Basket muzzle training
Whether you are working with an anxious animal and need a safety-net to ensure no one is hurt, or if your pooch thinks the world should be tasted, a basket muzzle is a safe and effective way for everyone to stay safe! Done properly, training to a basket muzzle is fun for the pet, and comfortable when worn, and it gives you the confidence that nothing unwanted goes into their mouths.
Here is a training guide for getting your dog comfortable with the muzzle.
Basket Muzzle Conditioning
How to make a muzzle comfortable for you and them!
Here is a training guide for getting your dog comfortable with the muzzle.
Basket Muzzle Conditioning
How to make a muzzle comfortable for you and them!
- Start by sitting in a chair and have the dog sit in front of you. Do not bend down, over or towards the dog.
- Smear the inside of the basket muzzle with a small amount of something tasty, like dog food, cheese spread, peanut butter. Hold the muzzle and let the dog lick it out.
- When they have licked it clean, add more treats and continue. Repeat until the dog is pushing its nose into the muzzle to get more treats immediately, go to step 4. Getting past this step may require several repetitions, maybe even on different days.
- Once comfortable with step 2-3, while the dog is licking the food out, gently put the straps around the head and hold them there for 3 seconds or less. If the dog backs away, pull the muzzle AWAY from them and offer it again without straps. Do not push the muzzle towards them. If needed, repeat steps 2-3.
- Over multiple sessions, slowly increase the amount of time that you hold the straps and slowly progress to buckling and securing the muzzle.
- Once you can buckle the muzzle, continue to feed your dog by pushing food through the openings of the muzzle for a few more seconds, then remove it.
- Over the course of many sessions, gradually increase the time that your dog is wearing the muzzle.
- The goal is for your dog to wear it for 10-15 minutes comfortably prior to using it in stressful situations.