If your dog barks unnecessarily at random individuals, that can be a real pain. In most cases, dogs bark when they are under stress. Some dogs’ breeds are known to be aggressive while some dogs have a history of biting irrespective of their breed. There are various ways one can use to prevent his dog from barking, one of the most famous is to put a Dog Muzzle.
The use of muzzle on dogs or even puppies has shared its fair share of controversy and critical opinion. Even though the use of Muzzle is controversial, there are safe and non-brutal ways that make your dog wear one. Below-given are a few things that you must know about the use of muzzles before you invest in a muzzle:
Identify the requirements of using Muzzle for Dogs
To muzzle your dog, the first thing you should keep in mind is to keep your dog comfortable and calm. You can also take your time and train your dog to wear a muzzle, whenever you want, but never be harsh. Being harsh with your dog or puppy might not be the best thing to opt for. Moreover, when it comes to dog or puppy muzzles, they usually come in various sizes and shapes and you need to be careful.
And hence, choose the one for dogs that fits according to the shape and size of the dog’s mouth. The most famous type of muzzle is the one with a cage-like structure. They were not made to stop your dog from barking but are being used widely for this. Other than that, the logic behind a muzzle is that your dog can’t open his mouth while wearing it. Moreover, that’s why he will not be able to bark while wearing it.
A muzzle for Dogs Depending on the Situation
- The most common use of muzzles is when people take their dog to vet. If your dog is uncomfortable around the vet, the chances of him biting are high. Muzzling a dog prevents it from doing so and lets the vet do his job without any distraction.
- In some countries, some species are legally considered dangerous, and the owner must put a muzzle on the dog whenever taking it in public.
Is a Dog Muzzle Effective to stop him from Barking?
It solves the problem of barking but there are downsides to it. While your pet can’t open his mouth to bark, eat or drink, he can still whine and cry. If he is trained well to wear the muzzle he can become uncomfortable and lose his calm. There are reports of dogs getting seriously injured due to wearing muzzles.
Margaret H. Bonham is an author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dog Health and Nutrition. Bonham says it’s dangerous to make your dog wear a muzzle longer than intended as he can harm himself. The other side is that using a muzzle on your dog is cruel and inhuman if you do it for your comfort. This surely stops the barking but is uncomfortable if your dog is trained for it. And your dog can always bark once you take that muzzle off.
A dog wearing a muzzle needs care and attendance as he can injure himself. Other than that, leaving the muzzle for longer might make the dog frightened and no one would ever want that. All of these points highlight the fact that you shouldn’t use the muzzle anytime you want to stop your dog from barking.
Choosing the Right Muzzle for Dogs or Puppies
While buying a puppy muzzle or a dog muzzle you have two options, the nylon one and the metal one. Well, when it comes to the metal one, it is called a ‘basket.’ The metal one is made out of metal wires. Moreover, the other one is a better option, the one with nylon straps is called ‘groomer’s muzzle’. The ‘basket’ is designed to provide enough space for the dog to open its mouth.
However, you must ensure that you allow him to wear it keeping in mind eating and drinking. And even a dog who’s wearing a muzzle might not be safe. “Muzzle punching” is when a dog tries to bite with the basket on. The nylon muzzle, one the other hand is designed in the way that the puppy can’t open this mouth. Also, the downside of the ‘groomer’s muzzle’ is that it can cause overheating if worn for a long duration especially in summers.
Other than that, the use of any kind of muzzle is not appreciated. Now, you must be thinking, “why so.” Well, this is because if you leave your dog alone it can harm him. There are issues of overheating, thirst, and self-harm.
Getting the Proper-sized Muzzle
Muzzles are not like dog food, they are different for every pet depending on various factors. Before buying a muzzle for your dog is sure to measure the overall size of your dog’s mouth. A good fit is comfortable for the dog or a small puppy to wear.
Also, if you focus on the advertisements of the muzzle, you’ll notice that they are breed-specific but you should choose one depending on your dog. Moreover, the overall size of the dog is not a good measure of his head and because that too varies with breed.
Quick fit Dog or Puppy Muzzle
In case, if you don’t want to go through all this measurement work you can go for the adjustable ones. Moreover, there are dog muzzles available in the markets that are made out of adjustable straps. These can be the best option if you have nothing left to stop your pet from barking.
Even after all these considerations, it is never safe to leave your dog wearing a muzzle. Leaving him with the muzzle on can be dangerous and no animal should be hurt.
