what are your thoughts on ....
- Thread starter Sher
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I wouldn't leave a muzzle on a dog unsupervised. They could get themselves into trouble trying to get it off. Plus it won't solve the underlying problem, and could even exacerbate things.
I would suggest crate training, finding a good dog trainer, and possibly discussing anti-anxiety medications with the veterinarian, depending on the severity of the SA.
I would suggest crate training, finding a good dog trainer, and possibly discussing anti-anxiety medications with the veterinarian, depending on the severity of the SA.
Most of the time (barring a medical problem and/or the ever popular chewing stages) this is just a symptom of lack of exercise, lack of mental stimulation, Classical Conditioning (gone wrong), or the owner's personality combined with the dog's personality combined with the way the owner interacts with their dog.
A muzzle might save your personal belongings (until the dog starts digging instead), but it won't stop what's amiss in the relationship, ease the dog's frustration, change the dog's mental state, or alter previous Classical Conditioning.
A muzzle might save your personal belongings (until the dog starts digging instead), but it won't stop what's amiss in the relationship, ease the dog's frustration, change the dog's mental state, or alter previous Classical Conditioning.
Everybody else already gave a lot of good reasons why it's not a good idea, but here's a couple more to think about that haven't been mentioned:
1. Your dog can not drink water.
2. She is still feeling anxious. The mouth is not the only destructive part of a dog. We fostered a shepherd with extremely severe SA for a while. She had to stay on a tie out because she destroyed her steel drop pin crate and bit through a wood and glass door to try and follow us. While on the tie out she managed to back herself up to the garden hose nozzle, which was a good 6 feet out of reach of her just standing there, turn it on with her back feet, then shred the hose itself with her back paws. It was horrifying.
I have seen SA dogs literally dig through layers of drywall, carpet, linoleum, wood flooring and concrete to try and escape and find their owners. They will dig until their paws are clawless with bloody nubs for fingers.
If you take away your dogs ability to chew without addressing the anxiety, I guarantee you will see other, worse destructive behaviors surface.
3. Some dogs become adept at removing their muzzles. If you leave it on for long periods unsupervised, this is likely to happen.
1. Your dog can not drink water.
2. She is still feeling anxious. The mouth is not the only destructive part of a dog. We fostered a shepherd with extremely severe SA for a while. She had to stay on a tie out because she destroyed her steel drop pin crate and bit through a wood and glass door to try and follow us. While on the tie out she managed to back herself up to the garden hose nozzle, which was a good 6 feet out of reach of her just standing there, turn it on with her back feet, then shred the hose itself with her back paws. It was horrifying.
I have seen SA dogs literally dig through layers of drywall, carpet, linoleum, wood flooring and concrete to try and escape and find their owners. They will dig until their paws are clawless with bloody nubs for fingers.
If you take away your dogs ability to chew without addressing the anxiety, I guarantee you will see other, worse destructive behaviors surface.
3. Some dogs become adept at removing their muzzles. If you leave it on for long periods unsupervised, this is likely to happen.
Good points, Romy. My husky/malamute had severe SA. She clawed the carpet completely down and through the wood (and half the bottom) of the door when locked in a room. She completely destroyed a metal crate and wedged her way out the door on it. She ripped the door off my uncle's house when he watched her and locked her in a room. A muzzle really wouldn't have prevented anything
Thank you all very much! I have just traveled up to PA. from Fl. to visit my children and was appalled to find my daughter and son-in-law using this method to stop their dog from chewing everything up when they leave him. I just assumed it was SA because he does it mostly from what I understand when they are gone.
I figured you guys would say this was not a good practice and I want to get her to come here and read this or I will print this stuff out while I am here. Also,I don't know how tight muzzles are supposed to be, but this dog could just open his mouth just enough to stick a little bit of his tongue out (she says he can drink water, but I can't see how). He also had dents in his nose when it was taken off. She put it on him while I was there because she wasn't sure how he would act meeting our dog. Her dog is an australian cattle dog mix, I think.
Again,thank you for your replies...I hope I can get through to these two .....
I figured you guys would say this was not a good practice and I want to get her to come here and read this or I will print this stuff out while I am here. Also,I don't know how tight muzzles are supposed to be, but this dog could just open his mouth just enough to stick a little bit of his tongue out (she says he can drink water, but I can't see how). He also had dents in his nose when it was taken off. She put it on him while I was there because she wasn't sure how he would act meeting our dog. Her dog is an australian cattle dog mix, I think.
Again,thank you for your replies...I hope I can get through to these two .....
Yowch. I've never used a muzzle, but that surely doesn't sound like it's fitted properly 
An ACD puppy needs LOTS of mental as well as physical stimulation or it is going to be destructive. That's the nature of the beast. At the very least, a puppy-proofed room and some safe interactive toys while they're gone and ideally, a good thorough romp before they leave is what it sounds like this pup needs.
An ACD puppy needs LOTS of mental as well as physical stimulation or it is going to be destructive. That's the nature of the beast. At the very least, a puppy-proofed room and some safe interactive toys while they're gone and ideally, a good thorough romp before they leave is what it sounds like this pup needs.