Muzzle Question for experienced owners - Page 1

Hi

Now that the spring is approaching I would like to start exercising( off leash ) my WL GSD pup on the despite. Despite much socialization she is only good ( a sweetheart )  with  her pack members ( my family ) at home , but shes not good with stangers. Yesterday I was on  the beach with her off leash , and she almost  for real bit a man who walked towards waiving a guitar case. I told him not to move and was then able to grab her harness  handle. Told hom sorry and that she was only an energetic puppy.   I spoke to her breeder who recommended I use a  muzzle. Does anyone know of a  really good muzzle with a least restrictive design, that can be used  for about an hour exercise on the beach?. She should be able to feel comfortable in it and breathe freely as well. 

Thanks in advance.

Go get involved with a good trainer. I would have such a dog on a long line [ 30 ft + or - ]  so as to teach the dog to come or recall on command. I have concerns for you and this dog from other posts you have made. People should not be threaten by a dog in any public area. This behavior makes all dog owners look bad. A muzzel will not stop this dog from running up on people. Only good obedience or a LEASH can do that.

How old is your pup...Have you done any training at all...I mean any Obedience type training...

What type of Collar do you use on your puppy?

~Bob~

I used to own a very fear agressive rescue German Shepherd who was prone to charging up to strangers and biting them. I used a leather muzzle on her which allowed her to pant and even drink and she could be exercised for hours without being stressed out by wearing it.

But as others have pointed out, there is no substitute for training and it is absolutely essential for a puppy. Also I `m sure you realise that this sort of behaviour is almost certainly caused by lack of confidence or inherited weak nerves in a pup. A really confident puppy would not show this sort of behaviour, and especially as you say you socialised her well. I would be concerned that she may mature into a fear biter. So I would advise getting her assessed by a reputable dog trainer/behaviourist.

Also don`t let her loose where people are likely to be walking as even with amuzzle on she may still try and bite and this will scare people and she could knock a child over and cause mayhem.

Why do you use a harness on the pup? You cannot have full control of a dog with a harness and they are unsuitable for use in training a dog. A half check collar would be a better bet. Jmo.

 Meanwhile, Here is a link to site that provides a selection of muzzles where you may find one that suits your puppose. www.petexpertise.com/muzzle-guide-

Good Luck.

I take my pups to deserted beaches sometimes off leash, but as soon as I see someone I put her/him on leash so that any contact I can have control so that I can start to teach the pup boundaries and manners for those outside their pack and territory. I NEVER have my pup off leash at an occupied beach for swimming. I don't do off leash dog parks, my dogs are very social to people in public under my control, but this is not a warm and fuzzy breed to everyone; or else ALOOF would not be part of the standard.

Due to owning a dog that had a muzzle order on it (dog-aggressive) I've had a fair bit of experience with muzzles, and have yet to find one that's 100% foolproof. The fabric muzzles are good for grooming only, and even then a dog can still nip with the incisors, and they are easily peeled off, if the dog is allowed to use its feet.

The cage muzzles must have an overhead check strap, or the dog will pull those off, too. I have also had cage muzzles broken by the dog putting its feet against the bottom half of them, and pushing with all its strength. Most commercial muzzles do NOT have large enough baskets to allow a dog to open its mouth as wide as it needs to when doing vigourous exercise.

Even with the muzzle, I never allowed her to run free with other dogs, as they knew she was not friendly, and would sometimes try to attack her first.

As people said above: there's no substitute for training

Mithuna, if I remember correctly, your "puppy" should be almost 7 months old now.
You asked about PP, and you asked about IPO. It´s time to join a club now.
Your "puppy" will become ( or already is ) an endangerment for its surrounding - this behavior ( allowed by you, its handler ) is one of the reasons, why laws are made to protect people.

Do yourself and your dog a big favor, start to TRAIN your dog, and don´t let the "pup" walk off leash any more.

im going to be blunt .are you some sort of dope your dogs has ran up to someone and nearly bit them and your asking about a muzzle bring the dog to some sort of socializing class followed by obedience classes keep the dog on a lead with a muzzle at all times before we here an other story about a dog biting someone badly because of an owner that has no cope on thats the last thing any breed needs it sounds like you should not  be the owner of this dog way to strong unpredictable and probably a nerve problem get a gold fish if you want to be around water

Hi

There seems to be some implications that my dog is a  potential fear biter, but I do not believe this to be correct; having said this however, I still dont quite understand the motivation behind her agression. when I started my search for a WL GSD, I wanted a dog that could be a PPD , but at the same time one that can live in a house.I was alos attratec toi substantial physical presence, and gradually I was steered towards acquiring a DDR GSD. The breeder told me to socialize her very much up to the age of 6 mos, as she was expected to be quite civil. I did socialize her a lot , even thogu from 3 months old she started to show that civil behavior as the breeder had said will emerge.This dog was never afraid of people and we is very well adapted to the many sounds, sights, and scences of Urban NYC ( colorful sites, moving objects, trains, trucks, slippery surfaces, dark rooms,and steep steps- slicked  or concrete). In her encounter with dogs of any size or breed she would always try to tower over them , and climb on their backs ( not approaching with any ears turn down; she would hold both her tail and head high ). In the incident on the isolated  beach she was OFF leash, about  40 feet away from me ( exploring some broken clam shells on the shore line ). Some guy approached me  from one direction towards me swinging a guitar case. If the dog was fearful , being off leash she had all the space on the wolrd ( this beach is miles long ) to get away, to retreat ( she  herself was not being approached  nor being cornered by the person ). As the person got about   20 feet towards me, she ran  almost 50-55 feet towards them and grabbed the sleeved arm. I started to run towards her and asked the person not to move and I immediately  grabbed her harness handle, and apologize to the person.

 She has not started any formal training as yet,except  tug play with me. One of the trainers who evaluated her perviously said that he liked her natural aggression, and for a puppy she  had  quite a high threshold for avoidance . Can someone explain how  all of this fit into the " fear biter model"? 

Based on what you have said on this thread, and your previous one, I would still say she has poor nerves, and is not a stable dog.

Just because she was socialized a lot, and lets assume properly, does not mean the puppy will have good nerves. It sounds like she has low thresholds. In my opinion, again, just based on what you posted, she would not be a dog that I would pursue any bitework with, whether it be for sport or protection. At this age, her civil and natural aggression she is showing is stress. With a 6 month old PUPPY, you shouldn't be worried about finding a muzzle to prevent accidental dog bites.

Out of curiosity, why would you select a puppy that you had been warned about that would be very civil? A dog does not need to be a civil monster to be a good protection dog.

As several others have mentioned, I for sure would go find a trainer.