent him from biting or opening his mouth to eat something.
Except in the case of categorized dogs who must wear it in a mandatory way in certain circumstances, for all other dogs, it is not a mandatory device. But you may need to make your dog wear one either because the place you are going to requires it or for safety reasons because your dog is a bit sluggish and reactive.
The most common case is the train or, in general, public transport. Here, you will be asked to muzzle your dog during the trip. It is a security measure that aims to reassure users who are afraid of dogs. The muzzle is compulsory and if your dog does not wear one, beware of the fine!!
Wearing a muzzle is, for example, compulsory in the Barcelona metro. I went there for a few days on vacation with my dog. As I knew that the Barcelona metro was dog-friendly, I had planned my visit thinking of using this means of transport! Practice ! But I had missed the information on the mandatory muzzle… We walked a lot in Barcelona…:p No muzzle, no metro!
You may also be asked to use this dog accessory during a tourist visit. Again, this is simply to reassure other visitors…
If your dog is reactive, as a safety measure, the muzzle is a solution. Imagine: you are on vacation, far from home and its bearings, in the market, there are children running and shouting, other dogs, people in a hurry who can jostle it and others who will pet it by surprise… if your dog is reactive, this type of behavior can surprise him. Rightly so! But many people don't know what a dog is, how to approach it, and even less know how to decipher the dog's non-verbal language. So to protect these people and children, the muzzle is a solution. Even if in our wildest dreams, we would just like a little more respect for our darlings! But if it bites, unfortunately, no one will try to understand who is at fault and it is the animal that will be punished.
I use the muzzle for “aesthetic” reasons. I admit that it gives an uncomfortable look to dogs who wear it. And to tell you the truth, I use a muzzle for Musher when I have to walk her around town late at night. I don't put it on her, she wears it detached but the people we meet say to themselves “damn, if this dog has this device around his neck, he's aggressive, I'm not going to bother his mistress …” And this is exactly the desired effect! No one knows my black dog is an innocuous potato. With this accessory around her neck, she looks like a “bad dog”, a big naughty dog… And at least they leave me alone!
TEACHING YOUR DOG TO WEAR A Muzzle
If your dog has never worn a muzzle, it's a safe bet that he won't appreciate the experience at all! And for good reason ! Imagine being put a grill in front of your mouth?! Indeed, it prevents him from biting but biting is THE dog's only means of defence! If he bites there is a reason. It's like cutting a cat's claws, cutting a bird's wings… How can he defend himself in case of trouble? This is why he will have to get used to it little by little so that he agrees to wear this device when it is compulsory.
So how do you get your dog used to the muzzle? As always, it happens in 4 steps:
- we present the accessory to him, we let him sniff it in all directions and we give him some treats so that he associates this bizarre object with a nice moment
- we get used to it with a few short walks with the muzzle attached to the neck (like I do with Musher).
- we do some tests: we offer him the muzzle with a treat at the bottom, if he puts his muzzle in it, we reward.
- same step as in 3 but this time we give the treats after having closed the muzzle and we lengthen the wearing time of the muzzle as we go along. And especially when we detach, we reward! Begin to accustom it to your home and when it is perfectly tolerated, try a walk outside.
Follow these steps and you'll be fine. Do not close the muzzle on his muzzle without further explanation and consideration for your dog. He deserves you to take some time to explain to him how it works. Above all, do not scold him if he tries to free himself from the muzzle. Take the steps gently. Forcing him would break the bond of trust between you.
Wearing a muzzle is not easy for dogs… Even if Musher had perfectly accepted the muzzle when it came to wearing it in the station and on the train, it was something else altogether. She kept trying to break free and try to free her by scratching her nose with her paws. She wanted to have her nose free and above all her mouth to be able to swallow the little crumbs that had strayed onto the platform… By dint of scratching to remove it, she almost hurt herself in the corner of her eye. She didn't understand why she had to keep this. She made my heart ache but it's “mandatory”… so we had to play along. Out of respect for the other train riders, Musher kept his muzzle on. When I see the price of the ticket for her and the travel conditions imposed on her (muzzled, no place, stuck under my seat…), I admit that we take the train as little as possible.
HOW TO CHOOSE A Muzzle?
There are different materials: soft leather, rigid plastic or metal (like a cage), nylon... For occasional use, the soft muzzle is perfectly suitable. Attention it is really for a preventive and occasional use. For example, if you go to the vet, this type of muzzle does not take up space in your pocket. Passed on the muzzle at the last moment, the consultation will be without risk. It is with a muzzle like that that Musher travels by train for example. It's practical, cheap and washable. But it won't be strong enough if used for an aggressive dog.
To choose the right size, measure around your dog's muzzle with a tape measure and add a finger between your dog's mouth and the tape measure. It should not be tight around your dog's mouth, he should be able to pant! If he wears the muzzle on a hot day, he must be able to breathe freely!
Attention, if you have a dog with a short muzzle, the confection must be made to measure. This is the case for boxers for example or pugs… You will therefore have to anticipate your trip otherwise you will not be able to travel with your dog.
You will find a dog muzzle in all pet stores, in stores and online.
I hope this article will have helped you to see things more clearly and that you will have found some tips to understand how to make your dog accept the muzzle during a visit, a train trip or a walk. at the market during the holidays.