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by Guppyfry on 17 August 2013 - 02:08
How does one introduce a dog to the muzzle for the purpose of muzzle work? Do you start by just letting them wear it around the house so they get used to it, or is it only worn in the context of bite work?
by Slamdunc on 17 August 2013 - 04:08
Guppyfry,
We start by having the dog wear the muzzle while out on a walk. Then we have the dog wear the muzzle while just hanging out with people. Next, we do obedience in the muzzle and even reward the dog with a toy while the muzzle is on. I will track our dogs with the muzzle on, do agility, article searches, etc. We basically do every task we normally do with our dogs, except it wears the muzzle. We will let several dogs play and run around with each other muzzled. The dog is conditioned to the muzzle and has a positive association with the muzzle well before any aggression work is started.
We have a term we call "muzzle happy" referring to dogs that want to fight every time the muzzle is on. It is far better to acclimate the dog to the muzzle before the muzzle fighting ever starts. Our dogs do a lot of tasks in training muzzled, and the dog needs to be clear headed and not in a rage before the training starts. It is also of critical importance to know how to "check" a muzzle on a dog before the muzzle fighting starts. Normally, the decoy does it as he is the one at serious risk if the muzzle comes off. Muzzle fighting is a skill for both the dog and decoy. It is not something that should be taken lightly and done by an experienced decoy or over seen by an experienced trainer. Done correctly it is an awesome training tool.
If you don't condition the dog to the muzzle in a happy, neutral environment it will become aggressive simply because the muzzle is on. This is a problem for me because we have a lot of "friendlies" near and next to the dog when training. Dogs that get all wrapped around the axle when the muzzle is on see a target rich environment and everyone gets nailed. Not very conducive to good training when everyone is bruised. Only the decoy should get scratched, bloody and bruised.
We start by having the dog wear the muzzle while out on a walk. Then we have the dog wear the muzzle while just hanging out with people. Next, we do obedience in the muzzle and even reward the dog with a toy while the muzzle is on. I will track our dogs with the muzzle on, do agility, article searches, etc. We basically do every task we normally do with our dogs, except it wears the muzzle. We will let several dogs play and run around with each other muzzled. The dog is conditioned to the muzzle and has a positive association with the muzzle well before any aggression work is started.
We have a term we call "muzzle happy" referring to dogs that want to fight every time the muzzle is on. It is far better to acclimate the dog to the muzzle before the muzzle fighting ever starts. Our dogs do a lot of tasks in training muzzled, and the dog needs to be clear headed and not in a rage before the training starts. It is also of critical importance to know how to "check" a muzzle on a dog before the muzzle fighting starts. Normally, the decoy does it as he is the one at serious risk if the muzzle comes off. Muzzle fighting is a skill for both the dog and decoy. It is not something that should be taken lightly and done by an experienced decoy or over seen by an experienced trainer. Done correctly it is an awesome training tool.
If you don't condition the dog to the muzzle in a happy, neutral environment it will become aggressive simply because the muzzle is on. This is a problem for me because we have a lot of "friendlies" near and next to the dog when training. Dogs that get all wrapped around the axle when the muzzle is on see a target rich environment and everyone gets nailed. Not very conducive to good training when everyone is bruised. Only the decoy should get scratched, bloody and bruised.
by darylehret on 17 August 2013 - 08:08
How do you reward with a toy when the muzzle is on?
by Slamdunc on 17 August 2013 - 09:08
You just toss the ball and let the dog chase it. When you are finished with the exercise, toss the ball and then remove the muzzle as the dog is trying to get to it. You'd have to see it, but it works just fine. You also have to increase the praise.
by Blitzen on 17 August 2013 - 10:08
Stupid question from someone who has never seen a dog worked wearing a muzzle. Why?
by Hired Dog on 17 August 2013 - 11:08
PROPER muzzle training will teach dogs that may have developed equipment conscious issues how to focus on the man instead of the sleeve or suit, etc. Done right, it teaches the dog to fight the man and not show preferences for certain body parts that he had when he first started training and was given bite after bite on a sleeve or a leg.
It also frustrates the dog and teaches it that it can indeed win a fight if its committed to the man itself and if it fights intensely enough. I am a huge believer that not every dog can do muzzle work as I know there is a genetic component that must be there in order for a dog to succesfully learn how to do this.
On a lighter note, I have always wondered what its like to work a dog on the street up North where people are covered for 8 months out of the year in those brightly colored pants and jackets that resemble many of todays bite suits....
It also frustrates the dog and teaches it that it can indeed win a fight if its committed to the man itself and if it fights intensely enough. I am a huge believer that not every dog can do muzzle work as I know there is a genetic component that must be there in order for a dog to succesfully learn how to do this.
On a lighter note, I have always wondered what its like to work a dog on the street up North where people are covered for 8 months out of the year in those brightly colored pants and jackets that resemble many of todays bite suits....
by Blitzen on 17 August 2013 - 11:08
OK, thanks.
by Slamdunc on 17 August 2013 - 13:08
Hired Dog,
Excellent description.
Blitzen,
I'll send you a link to a video of Boomer muzzle fighting. You will see how effective it is when done properly.
Excellent description.
Blitzen,
I'll send you a link to a video of Boomer muzzle fighting. You will see how effective it is when done properly.
by Guppyfry on 17 August 2013 - 13:08
Thank you thank you all!!! Very informative and very helpful.
Hired Dog - was that a completely random thought, or do you know me and know that I live up North where we have 8 months of brutal winter and people walk around wearing snow suits that look like bite suits? Actually, its mostly the kids that wear the snow-suits, which makes it so much more fun for the dogs when they go after them!
KIdding!!! LOL! My boy is serious, but is high threshhold, so very safe out in public, friendly and social, I have no worries with muzzle work of bite-suit-wearing kids, :D
Are there dogs that refuse to engage the decoy when wearing a muzzle? Like they think: why bother, I can't bite anyways? Just curious, I don't think it will be a problem with Gryffon, but trying to see things from a dog's point of view.
Hired Dog - was that a completely random thought, or do you know me and know that I live up North where we have 8 months of brutal winter and people walk around wearing snow suits that look like bite suits? Actually, its mostly the kids that wear the snow-suits, which makes it so much more fun for the dogs when they go after them!
KIdding!!! LOL! My boy is serious, but is high threshhold, so very safe out in public, friendly and social, I have no worries with muzzle work of bite-suit-wearing kids, :D
Are there dogs that refuse to engage the decoy when wearing a muzzle? Like they think: why bother, I can't bite anyways? Just curious, I don't think it will be a problem with Gryffon, but trying to see things from a dog's point of view.
by samael28 on 17 August 2013 - 13:08
Slam and HD did a good job explaining here as always but i would like to add a couple small pointers---
Make sure the muzzle fits dog correctly.
Make sure its secured properly before having the dog engage
And
As Decoy keep fingers away from muzzle at all costs. Dumb Rookie mistake almost cost me my face. So please have someone showing or overseeing this for at least safety reasons.
Make sure the muzzle fits dog correctly.
Make sure its secured properly before having the dog engage
And
As Decoy keep fingers away from muzzle at all costs. Dumb Rookie mistake almost cost me my face. So please have someone showing or overseeing this for at least safety reasons.
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