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Author
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Topic: To muzzle or Not to muzzle
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 17, 2004 01:24 PM
My little Ariel (3.5 month old rotti approx 50 lbs) has a very bad habit of bothering our old girl Dax (almost 10 year rottix 104lbs) when we are out for walks.
By bother - she grabs hold of Dax's tail - or neck and pulls (Hard).
I am of the opinion that Dax is old enough - big enough, etc to fend for herself without any help from us. My husband would like me to break the pup of the habit by possibly using a muzzle.
I am positive that the pup will calm down on her own or Dax will impose herself physically. So far Dax has shown no aggression towards the pup but will reprimand if the pup hurts her or when she's had enough.
So - what's the general opinin - Use a Muzzle (as a training tool by puting it on when the pup keeps at Dax) or let nature take it's course?
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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NicoleLJ
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posted April 17, 2004 01:29 PM
Actually another suggestion or idea is the Gentle Leader. It is like a horse halter, not a muzzle. This way you can control her head when out on walks with out the need of a muzzle. If she goes to grab the tail you can turn her head away and say a firm "Leave IT" at the same time. This way you control the situation. She will most likely out grow it but this will help her figure out that it is undesirable. Plus it helps a lot with any walk training. I swear by it with most adult foster dogs that come to my home. They learn so quickly and so do the pups with it. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Nicole & Sheena
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Lets teach the public to spay and neuter pets and leave breeding up to the experts, to help decrease the thousands of animals destroyed monthly in shelters and pounds around the world.
Posts: 82 | From: Raymond. Alberta | Registered: Oct 2003
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ellierat
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posted April 17, 2004 04:30 PM
I would stop your pup from doing this, not only is it annoying, but you have a lovely tempered older dog that shouldn't have to put up with it.
Just reprimand your pup from this everytime she does it or she will end up top dog and boss your older one when she is much bigger, it might be play now but every dog behaviour has a purpose behind it.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Barbara Smith
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posted April 17, 2004 07:19 PM
Doglover, I agree with the others. I've heard so many good things about the gentle leader and it will not hurt your dog. However, it is excellent for training. If you use one, you'll be glad you did!
How have you been doing? Haven't heard from you for awhile!
Enjoy your new pup!
Nicole, I learned more about the gentle leader from your post! I think I should buy one for my dog who has fear aggression. Can you buy them at a large pet shop?
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Barbara Smith
Posts: 127 | From: Norf.,Va | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 17, 2004 07:53 PM
I was at the pet store today and saw two different types both called halters & gentle leads.
One attaches to the collar goes around chest(never tried), the other goes over the head.
Nicole, which one have you had success with. Thanks for missing me Barbara, it wasn't that I wasn't checking the post - just not much to say to help.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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NicoleLJ
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posted April 17, 2004 07:56 PM
Most pet stores will carry them and then if they don't you can asked them to order it in. I have had to do that before. You can also get them online as well. Some of the dogs that have come into my home have been terrified of the collar, a couple even could wear one because they had had a collar placed on them when they were young and then tied outside so that as they grew and got bigger the collar became enbedded in their neck and had to be sugically removed before the dog gets to my house so wearing a collar for them is a no no. I tried harnesses and fo a few this works great but when you have a dog that is well muscle, fearful, excited and so on they can drag you around on their first walks. So I always use the gentle leader and it has worked wonders.
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Lets teach the public to spay and neuter pets and leave breeding up to the experts, to help decrease the thousands of animals destroyed monthly in shelters and pounds around the world.
Posts: 82 | From: Raymond. Alberta | Registered: Oct 2003
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NicoleLJ
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posted April 17, 2004 07:59 PM
Actually I have both at home. The halter one that isn't attached to the neck and so on is for the ones that seem to take better to walking on a lead the other I use for the large breeds that have never been on a lead. Sometimes I even have a harness on then to so I have two ways to control them. It depends on the dog which one I use and what kind of reactions I get from them when out for our first walk just in our fenced yard.
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Lets teach the public to spay and neuter pets and leave breeding up to the experts, to help decrease the thousands of animals destroyed monthly in shelters and pounds around the world.
Posts: 82 | From: Raymond. Alberta | Registered: Oct 2003
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 17, 2004 08:01 PM
Forgot to add guys, that this only happens when off the leash. I live right on an off the leash area so both my dogs do get more freedom.
When I put the leash on the little one - she is totally under control. That is why my husband wanted to try a muzzle so that when she is particulary bad (seems to happen when my husband comes with), I could reprimand her & if she fails to respond - but the muzzle on her. Funny but when I take them without him the "bugging" lasts only a minute.
She is very good on the leash and usually 1/2 of the walk she is put on it for training purposes. She does the same behaviour to other dogs we meet but they then play with her. Dax (10 yrs old) doesn't have that kind of play in her. She prefers lying on the ground teasing the pup with toys she's taken.
Based on the temperment of both dogs - the new one will be dominant and I feel that to avoid a major problem they need to work it out now. With Dax being tolerant & gentle with the pup, hopefully she learns the same behaviour.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted April 18, 2004 04:48 PM
Hi Doglover, yes you will really need to correct this, it is the same as any training you do in regards to your own expectations and comfort, except in this case it is your older dog.
It's like that play nipping at your hands, if you let them do it, they just keep on even as an adult, she will always pester your older dog cause she is allowed to (by your older dog I mean) It probably occurs offleash because of excitement, it's natural for your puppy, but as she gets older she won't just jump up, she will actually grab a piece of your older dogs fur and skin and pull at it. Ouch!!!
I don't think you need a muzzle so much as to keep the pup on leash for a while longer and when she jumps up etc. pull her back to you and yelllll NO. The muzzle will cover the problem but it won't solve it.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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