Good Dogs Wear Muzzles
You may have seen a few things on the social medias lately that let you know it’s “Dog Bite Prevention Week”. Well, it was last week…but this is another one of those. Anyone who is around animals in any capacity should always have safety on their mind—bite prevention being one of the most paramount. Dog bites can get messy from a medical/veterinary, legal, and emotional stand point. Avoiding these situations in the first place can literally save lives. Hence my argument: “Good dogs wear muzzles”
There is still a stigma attached to a dog wearing a muzzle. People think automatically they are a dangerous dog, or misbehaved. While those can be a starting point for someone to train their dog to wear a muzzle, there are other reasons!! Some owners really struggle with their dog eating anything not nailed or well-rooted down, causing numerous health issues (and likely surgery). It could be a faster thing to train the dog to wear a muzzle than to train the leave it/drop it cue and almost immediately cut down on the amount of things they are able to put in their mouth.
Yes, some dogs do wear it because there is a safety risk. The muzzle keeps others safe (both humans and dogs). It does usually help other people realize they should be more cautious around the dog, not ask to pet them, or let their dogs run up to them. Most of the time these dogs do need more space, and their owner needs you to give it to them!
Why do dogs bite in the first place? For a lot of reasons. If they are (or feel they are) being attacked, they will defend themselves. If earlier attempts to communicate they want to be left alone aren’t working, they will bite. Any situation that creates big emotions can lead to a bite (even good emotions!) An overly excited dog can be just as dangerous as a scared/aggressive dog.
You may meet Lauren’s dog, Bartok, during a session!
A muzzle is likely going to be needed by your dog at some point in their life—so we recommend training them to wear one comfortably. You can get one custom made for their face (not to mention the custom color options!). You should use a “basket” or “cage” style muzzle so they can still open their mouths/pant/drink/take treats. Even if the only place your dog ever wears one is at the vet, at least it will be a less scary experience for them (veterinary offices must be prepared for these things as painful/uncomfortable things may be necessary—aka your dog is very injured—just to start to make them comfortable could be scary, so for everyone’s safety, they should be muzzled).
I encourage you the next time you are out and see a muzzled dog, keep your distance, but try to give the owner a thumbs up. I guarantee they will appreciate it!
