Muzzle Question

[kelpiecuddles]

should add that if I walk with a choke or normal collar he pulls. The halter goes on and he knows that he can't play up, like a guide dog with a harness.

[Kavik]

If it works for you - use it!

Does he enjoy having the halter on?

My dogs get really excited when I bring their training collars out, and will stick their heads into them, but Zoe hides if I bring out the headcollar (we no longer use the headcollar for this reason).

[kelpiecuddles]

my dog had a halti on from the time he was a pup, we used to play games and feed him his dinner with it on so he liked it so that probably makes the difference. But he still hates the dog version...

[sidoney]

None of my dogs have issues with halters. They learned to associate it with good things. I used to put one on them while I was teaching them to walk the way I wanted them to.

[haven]

I have been bitten by a dog wearing a husher and I would definately not use or recommend the use of such muzzles.

IMO the wire basket muzzles are the safest and best.

[sas]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

I'd love to have him off the halti, at this stage I am using it as he weighs more than I do and I have only had him for a month and prior to this he had no training....I've pretty much lost control of him on collar/check chain when he gets a step in front of me no matter how hard I try to not let him get that one step ahead.

He's not a great fan of the halter but 'copes' with it, I give him treats and pats when I put it on, he walks with it fine but when we stop at the park to do training he'll throw himself on the ground.

We try and do the walk back home on the check chain, sometimes it all works out and other times it doesn't.

At this stage the control I have over him with a check chain isn't great enough with his current behviour issue.

Without a doubt he has got better over the month, he's learnt hand and voice commands for everything else, it's the heel we continue to have problems with and the one thing I think I truely suck at teaching.

[sas]

I have been bitten by a dog wearing a husher and I would definately not use or recommend the use of such muzzles.

IMO the wire basket muzzles are the safest and best.

Won't be using that then.

[Nekhbet]

hey sas

definately go the basket/wire muzzle. I dont like those nylon/wrap around muzzle, I dont feel comfortable haing them on my dog, and the only thing I can see it doing would be to cause more anxiety in the dog. Plus, whats to say when you take the muzzle off he wont start again? Wire muzzles are suprisingly light and the dog soon learns to forget it's there. Plus you can feed the dog through the wires.

Not to sounds condescending but are you training him when he's really hungry? I mean reeeeeally hungry. You'd be suprised how much a dog will listen when he's starving and you're holding something like bits of hot dog/fresh meat. Fresh treats work best.

http://www.leerburg.com/708.htm - has different types (plastic too)

Really, let people think what they want. You have to put your dogs interest first not other peoples opinions. Explain that the muzzle is there because he is a new dog and you are just being responsible. With this muzzle you can start letting him approach other dogs and begin socialising him without him feeling out of control with his mouth taped shut. If he snaps, bites etc he cant hurt the other dog and they cant bite him either.