Why the reluctance to use a muzzle?

I've seen this too, when I have suggested that people who have feces eating dogs use a basket muzzle to keep the dogs from eating it - if they can't keep their yards clean.

I guess they would rather have their dogs eat feces and then vomit crap all over their houses.

And people who are trying to train their high prey drive dogs would rather let the dog kill the family cat then put a basket muzzle on the dog for the cats safety while they are trying to teach the dog not to "eat the kitty"

I just don't get it. A basket muzzle is a safety device, and for protection of the dog, or to protect other things from a dog until it can learn self control. They don't harm the dog in the least, cause no pain what so ever, the dog can pant, bark, drink and carry on in a normal fashion. They just can't get their mouths around things that they are not supposed to bite/eat.

You make a good point.

The only time I have ever used a muzzle is at the vet with my chi. She was injured, can be a fear biter, and I didn't want to take a chance on her biting the vet or vet tech.

If I had a dog that needed to be muzzled on a regular basis, then that would indicate to me that the dog was either badly trained or poorly supervised. I would improve the training and/or supervise the dog properly rather than muzzle it.

I don't see a muzzle as a training tool (like a collar), but rather a safety precaution.

Kind of like a seat belt...it doesn't stop the accident, it just minimizes injury. Learning to drive properly can actually prevent the accident.

A dog that needed to be constantly muzzled would be put down at a shelter if surrendered.

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Muzzling a chihuahua that bit in self-defense (after four years of good behavior) would simply allow the abusive child to beat it to death with no repercussions. I dont see that as desirable.

I have no problem with any training tool, so long as it does not give the dog excessive pain.

But a muzzle does not hurt a dog at all. I have not heard of anyone with the opinion of muzzles are bad, or with the opinion that choke collars are good, muzzles are not.

Why will owners consider surrendering their dog to a shelter rather than putting a muzzle on it?

I have no idea why anyone would risk their dog being killed in a shelter rather that putting a muzzle on it.

Why are they bad? Like many other training tools they have saved lives of those dogs who would rather be put down.

I have conflicting feeling about a muzzle.

A muzzle is to keep a dog from biting. Perfectly acceptable to me. But the first thing the 'uneducated' public think, 'vicious dog'. Right away they get the wrong impression! There is a big difference between aggression & viciousness. Where does the general public draw a line?

They see guard dog signs, movies & video with these big dog with open, salivating, maws, ready to tear your throat out. Vicious dog? Aggressive dog? Dog that may bite?

I agree with using a muzzle when needed but a vicious dog should be muzzled & taken into public.

I have no idea what the issue is with a muzzle or prong, e-collars etc. You do what you have to do, it is much better then the dog biting someone or something and being put down

I always have a muzzle on hand in case one of my dogs gets injured

I have 2 black and tan kelpies, i live in australia in the country and i go to the local sheep sales and help move the sheep from pen to pen before/after they get sold we are required to put muzzled on our dog in case they bite the sheep,so i think muzzles are better than having a cut sheep dont you?

Those "torture devices" are training tools that are only to be used during training sessions. You are applauding having a dog live with a muzzle strapped on. For how many years? I would rather euthanize a dog that cannot be trusted rather than have it live in a basket muzzle. Just so I can keep it alive? What kind of life is that?

I have noticed that some people wish to avoid muzzle use because of the impression it gives off to other people in public.

- That dog is vicious, the owner must not take very good care of it etc.

Not that I personally understand those reasonings myself. If a dog needs a muzzle, I'd rather use the muzzle and avoid a potential lawsuit than risk my "reputation"

I've never noticed any of what you have alleged.

All I've ever seen from posters in the dog section, are helpful suggestions of using muzzles where appropriate and I've never seen anyone suggesting a muzzle is any sort of torture device.

I don't have a problem with using a muzzle or advising anyone to use one under certain circumstances

What i have a problem with is advising some one to use a muzzle because there child got bitten by a dog because of the parents negligence .

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