In my previous blog, I discussed how a basket muzzle was helpful to our family in helping our dog live a fuller life and keeping our children safe around our fear-aggressive dog. Another situation in which a basket muzzle can be very useful is walking a leashed pet that acts fear-aggressive towards other dogs or people. Dogs that are fearful of other unfamiliar dogs or human strangers and act aggressively on leash walks sometimes miss out on normal, routine walks and exercise because of the stress that ensues for both owner and pet. The growling, raised hackles, lunging, and potential for a bite to another dog, person, or to the owner (displaced aggression) may discourage an owner from ever walking their pet period. This type of behavior issue can certainly benefit from a gentle leader head collar or no-pull harness, as well desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques (another article topic for the future!). A basket muzzle alone won’t help change the situation entirely, but while working on the latter behavioral modification techniques with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist, a basket muzzle can ensure that other pets and people are safe. I personally have seen the basket muzzle work great for fear-aggression that is displaced onto an owner. When I first met my neighbor, she never took her dog that was fearful of other dogs on walks because every time he saw another dog, he would get very worked up and would lunge, bark, pull her, and usually he would turn away from the fearful situation and bite her in the leg. We worked with a gentle leader head collar to eliminate the pulling, but what was required to allow her to safely walk him as he learned to be calmer was the basket muzzle. With the use of the gentle leader head collar and basket muzzle, he could safely go on walks and enjoy the exercise and mental stimulation he needed. He never learned to completely relax about other dogs, but the drama lessened and he even learned to walk happily and calmly side by side with my own dog. With the use of the basket muzzle, his world expanded and he even had a dog friend for the first time in many years!
So how does one introduce a basket muzzle to their best friend? Introducing a basket muzzle to a pet can actually be a game! You really want them to have a positive association with the basket muzzle so that it is both easy to put on and well accepted to your pet. Using treats or a meal is the first step, using these ideally on an empty stomach for better learning sessions. First one might just simply have the basket muzzle next to them where the pet can see it while the pet is fed treats or kibble. Next, one can hold the basket muzzle in one hand and offer the treats or kibble to the pet with the other hand. If the pet shows no fear of the muzzle in this step, one advances to putting some of the treats or kibble into the basket muzzle. The pet then can reach in freely to get the treats or kibble. Once comfortable with reaching in to get food, the owner can practice attaching the strap (I like the basket muzzles best with a little plastic buckle vs. a traditional belt-like buckle which can take longer to put on), first just practicing the action of bringing the straps around the back of the neck (without actually buckling it) and eventually buckling the strap so that the muzzle is fully attached. The rate at which you proceed with these steps depends on how your dog reacts to the process. Some dogs easily get used to a basket muzzle within minutes, others need hours or days before they are comfortable. The idea is never to rush it, and always go back to the previous step if they show any signs of anxiety or worry with a new step in the process. We want this tool to be something that you dog accepts and has no stress over! If your dog is not especially food motivated, you might be able to do the above steps using a small toy initially. At all times, act positive about the process. If there is drama about the muzzle once it is on, try to distract your pet with treats or kibble, a walk or run around the block, a car-ride (if they love those), or any activity that they like that can be done with the muzzle on.