[ElegeExcest]

I'm just wondering what you guys think of muzzling for off leash?
When I go to B.C. we usually hike with my mother in laws friends and 2-3 off leash dogs [red heeler, labradoodle, collie]. And Maci usually walks off leash but she stays at my heel and has no desire to run.

I was thinking of taking Diesel too, but I hate to be out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and keeping him leashed while the other dogs get to use their legs. We don't have a yard, and walks are pretty minimal up here with the cold, but BC is ALWAYS way warmer when we go for Xmas.

I know these dogs and their personalities and temp's since everytime we go to BC they are around.
I know we should never take our dog to off leash parks or walk them off leash, but up in the mountains on a private trail would it be acceptable to let him run muzzled? He has a good recall, and most likely would just walk with me anyways, but I'm sure he'd like a good run too.

He is totally great with dogs of all sizes, he's not in any way donimant and has been raised under proper socialization. I know DA can show up without ever being shown before or for no reason OR/AND that other dogs can be aggressors too... so just wanting opinons. This was my husband's idea, and thought maybe I'd ask. I wouldn't ever take him to a park even muzzled because I wouldn't know the other dogs and who knows what they could be carrying as far as bacteria/viruses/bugs/etc. But in this case I do know the dogs/owners.

[CarmenSanches]

I dont know if I would do that, muzzles can inhibit their breathing and can make it impossible to pant and release their heat and he might over heat..
Unless you get one of those big muzzles that is open and they can open their mouths, but getting him used to that might freak him out..

I would get him a long line, they make 50-100' long lines. That way he is still leashed, BUT he can run around and walk farther ahead or whatever but he is still secured.

[ElegeExcest]

Haha I just had this picture of Leon on a 50ft line wrapped around all the trees! HAHAHA poor guy. In the mountains=surrounded by hundreds of thousands of trees for him to wrap that line around :P
All the dogs zip back and forth through the trees and up the hills on the trail. I do have a 6ft line for him which will suffice if need be

Do you think if I bought a muzzle that was like one size too big so he could at least pant would that be okay? The hike only last 45min-hour and we take a break at the half way point for treats so i could leash him and take it off for the break... assuming anyone thinks it's a good idea to let him run with a muzzle on? The heeler and maci don't even bother running they always walk with the humans and have no interest in zipping around. It's the labradoodle that is insane, and the collie when/if she's there. Maybe leon will have no interest in zipping around either...but not likely.

[gardeniyas]

If you get a basket muzzle (I believe that's what they're called), it allows them to pant while wearing it but still protecting other dogs, should there be a scuffle.

I don't see a problem with it if there are no leash laws out there. I just don't want someone to take their dog off a leash, have the dog not have a solid 100% recall, and end up getting in trouble with the law, a passer-by, another dog, or a wild animal. My uncle takes his GSDs on hikes in TX and has them off-leash as well but those dogs are solid as far as listening to EVERYTHING my uncle tells them to do. He wouldn't have them off-leash otherwise.

As long as you're responsible, I don't see a huge problem with it. Like I said, basket muzzles exist to allow the dog to pant properly while still being muzzled.

Perhaps have an e-collar on the dog as well as just a little extra security if you can't have the leash on. I understand getting leashes wrapped around trees. My dog is never off-leash but I have a 100' lead for him to wander and he does get wrapped up from time to time.

---------- Post added at 06:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 PM ----------

I dont know if I would do that, muzzles can inhibit their breathing and can make it impossible to pant and release their heat and he might over heat..

Unless you get one of those big muzzles that is open and they can open their mouths, but getting him used to that might freak him out..

I would get him a long line, they make 50-100' long lines. That way he is still leashed, BUT he can run around and walk farther ahead or whatever but he is still secured.

In addition to the post I just made, I wanted to add here... You don't just take a muzzle and strap it to your dog and think the dog will be okay. As with many new things, you ease the dog into it. Never put it on when the dog is already nervous and reward reward reward for being good with the muzzle on. Let the dog get used to it so that it doesn't turn into a scary and stressful situation for the dog. I've never used a muzzle so I'm not sure how exactly to ease the dog into it but I'm sure someone with more experience will come along to help out.

[CarmenSanches]

Yea a basket muzzle is what I was talking about.

[ElegeExcest]

Okay sweet, I'll have to look for some basket type muzzles!
Yeah he's def. a dog that hates anything unfamiliar as far as when it comes to putting things on/around him that aren't living.

Shoot, the new lead I bought him is a slip on martingale and he freaked out the first couple of times I tried putting it over his head, same with his new collar. When I came at him with it he was like "WTF!" but I just spent the first couple days taking the lead and collar off and on, now he doesn't even flinch and he knows as soon as the lead comes out it's a good thing because he gets to go outside.

Thankfully he catches on quickly to new things despite his initial reactions haha. The first time I tried putting DE on him, poor guy thought I would trying to poison him I swear. So I figure I'll probably have to spend at least a week of the muzzle on and off before we actually use it for a prolonged period. He's a pretty smart dog so if I can get the muzzle=treats or muzzle=off leash time or muzzle=car ride or muzzle=outside then he will probably catch on in 3-4days if I get lucky.

I def. don't expect him to be like oh yay muzzle!!! As far as his recall all you have to do is say his name and he stops in his tracks and lays down.
Thanks guys!

[Xiciljed]

We tried basket muzzles with Onyx and Rocko when they were younger because they would fight if let loose in the yard together. They wound up ramming into each other with the muzzles which caused them to get hurt anyways (along with scratching each other all up). So we had to/and still do give separate yard time for them.
But we liked the idea that they could pant and drink water with it on... but read that they need to get used the the dipping of the muzzle in the water part.
You could always try it and see how it goes.

[ElegeExcest]

Yeah I'm not too worried about him slamming into dogs with it, he's never been aggressive towards any animal. He's not dominant at all either but also not too submissive. I think he is at a good point in between, and very sure and confident of his self. But like I've learned a pitbull can be DA at anytime even he never has been before. It can even be selective. So I don't want to risk it. Plus if one of the other dogs decided to start it with him I wouldn't want him to have a chance to rip into him/her... although the other dogs have never had issues with eachother either.

haha it's probably wasn't funny at the time, but the image of two dogs in metal muzzles wanting to get at eachother so bad they just bang into eachothers muzzle has to be quite the sight lol!

[gydrorway]

All my dogs are used to wearing muzzles. There is one on ryans pet supply thats quality is amazing and the price is too. I have one and let me tell you I have used it on some of the most aggressive dogs at my jobs that tried their hardest to get it off and with no such luck. Very good product I recommend it. Ryan's Pet Supplies - Baskerville Ultra Muzzle Size 4 Springer


---------- Post added at 02:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------

it has a big spot for the nose and its treat friendly great for giving water ect. and it can fit in anyone budget!

[PriniMai]

Basket muzzles are great. We have them but you must measure them to get the right fit. My dogs are always muzzled in public..it's the law here. We started out by laying it around near them so they could scope it out. Then slowly placed on face without attaching and pulled it back, treated, about a week later attached it with on clip for a few seconds, took off and treated, then we did the second clip and treated each time we extending the time frame they had it on and let them walk around the house with it on. treated. It took about a month but I am slow at teaching them. Beastley freaks out with different things. It took me a about two months to get him used to a harness. He would zoomie all over the place and by the time we got it on him we were too tired to bother with the walk. Someone told me to lay it around the house for a week at different times in different places and put away. Now when he sees it he will sit and he shakes because he trying to contain his zoomies but we can get it in him in order to get a nice walk in.

[gardeniyas]

All my dogs are used to wearing muzzles. There is one on ryans pet supply thats quality is amazing and the price is too. I have one and let me tell you I have used it on some of the most aggressive dogs at my jobs that tried their hardest to get it off and with no such luck. Very good product I recommend it. Ryan's Pet Supplies - Baskerville Ultra Muzzle Size 4 Springer


---------- Post added at 02:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------

it has a big spot for the nose and its treat friendly great for giving water ect. and it can fit in anyone budget!

Holy crap, that's a great price! All the basket muzzles I've ever found have had prices upwards of $100, at least.