Getting dogs to wear a muzzle

[jagracer]

I have two Jack Russells, one of which has taken to snapping at larger dogs. The other JR then has ago at him and sometimes it can kick off. I'm at a loss how to stop him having a go at other dogs so I hope a muzzle will stop the problem. The trouble is keeping the muzzles on them, I've been trying with them round the house and as long as I keep in contact with them they aren't too bad and accept wearing them. Today was thew first foray out to the park and neither of them were having any of it the muzzles reluctantly stayed on until the park gate but they both forced them off with their paws and it ended up with one wedged half in and half out of his mouth and me with a cut finger where I caught it on one of his teeth trying to free it. I'm at my wits end as one or both of them is going to get hurt if they pick on the wrong dog and I want a quiet walk not one fraught with anxiety about them being a nuisance.
Any help or ideas welcome. I've bought hard plastic type btw.

[Jasandjules]

Are they neutered?

There are different muzzles you can get as well, a fabric one which I understand works quite well and also stays on better.

[jagracer]

Both neutered, the male is built like a brick sthouse and has attitude, he doesn't bite but will run at a dog and barge into it or snap if it wont play with him. He is very strong willed and will wander off and loses himself in his own little world at times. Female although quite small can be very dominant.

[AdiT]

Don't know the answer but a word of warning... Be careful he doesn't have a go at another dog while muzzled.

There's sometimes a nasty little JR/Whippet cross where I walk my dog. This particularly nasty piece of work will run 400yards to attack another dog (I know 'cos it once sprinted the 375yd golf hole to have a go at mine). It only actually attacks if the other dog isn't looking; If the other dog sees it and is big enough it backs off and waits for the other dog to turn it's back (see what I mean by nasty).
After several complaints (and a few beatings from my 40kg Weim - don't panic he draws the line at making a point, not drawing blood) the owner has muzzled it... but she still lets it off the lead. Neither it or the dogs it now attacks understand it can't bite... and it can't defend itself if they "defend" themselves.

If muzzled, my advice is keep your dog on a lead.

[Karyn]

There's a few different types of muzzles... Perhaps get advice on which would be best suited for your dog?

One of my friends is currently going through a 'my dog isn't happy in a muzzle' situation... The advise was to pop it on occasionally whilst in the house, accompanied with lots of praise/treats etc., so they associate it with good things and no worry...


And, as above, if muzzled, perhaps a good idea to keep him/them on-lead and so control their approach to other dogs and reduce escalation of excitement and loss of behavioural control, perhaps.

[RB Will]

I was going to give the simple suggestion given by others already. Just keep them on a lead or go to the effort of taking them out where you can see people coming from a mile off and put yours back on a lead while they pass.
A friend of mine ended up in A&E a few weeks back after one woman didn't want to put her snappy dog on a lead.
Was a staff/lab mix and 4 times it came over to attack my friends husky/shep. friend got it by the collar and took it back to owner who said "oh they dont normally do that" and just sent it off again only for it to come back to attack my friends dog. On the 4th attack my friend was trying to separate them and the staff/lab bit into his bicep, he stood up with the dog hanging off him, 11 puncture wounds in his arm through a coat!

[jagracer]

Thanks for the replies but sadly things deteriorated on Saturday to the point that the dog attacked me when someone came to the door and I tried to pick him up to calm him down. I've now made contact with a doggy behaviourist who reckons he can help us. I think a lot of it is my fault for not accepting the problem soon enough and I'm obviously going wrong somewhere but hopefully we can both be straightened out and I will be able to keep the dog.

[Silent1]

Sounds like the dog doesn't know who's boss

[jagracer]

Silent1 said:

Sounds like the dog doesn't know who's boss

I think you're right.

[Jasandjules]

jagracer said:

Thanks for the replies but sadly things deteriorated on Saturday to the point that the dog attacked me when someone came to the door and I tried to pick him up to calm him down. I've now made contact with a doggy behaviourist who reckons he can help us. I think a lot of it is my fault for not accepting the problem soon enough and I'm obviously going wrong somewhere but hopefully we can both be straightened out and I will be able to keep the dog.

OK that is not the end of the world. There are many ways to deal with that.

Is he allowed on the couch?
Is he made to wait for his food?
On a walk does he pull?
Does he rush through doorways before you?
Can you take food off him?
Does he stay on command?

[jagracer]

Is he allowed on the couch?.............................Yes
Is he made to wait for his food?........................No
On a walk does he pull?.................................No
Does he rush through doorways before you?...............Sometimes
Can you take food off him?..............................Yes
Does he stay on command?................................No

[Jasandjules]

Ok I would make him wait for his food - by this I mean you put the food out in front of him and he has to sit and wait until you release him before he can eat. Ours both wait outside the boundary of the kitchen.

I would stop him going on the couch for a while too.

Also, I take it he's been vet checked to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with him too i.e. something that means in hurts when you pick him up.

[jagracer]

The food business has never been an issue apart from when I first got him as I had to coax him to eat. He was re-homed with me at about age 2 and although someone who knows his past says he had no issues, I'm not so sure.
Since all this kicked off the couch has been by invitation only.
The man I spoke to today suggested seeing a vet as well but said he will check him out when he comes round.
He is one very subdued dog at the moment, he knows he's done wrong. I know I've done wrong in my approach to him and hopefully we can get it sorted.

[bexVN]

Just a heads up. generally a behaviourist will only see a dog on referral from a vet, so ideally the vet ck should be done before he visits so that some medical reasons can be ruled out.

Good luck,hope an answer for his behaviour is found

[King Herald]

AdiT said:

There's sometimes a nasty little JR/Whippet cross where I walk my dog. This particularly nasty piece of work will run 400yards to attack another dog.....

Wear heavy shoes. A large Labrador attacked our old fella in the street once and my Crocs were not the best weapon to stove ribs in with while it had our Jack by the throat. I did my best though and it was pretty surprised that someone actually fought back.

[AdiT]

King Herald said:

AdiT said:

There's sometimes a nasty little JR/Whippet cross where I walk my dog. This particularly nasty piece of work will run 400yards to attack another dog.....

Wear heavy shoes. A large Labrador attacked our old fella in the street once and my Crocs were not the best weapon to stove ribs in with while it had our Jack by the throat. I did my best though and it was pretty surprised that someone actually fought back.

No need. At 40kg of athletic muscle he can look after himself.. and deal out "appropriate" retribution; Whether that is pick up a snappy Yorkshire Terrier and present it to the owner, stamd on a JRT and demonstrate the size of his teeth, pick a leaping, teeth beared Staffie/cross out of the air (by it's neck) and hold it down untill the owner has it on a lead ("No, I won't call him off untill you have the lead on... it's your problem how to do it without YOUR dog bitting you") or flip a American bull/Boxer cross on it's back/arse when it barges into him for the 10th time and persuade staying there is in it's best interest.