Desensitization to Muzzle

Teach your Dog to be Comfortable Wearing a Muzzle

Proactivity

Start out by desensitizing your dog to a muzzle before you actually need it.  This way you won’t be in a hurry to get it on your dog and you’ll have plenty of time to allow him to get used to it.

If your dog is going to be wearing the muzzle for any length of time I highly recommend a basket muzzle so that he can pant properly and accept treats through the holes.

Remember: putting a muzzle on your dog is not meant to be punishing and it does not automatically mean your dog is aggressive.  It is a precaution to keep your dog and others safe.

Positive Associations

The first time you show your dog the muzzle, just hold it out for him to sniff.  When he sniffs say “yes” in a calm, quiet, soothing voice (or click if you use a clicker), then give him a high-value treat (something he really loves that will be reserved especially for muzzle training).

Next, put a little peanut butter or wet dog food inside the muzzle (or hold a spoon through the holes) and let him stick his nose in to lick it out.  Don’t be in a hurry to get the muzzle on properly, try to hold it still so your dog can enjoy the treat without being worried about the muzzle.

This might be all you do the first time.  Many short sessions are much more effective than a few long sessions.  Try to end on a positive note so your dog has good memories of the muzzle next time you bring it out.  You want him to see the muzzle and think “oh goody, treat time!”

Shaping

The goal of shaping is to have your dog place his nose inside the muzzle voluntarily so you don’t have to wrestle it onto him.  Hold the muzzle out again.  When he sniffs, click and treat (or say “yes” and treat).  Then wait for him to put his nose in a little further, then click and treat, then a little further and so on.  If he is hesitant to put his nose in, help him out by holding a treat through the hole to encourage him.

Duration 

Once your dog is placing his nose all the way inside voluntarily, slowly increase the length of time between rewards.  Hold the muzzle out, have him put his nose in for three seconds, then click and treat.  The next time count to five seconds in your head, then click and treat, then 7 seconds, and so on.  Take breaks between each step, you can practice this before each meal time for just a minute or two, remember to keep the sessions very short and positive and let your dog set the pace.  You can take breaks for play time as a reward.

Fitting

Once your dog is able to hold his nose inside for at least 15 seconds, start getting him used to having the straps done up.  Keeping the straps very loose, just place them behind his ears but don’t do them up just yet, click and treat your dog for allowing the straps to be placed behind his ears.  Practice doing them up as it can take time for people to get used to fumbling with the straps.  If you can work with a helper have one person holding the straps while the other provides reinforcement for your dog.  Keep the straps loose while you’re learning how to do them up smoothly, rewarding your dog each step along the way, and taking breaks for play time in between.

Once you’re able to put them behind his ears and do them up without difficulty, then you can start to adjust the straps to fit properly, remember to reward your dog heavily for this process.  The straps should fit loose enough that you can slide two fingers under the strap, but tight enough that the muzzle doesn’t slide around on his face and he is not able to paw it off.

Keep it Up

Once you’re able to put the muzzle on and reward your dog, bring the muzzle out frequently for refresher sessions.  If the muzzle sits gathering dust and isn’t brought out again until an emergency situation arises, it’s likely your dog will not be used to wearing it anymore.  It only takes a minute or two each day of putting the muzzle on and rewarding the dog to maintain the positive association.

Important

Once your dog can wear the muzzle comfortably, this does not replace training.  He may feel better about wearing the muzzle, but this does not help him feel better about whatever was threatening to him and making him a risk for biting in the first place.

If your dog has bitten or threatened to bite under certain circumstances, contact a certified professional dog trainer to help desensitize your dog to that situation.  This will help lower his stress levels as well as yours.

If you are concerned about your dog's behaviour, please visit our website for more information on professional training services.

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A great video on Teaching a Dog to Wear a Muzzle is available from Chraig Patel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FABgZTFvHo

Chraig Patel, BSc (Hons), PGCert (CAB), CPBC, DipCABT - Domesticated Manners

 About the Author:

Jillian is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), meaning her knowledge on animal learning theory, husbandry, health, ethology, training equipment, and instructing skills have all been evaluated to the standard of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.  This also includes adherence to a code of ethics and to the humane hierarchy for animal training. 

Jillian is a Fear-Free Certified Professional.