Dog training games deepen the bond we have with our dogs, grow trust, build confidence and give our dogs beneficial skills for daily life. A life skill that is important for all dogs is wearing a muzzle. We want to create a positive conditioned emotional response to a muzzle for our dog. Fun games will help your dog LOVE wearing a muzzle and give you confidence if your dog should ever need one.
Important: If your dog is wearing a muzzle in the heat, please take care, supervise, and make sure that the muzzle will allow your dog to pant.
In the episode you'll hear:
- Why a dog might need to wear a muzzle, including at the Vet.
- How emotions are an unconscious response and dogs might react if scared or in pain.
- About consent in dog training and that we want our dogs to trust us.
- What to look for when selecting a muzzle for your dog.
- How a bowl and a canning funnel are great for muzzle training.
- The training steps with games so that your dog loves putting a muzzle on.
- How to create a positive CER for your dog wearing a muzzle.
- What to look for in your dog’s body language for an excellent TEMP.
- The reason you want a cue for your dog to muzzle up.
- Why I use “Hey, Can You?!” for my dogs to run to get a muzzle on.
- How to grow the Double D of duration and distractions for the muzzle.
Get Your Free eBook for Muzzle Training and the Video Embed Code:
Wag Nation Opportunity:
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication
- Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home!
- YouTube Video - Vet Visits For Dogs: How To Create A Positive Experience For Everyone
- Podcast Episode 132: All The Things Your Dog Hates And How To Fix Them
- Podcast Episode 4: T.E.M.P. (Tail, Eyes/Ears, Mouth, Posture)
- YouTube Video - Should My Dog Be Off Leash Right Now?
- YouTube Playlist - Cooperative Care and Consent in Dog Training with Susan Garrett
- *Baskerville Muzzle at Amazon
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
Would it be possible to know what brand of muzzle Susan is using in this training. I have a muzzle that is nowhere near as easy to treat through or snap on. Thanks so much.
[…] Podcast Episode 153: Dog Muzzles: Everything You Need To Know And How To Muzzle Train Dogs – https://dogsthat.com/podcast/153 15. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different – […]
Like another pet owner I don’t see how to find the ebook. Can anyone help please?
Sue, there’s a link right below the bullet points under the podcast video: https://dogsthat.com/muzzle. Hope this helps 🙂
Susan, thank you for this great video on muzzle training. I have a Doberman and many people are still intimidated by this breed. There are times when it might help others be more comfortable around him if he were wearing a muzzle. I have considered getting him a muzzle for quite awhile. Now that I have clear direction on how to have him feel comfortable wearing one I can start muzzle training. Do you have any suggestions for where I can get something similar to your canning funnel that will be big enough for a Doberman?
How do I get the ebook? Is it just the transcript for the podcast? Will a muzzle prevent my dog from eating poop?
I would like to add something for the Nylon Muzzles that derives from (I think it was) a Hungarian study about wearing muzzles on a regular basis:
On one hand they said that dogs can be cool with wearing this if it is trained well. On the other hand they said that these kinds of nylon muzzles should not be used as the ventilation is restricted as well. However the main problem was caused, as the dogs mouth is an important communicational part of the dog which is now not visible to dog owners or other dogs. Especially if the dog does not have a lot of confidence with other dogs, a muzzle that hides too much of the mouth might enhance the situation. So that the dog might end up with less confidence or more confusion.
I have watched so many youtube videos on how to muzzle train my dog and tried to follow their instructions, only to have a dog who is clearly unhappy when I clip a muzzle on and won’t move. I wish I’d had this resource months ago – thankyou so much Susan – the absolute best instructional video on muzzle training I’ve ever seen, with clearly defined steps (games) that I hope will help my anxious dog, Ziggy, love a muzzle. So, it’s back to foundation steps for us and I’m now looking forward to training this rather than dreading it.
Totally doing this training and love that you brought up you may be planning for a dogs older age when things change. Old, frail and in pain is not the time to teach or worse have to impose a muzzle, crate, etc. at a vet that a dog is not comfortable with. Thanks you!
Thank you–great podcast. I started out thinking “This information doesn’t apply to me, my dogs don’t need a muzzle”… but listened to the entire podcast and by the end I’ve realized I do need a muzzle for my dogs; I plan to get one and start working on all the conditioning steps. Thank you Susan.
I have been working on this, but have been slack. Thanks for this, Susan. This information has motivated me, even though I am already a Recallers student. Love these videos. I can also share with our adopters.
another great podcast, I have done muzzle training with my young pup at 3 months as he had a nasty habit of scavenging/eating dead things and picking up stones to chew on (ugh) on our hikes in the forest…even on leash/long line….it went pretty well except after a certain period of time he would paw the muzzle off even when on securely….so this obviously tells me I didn’t spend enough time to build and properly test the value for wearing the muzzle and so we will go back to step one with him…..agree it’s a a really good skill to have in the repertoire of relationship skills with my dogs….thanks again keep those podcast coming!
Thank you so much. I have conditioned my dog to wear a muzzle. You have added a few more steps into your conditioning, and I love those. My boy is fine with putting his nose in the muzzle and as long as we are still he is calm. It’s when I have asked for movement that he shows me he isn’t happy. So I have just removed the muzzle. For a vets trip this is fine, but otherwise not ok. I think I will start again with the training, and definitely use the new cue.
Unfortunately my dog is very uncomfortable with other people touching him and I have been thinking of using a muzzle to keep others safe and so that we can gradually start to move closer to people and get them to feed him once I can see he is more relaxed and settled. It will also help me to relax a little more knowing that others are safe. I think my stress has been felt by my dog which is making things worse. This podcast is fantastic in guiding me how to go about introducing a muzzle. It has come at such a good time.