YNP #089: Reasons to Muzzle Train Your Dog

Muzzle training your dog means exposing your dogs to wearing a muzzle in a positive, stress-free way (see resources below on how to do this).This is something that most of us never think (or want to think) about doing with our dog. It's understandable because muzzles have a bad rap and are thought of as a last resort for an aggressive dog.But there are many benefits beyond "controlling an aggressive dog".Any dog, when injured has the potential to bite.  Some dogs have a hard time handling the groomer or the vet.  These aren't "bad" or "aggressive" dogs.When we take away that bad stigma and don't hesitate to use one, it can bring all stress levels down and help everything go smoother.  My stance is, better to muzzle train your dog and never need it than be forced to put a muzzle on them for the first time in a stressful situation. As always, the resources I talk about in this episode are listed all below. In this episode I talk about:* Why every dog should be exposed to a muzzle regardless of their temperament. * Specific situations where we can reduce the stress of all involved by exposing our dog to a muzzle first. * Reasons to muzzle train that have nothing to do with aggression.* Reasons to use a muzzle while working on behavior modification.* Reasons not to hesitate to muzzle train your reactive dog.Press play and enjoy!Other resources mentioned and related to this episode:American Kennel Club: Dog Muzzles: When, Why, and How to Correctly Use ThemVet.Cornell.edu : Muzzle ChoicesMichael Shikashio: A video on how to Accumulate your dog to a muzzle (this is the guy to follow for ANY muzzle or aggressive dog content).Michael Shikashio: How to find the right fit for your dog.Playtime Paws Academy:  A membership for dog and humans no matter where you are in your training journey.