Training dogs to like wearing muzzles helps with many tasks in the future

Perhaps from our perspective, muzzles are just emergency items. As long as the dog is gentle enough, many operations can be carried out without putting a muzzle on. Therefore, generally, we do not deliberately train dogs to get familiar with wearing muzzles and only put them on temporarily when needed. However, the importance of muzzles is much greater than we imagine, and there are quite many situations where muzzles can be used. Thus, regular training can help dogs better adapt to muzzles at critical moments.

There are many occasions that require dogs to wear muzzles, and doing so can bring higher safety both for the dog itself and for others. When a dog is injured and needs its wounds inspected, no matter how gentle the dog usually is, it may still show aggressive behavior due to pain. If the dog is accustomed to and likes wearing a muzzle beforehand, there will be no problem at such times. Additionally, wearing muzzles might be necessary during dog grooming or routine medical visits. Rather than forcing the dog to wear one at that moment, it is better to train it to willingly wear a muzzle, which can save a lot of trouble and better protect the safety of doctors and groomers.

At the same time, this also ensures the dog’s safety and health. If veterinarians don’t need to worry about being attacked, the examination or treatment process can be more thorough. Groomers can carefully carry out cleaning and grooming procedures, making it a win-win situation.

Besides, muzzles help prevent dogs from biting or attempting to bite, avoiding being attacked or retaliated against, which might deepen negative impressions of groomers, grooming facilities, veterinarians, assistants, or hospitals, making future treatments or grooming more difficult.

Spend some time routinely training them

Some owners might say their dogs have very gentle temperaments and usually won’t attack others. But exceptions exist— even the gentlest dogs may take protective measures when in pain. Some dogs with severe wounds require cleaning that inevitably causes great pain. So even gentle dogs might show aggression, making prevention necessary.

Ideally, if owners can train dogs to cooperate with all grooming and medical procedures, muzzles would be unnecessary. However, this is clearly not always possible. Moreover, in painful and aggressive situations, dogs often need to wear muzzles. Therefore, the choice facing us is: let the dog willingly and happily wear the muzzle, or forcibly put it on, risking bites, or scold and hit it before putting the muzzle on.

While the latter is an option, some dogs quietly endure after a few forced experiences, but many will try to dodge, struggle fiercely, growl, wrinkle their noses, threaten to bite or actually bite, nipping people or the muzzle. The more forced attempts happen, the stronger the dog’s resistance becomes. Dogs not accustomed to muzzles may shake their heads constantly or try to remove the muzzle with their paws, which is disadvantageous for grooming or medical procedures.

Therefore, spending some time regularly to better adapt dogs to muzzles is a better choice. Of course, it’s not just training them to wear muzzles, but making them like wearing muzzles, meaning dogs feel comfortable whether or not they wear one, rather than simply not resisting but becoming less enthusiastic.