What is your opinion on muzzles on dogs?

[Squarehard]

For some reason, it feels cruel to me to have a muzzle on a dog when they're being walked, or out in public.

Unless it's clearly a danger to someone, in which case, they probably shouldn't own a dog anyways since they're not apt to train them well enough, it doesn't seem like the right approach. Maybe in the beginning with a new dog, while you're still training it, I could possibly see it as an option, but other than that, it just doesn't seem like a humane approach.

Obviously, lots of nuance here to talk about, so more than willing to hear more opinions on this issue.

 

[GulAtiCa]

If the dog is on a plane, probably (should) have a muzzle..

 

[Grouch Douglass]

Some places require them by law. I don't like them, but I guess I can see why they might be used under very specific circumstances

 

[Goldenroad]

I think if you're going to claim it's a "support dog" that needs to go everywhere with you, and you feel a need to bring it in close quarters with others who might not be comfortable around dogs, you should feel obligated to put a muzzle on it. Otherwise, yeah, if it's just you and your dog and you don't trust it without a muzzle, that's just poor training.

 

[Squarehard]

If the dog is on a plane, probably (should) have a muzzle..

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I guess for planes, or smaller spaces wasn't something I've specifically considered as a part of this discussion.

I've seen people walk their tiny dogs on the sidewalk with muzzles on them, or in parks. Seems to be a lot more common than I thought they would be.

 

[xxracerxx]

Are you talking about full blown muzzles or leash leaders that go over their snouts?

 

[Inugami]

Sometimes you rescue an emotionally damaged animal and you're trying to rehabilitate it. Muscles aren't ideal, but if the alternative is locking them up or euthanasia I can understand.

That said, if you're just using a muzzle because you never trained your dog and your taking them out I do have issues with it...

 

[Dyle]

It's fine in limited circumstances but not a meaningful solution in the long term.

 

[Squarehard]

I think if you're going to claim it's a "support dog" that needs to go everywhere with you, and you feel a need to bring it in close quarters with others who might not be comfortable around dogs, you should feel obligated to put a muzzle on it. Otherwise, yeah, if it's just you and your dog and you don't trust it without a muzzle, that's just poor training.

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Yeah, this is a fair time to use them.

Of course, I'm not saying there is never a reason to do it, since there are certainly some circumstances I can see it justified in a sense for the owner, but for me, it just still feels somewhat cruel for the dog.

Are you talking about full blown muzzles or leash leaders that go over their snouts?

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I'm actually not sure. I've seen both, but the leash leaders still accomplishes the same thing, which is clamping down on their mouths so they can't bark and such.

Or are they for some other purpose?

 

[xxracerxx]

I'm actually not sure. I've seen both, but the leash leaders still accomplishes the same thing, which is clamping down on their mouths so they can't bark and such.

Or are they for some other purpose?

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What? The dogs I have seen with them can still open their mouths.

 

[Pankratous]

You can get soft muzzles that aren't as hard going and ridiculous looking that I think is a good idea if you are taking even a friendly dog to a new place where there will be a lot of activity and they could get spooked.

Otherwise you should just train your dog.

Soft muzzle example:

https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Adjustable-Muzzle-Fabric-Comfortable/dp/B00ZUYJDY0

 

[Euphoria]

Yeah, this is a fair time to use them.

Of course, I'm not saying there is never a reason to do it, since there are certainly some circumstances I can see it justified in a sense for the owner, but for me, it just still feels somewhat cruel for the dog.

I'm actually not sure. I've seen both, but the leash leaders still accomplishes the same thing, which is clamping down on their mouths so they can't bark and such.

Or are they for some other purpose?

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That is incorrect. Leash leaders prevent the dog from choking themselves if they try to pull away or if you need to pull back.

 

[HardRojo]

If you know your dog can be a bit aggressive at times, then use it when walking them. Enclosed spaces with prolongued contact like an airplane should definitely require them to be used if the dog will be boarding the plane as an emotional support animal. Better be safe than sorry in my opinion.
With that said, how does a dog become aggressive, exactly? I have to admit I ignore plenty of things in this regard.

 

[Squarehard]

That is incorrect. Leash leaders prevent the dog from choking themselves if they try to pull away or if you need to pull back.

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Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Then I'm mainly just talking about the muzzles.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[astro]

In enclosed public spaces like planes it should be 100% mandatory.

 

[tsampikos]

It should be mandatory if you are forcing people to be in melee range of your dog.

 

[Freakzilla]

All dogs should have muzzles if you're going to take it outside in public

 

[LookAtMeGo]

Totally depends on the situation. Generally I dont like them but some dogs need them despite proper training from their owners. Training aggression towards other dogs out of them isn't an easy feat and these dogs will require one when out socializing until they are rehabilitated.

 

[DJ_Lae]

If your dog has a history of aggression or you're shoving it in close quarters with other people for an extended period of time I think it's fine.

If someone is putting one on their dog every time they take it out of their house then that's more than a little weird.

 

[Doomsayer]

I'm actually not sure. I've seen both, but the leash leaders still accomplishes the same thing, which is clamping down on their mouths so they can't bark and such.

Or are they for some other purpose?

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They are to prevent the dog from pulling when on a walk and choking himself on the leash. It isn't a muzzle.

If you have an aggressive dog then do everyone around you a favor and muzzle the dog. It doesn't hurt the pup and you won't be putting anyone in danger.

 

[healbite-maritima]

Sport/cage muzzles are wonderful for training purposes. Getting them used to/experiencing positive results while wearing a muzzle can make vet trips less stressful and can make outdoor training and socializing safer. Plus they can still eat/drink/breathe in them.

 

[Euphoria]

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Then I'm mainly just talking about the muzzles.

Sorry for the confusion.

Click to shrink...

No problem.

 

[Grouch Douglass]

That is incorrect. Leash leaders prevent the dog from choking themselves if they try to pull away or if you need to pull back.

Click to shrink...

Normally see harnesses around the chest used for this. Out of curiosity why would it be better to control dogs by their head instead of their chest?

 

[Parch]

It's more about familiarity. Greyhounds spend their racing careers muzzled so they grow up with it and are very comfortable wearing one. A dog that isn't used to wearing one isn't going to like it, but with time will be fine with it.

 

[Doomsayer]

Normally see harnesses around the chest used for this. Out of curiosity why would it be better to control dogs by their head instead of their chest?

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Depends on the size of the dog really. Some large dogs can still pull you with the chest harness, the leash leader gives you more control.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

Normally see harnesses around the chest used for this. Out of curiosity why would it be better to control dogs by their head instead of their chest?

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Some dogs will drag you on your ass with a chest harness.

 

[Euphoria]

Normally see harnesses around the chest used for this. Out of curiosity why would it be better to control dogs by their head instead of their chest?

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Well in the event the dog acts aggressive because it sees another dog or person the leader would pull the head away rather than one on the chest which won't help at all in that kind of situation.

Good rule of thumb is to never take chances with someone else's animal or persons themselves when it comes to your own dog.

 

[Squarehard]

I think part of it for me is that I don't actually know anybody who owns a dog, and I know a lot of people, who has actually had a muzzle for their dog, which is why it just seems strange for me when I see strangers doing it, yet, nobody I know has ever needed one, or even owns a muzzle.

Not all of them are perfect pets either, but never had an issue without one in public spaces.

So my opinion on this may be skewed as a result of this, and makes it seem like it's worse than it is.

 

[xxracerxx]

I think part of it for me is that I don't actually know anybody who owns a dog, and I know a lot of people, who has actually had a muzzle for their dog,

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Wait...what? These two things contradict each other.

 

[C.Mongler]

Obviously, lots of nuance here to talk about

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Yes. There are a plethora of situations where it is okay to use a muzzle. I'm fine with most of them except maybe having one on your dog 24/7 or using one that is dangerous to their regular breathing or something.

Also "well maybe you shouldn't have a dog if you can't train it!" is a weird hindsight argument. Most people who are training their first dog think training a dog is easy. A lot of people with aggressive dogs have learned that it is not. At that point, they may have owned the dog for years, and it's not like you can really just say "well guess this isn't for me!" and drop the dog off somewhere and have things turn out fine for the dog. That dog is then not an ideal adoption candidate, and will live on the hope that someone comes in with the time and energy to rehabilitate them; it's more likely they'll just be euthanized, depending on the shelter. If the choice is between an owner using a muzzle as an aggression-crutch or dropping their dog off at a euthanasian station, then I'm not really going to judge for using a muzzle.

Yes, proper training is ideal, but it's not free and get very costly depending on the kind of issues your dog has picked up. Muzzle training is also a thing for unlearning aggression as well.

 

[Ferrs]

Certainly in spaces with a lot of people/other dogs, and small spaces. Even if you know your dog will never attack a person, you may not know if it could attack another dog.

 

[Euphoria]

I think part of it for me is that I don't actually know anybody who owns a dog, and I know a lot of people, who has actually had a muzzle for their dog, which is why it just seems strange for me when I see strangers doing it, yet, nobody I know has ever needed one, or even owns a muzzle.

Not all of them are perfect pets either, but never had an issue without one in public spaces.

So my opinion on this may be skewed as a result of this, and makes it seem like it's worse than it is.

Click to shrink...

Yeah they aren't as bad as people may make them out to be. They have some that prevent a dog from biting but not from eating or drinking because it still allows for the animal to open their mouths a little.

I have one like that as well. It is almost all cloth and also acts as a leader.

 

[ExtremelyBitter]

When I was young, my family used to foster and adopt out ex-racing greyhounds which I later realized gave me a very different perspective on muzzles but also because it was a very different type of muzzle called a basket muzzle:

Dogs we'd get from the track would already be incredibly used to wearing them, and for the most part didn't care. They could drink with them on, open their mouths (some of them would try to eat which was doable but slow), etc, but couldn't bite. It didn't actually prevent them from trying to play, but it prevented any harmful teeth contact. They were sighthounds that had been trained to chase small fuzzy things, were often skittish around people in general, and incredibly good at slipping their collars. So when acclimating fresh-off-the-track dogs to being walked in the world, these muzzles were great. Likewise for taking the dog to a park to just let them run freely for a short while--our dogs never tried to get aggressive with another animal at the park, but we were always mindful of their past and never wanted to risk that they could when there was a fairly simple assurance that never bothered them at all just in case somebody brought a small, fast, white dog that triggered some kind of memory.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of the muzzles that clamp their mouths shut and as an adult have mostly owned brachycephalic dogs who wouldn't really muzzle anyway.

 

[xxracerxx]

OP should post some images of the muzzles they are talking about, just so we are all clear.

 

[The Albatross]

Doesn't bother me, owner knows best usually. It's better for the dog to get some excersize and so if the only way the dog can do that is with a muzzle, then that's good. A dog whose a bite risk might be forced to stay in a small yard or house, and so it never has that ability to get some energy out and it only becomes more of a bite risk. New muzzles are all pretty good too, they usually allow the dog to use its mouth to drink and pick at small things, or socialize normally with it's mouth (dogs often send signals with their mouths, nip dogs in the back legs to play/dominate/socialize), but prevents major or dangerous bites.

If I'm at park that allows off leash and an off leash dog runs up to me and it has a muzzle on, I'll be way more calm / under control than if an off leash dog with no muzzle runs up

 

[Nepenthe]

It is not inherently cruel to muzzle a dog. A proper muzzle should prevent the dog from suffering any breathing and drinking problems. If the owner understands the dog is dangerous or it's the law, it should be fine.

 

[march_in_march]

Funny, I was just at the dog park and my dog got jumped by an aggressive dog and was just thinking why the hell more owners don't take responsibility and muzzle up their dogs.

 

[Stinkles]

I think they should be mandatory on planes. It would remove 90% of the risk to other passengers. I mean for "emotional support animals" rather than trained service animals.

Until the massive ESA fraud and abuse is eliminated and the FAA and airlines demand real medical documentation beyond easily obtained and fraudulent letters then people with serious mental or physical travel issues and other passengers will continue to be victims of the most selfish and self-absorbed public shit imaginable.

Until then a soft comfortable temporary muzzle will practically guarantee safe if not comfortable travel for the other citizens you selfish pathetic venal greedy turds are currently endangering, discomfiting and offending.

But hey you saved fifty bucks! And Zeus wasn't inconvenienced in the hold. And now you can take him on business trips! And he's never bitten anyone's face yet. Except that tome he knocked over a child at the on-leash no dogs allowed (that's just a suggestion and besides the off leash park is no good because he hates other dogs) playground He's a big soft sweetheart! And you don't have to take him to the kennel or hire a dog walker!

I don't mind dogs In carriers and I'm deathly allergic to cats but I take a Zyrtec and carry a rescue inhaler because I am fine with your cat in a carrier under the seat. I feel sad for dogs in crates in the hold but the airport looks like a dog park now and sooner or later someone is going to die- either a worse attack than the face-removal or an otherwise survivable crash where a panicking dangerous dog causes people to burn to death by preventing a safe exit.

Then it'll change. Until then if you don't need it don't take your big dog on the plane and if you do need it train and muzzle it for those journeys.

Oh and if your dog needs a muzzle because of everyday aggression then you screwed up something really bad.

Good talk folks.

 

[0x03]

I'm friends with some folks who train dogs and a properly used muzzle is to reduce the dog's anxiety, not the other way around. Almost all dog reactivity (barking, lunging, biting, etc.) is a fear-based response rather than genuine aggression. Putting a muzzle on the dog prevents overly-friendly strangers from spontaneously engaging and triggering the dog's fear and anxiety, so they come to associate the muzzle as a positive thing that keeps them from being in scary situations. It can actually be a pretty good confidence builder for the dog and can be used as a tool to help them unlearn their reactive behaviors.

Also, there's a variety of muzzle and not all of them look like a Hannibal Lecter face mask.

 

[Azurik]

Muzzles are not only to stop dogs from biting, barking etc when out and about.

A lot of dogs just eat anything and everything when on a walk and need to be stopped before they eat something they shouldn't. My 2 spaniels are a nightmare and eat everything. I don't muzzle them as I don't like it, but a lot of owners will do.

When people see a muzzled dog they automatically assume "oh, better get out the way, this one must be an evil one". Not many people consider a muzzle as protection for a dog, not only from a dog

 

[Trice]

Should be absolutely mandatory when in public among other people. Dogs should also be properly trained but that's a reach for most dog owners.

 

[Enduin]

Perfectly sound and reasonable in many many situations. Any dog can have a bad reaction under the right circumstances, especially when there's a lot going on out of yours or their control that they're not used to. Meeting new dogs or new people in an new environment or where there's lots of new stimuli and what not. Dogs can get overwhelmed, frightened and just feel uncomfortable with too much attention or interaction by people, especially young kids or other energetic dogs. If you're even a little unsure if your dog might react there's nothing wrong with using one. It's for both their protection as well as everyone elses. And there's plenty of more discreet muzzles that won't make you're dog look like Hannibal Lector.

 

[Squarehard]

Certainly sounds like there are a lot of reasons that are apt, and doesn't seem like it does much harm to the dogs.

Appreciate all the responses, as it was informative and helpful.

 

[Shodan14]

How do you feel about leashes?

 

[siteseer]

dogs are known to attack people and each other, an owner should have a muzzle. doesn't mean it should use it all the time, but like that story of the mauling in the plane absolutely the dog should have been wearing one.

 

[Parch]

If I'm at park that allows off leash and an off leash dog runs up to me and it has a muzzle on, I'll be way more calm / under control than if an off leash dog with no muzzle runs up

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Exactly. It makes people more comfortable. Even if the dog isn't dangerous, people don't know the dog and will be more calm knowing they are safe.

Those basket muzzles are not cruel. Any dog can get used to wearing one. Public opinion about muzzles should not be negative.

 

[Squarehard]

Exactly. It makes people more comfortable. Even if the dog isn't dangerous, people don't know the dog and will be more calm knowing they are safe.

Those basket muzzles are not cruel. Any dog can get used to wearing one. Public opinion about muzzles should not be negative.

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Definitely seems to be a hell of a lot more reasons to do it, than to not.

 

[Redcrayon]

Thread closed at OP request.