Help putting on a Muzzle

[Dove]

I need to know if anyone knows the least stressful way of putting on a muzzle. My dog will not let me get it on him, when he was young about 6-8 months we had to put one on him he had a bad ear infection and the vet could not get to his ears. The vet got it on him one two three, but my dog Dutch never let us get it on him again.

He became very aggressive. he had to have his ears done after that time several weeks later and it was an ordeal. It was very tramatic for him, having a bad ear infection they put him to sleep to clean and take care of his ears.

Since then he never had another infection, thank god. But its been two years and he needs all his shots, and we can't even get near him when he sees the muzzle. The vet will not give him his shots without it. Dutch is about 120lbs. I can't blame him. Dutch does not like the vet, they said if I can't get the muzzle on Dutch they will have to put him to sleep to do his check up and rabies shot. Of course the vets office only called to tell me this today less then 24 hours till his vet appointment.

Previously when he gave him his shots, we held dutchs head outside the door and he gave him his shot from behind. Now he will not. The first vet we had does not take dogs over 85 lbs she was a little bit of a thing.

My dog needs his shots, we can't afford to have him put to sleep just to receive shots. We have meds the vet gave us to give him several hours prior to the visit but the last time we did that it didn't work.

Help how do I get a muzzle on him any good advice. thanks

[herediachar]

There are calm pills you can get to calm him and get a muzzle on easily. Foster and Smith's carry them. As large as he is he'll need 1.5 to 2 times more than they suggest for getting him muzzled and to the vet without a fight.

I would also think that having a large bottle of water and dousing him with it, when needed, would allow you to get a muzzle on...if you get the muzzle on will getting him to the vet, shots and home be easy? If not the calm pills with the water might be necessary.

Last resort, I have been successful socializing 50% of agressive (biting) Doberman's with a cattle prod. Successful means that we were able to place them with in adult only families and all biting stopped. With Dutch I would poke him once...Get the muzzle on. Get him in the car. Take the prod to the vet and poke him if he is rambunctious. It is the last resort.

Please let us know how it goes. Hope this helps, Herediachar

[Dove]

Our vet has prescribed pills the last time and he still freaked out, and we still couldn't get the muzzle on. Only when the vet gave him a shot to put him to sleep as if he was going to have surgery. I don't relish having to do that every time he needs his shots, that's really expensive.

He changed after the ear eposide he had, he was always calm before that, but the ear infection was so severe he even woke up under deep anisthia with 2 people holding him down, he wimpered the whole time while they worked on his ears. We have never been able to get the muzzle back on him since then. He sees it now and backs himself into a corner. He knows where he is going vet and will not let us put it on even with the pills.

I really can't blame him, I'm greatful he's never had another ear infection. That changed with age and diet.

I don't like the idea of a cattle prod. Thanks tho.

I would like to train him not to be afraid, but at a loss he needs his shots.

[kuritsa18]

I have some advice

Your dog has had such a tramatic experince with the muzzle and going to the vet that it is now very fearful of them which is understandable. It is also understandable why the vet wants your dog muzzled as it is so big and does become aggressive and could possibly hurt them. If calming pills are not working then don't bother with them.

What needs to happen is your dog needs to be slowly introduced to the muzzle and vet through possitive reinforcement. These things have such a negative association with your dog from his past experieinces so now now he needs to see that they are good things and are positive. This won't be easy and it won't happen over night!

First start off slow by just bringing out the muzzle and placing it on the floor or a table or where ever it is in veiw for you dog to see. He will get anxious from seeing it as you said but don't scold him for this unless he becomes aggressive. Leave him alone and leave the muzzle alone just let it be in the house. Give your dog treats and lots of prasie for it being out and him being around it. This will slowly show him it is not scary and the muzzle equals treats and praise. first leave it for five minutes then ten and so on untill he becomes confortable with the sight of it. then after maybe you can start picking it up and showing him the muzzle while giving him a treat and saying good boy or good dog. Do this untill he becomes totally confortable with the muzzle being around and being handled. You want him to start associatiing the muzzle with somehting good not bad. Also, if you bring it out at other time other than going tot he vet, which he is a farid of the vet, then he won't associate the two things anymore it will just be a regular object. then you can slowly start trying to put it on while rewarding. You don't even have to do it up maybe just have it loose so he gets comfortable wearing it. Most dogs don't like muzzles and have to get used to wearing them before they will become confortable. I think you can kind of get were I am going with this. Just introdue him slowly and posstively.

The same goes for the vet. He has had very bad past experiences with the vet so posssitive reinforcement needs to happen. Try going to the vet once and a while to just pull up to the building with your dog so he learns that not everytime you go something bad will happen and to try and stop the anxiety of being there. Take him for walks before he goes to the vet to take away some of the energy. give him lots of praise and treats for being at the vet or in the car outside the vet. Try not going inside untill he has calmed down; this could take a while so go early well before your appointment.

You need to be confident too and be a leader for him in this situation. Stay calm and assertive because a dog will feed off of your energy too. If are hyper and anxious he will be too.

Also, Try muzzleing him just at random times so he doesn't associate wearing the muzzle with going to the vet and geting shots and being in pain. Get him used to wearing it in possitive situations. He doesn't have to wear it for long just at random times to change his thinking and reactions to the muzzle.

I think doing this over time he will change but it will take time. You can also take him to a behaviour specialist for advice and help. If you have to do it and don't have time to help him adjust then you will have to force it on him which won't be pleasant. Exercise him a lot though before putting it on to make him tired and release the stress and energy. This should help. But you do need to put it on before you go to the vet so no one gets hurt. You could try another prescription to help calm him if nessesary. I would not suggest poking your dog with a cattle prod. I think the dog is tramitized enough and would only contribute to the problem. I am sorry but that just sounds cruel to me and I have never heard of a dog being trained that way and don't know any professional trainer who would recomend that! The dog is scared and fearful for an understandable reason and should not be punished for it. If it were me in the dogs position I would probably be the same way.

Hope that helps!

[Carolina]

Hi Dove,
FINALLY a sensible and HUMANE way to try to teach your dog to associate the vet and the muzzle with a positive experience. I totally agree with kuritsa18. PLEASE, please do not follow the advise of herediachar with the use of a 'cattle prod'. How on earth can someone think that causing pain to an animal that is clearly fearful help in any circumstance??
If you're very unlucky, you may teach your poor fearful dog to not only fear the muzzle but then address his aggression to you! Certainly not something you would want.
Desensitising your dog to the muzzle/ vet using positive training techniques may take more time but it wont fracture/destroy your relationship with your dog and it will help conquer your dog's fears.
I wish you the best of luck and please keep me updated with his and your progress.

[Angie]

NOTE FROM ADMINISTRATOR
Hi everyone, Angie here.

The kind of training advice suggested by Herediachar (see below) is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE and will not be tolerated on this forum.

Training dogs is about positive reinforcement, NOT using pain, degradation, or physical violence. Yes, some dogs need a firmer hand than others, but this is achieved through the owner being responsible and intelligent enough to research the most humane and effective training techniques - it is emphatically NOT about resorting to disgusting, cruel methods like using cattle prods.

We will not be tolerating any replies or threads on this forum which advocate the use of physical violence and/or the use of tools that inflict physical violence (cattle prods, prong collars, unethical use of check chains, etc).

Please remember that your dog is your friend - he or she relies on you for calm, firm, assertive leadership. What kind of leader are you going to be if you can't even control your own friend without shocking him or her into submission with a cattle prod? What kind of effect do you think this is going to have on your relationship? And, even more importantly, what kind of effect do you think this is going to have on your dog?!

Positive reinforcement please, people. If you feel that your dog needs extra help, all you have to do is ask us here on the forum. We're more than happy to help.

Regards,

Angie

Originally Posted by herediachar

There are calm pills you can get to calm him and get a muzzle on easily. Foster and Smith's carry them. As large as he is he'll need 1.5 to 2 times more than they suggest for getting him muzzled and to the vet without a fight.

I would also think that having a large bottle of water and dousing him with it, when needed, would allow you to get a muzzle on...if you get the muzzle on will getting him to the vet, shots and home be easy? If not the calm pills with the water might be necessary.

Last resort, I have been successful socializing 50% of agressive (biting) Doberman's with a cattle prod. Successful means that we were able to place them with in adult only families and all biting stopped. With Dutch I would poke him once...Get the muzzle on. Get him in the car. Take the prod to the vet and poke him if he is rambunctious. It is the last resort.

Please let us know how it goes. Hope this helps, Herediachar