Teach Your Dog to LOVE Their Muzzle!

Teach your dog to LOVE their Muzzle!

This is a type of basket muzzle that I really like and recommend for most dogs. It is called the Baskerville Ultra Muzzle. It’s light weight, fits a wide range of dogs nicely, and is easy to fit treats to feed the dog.

It’s important to teach your dog to love their muzzle, not fear it or get anxious with it on. Skipping this step can sabotage the training you are trying to do.

1. Muzzle appears and good things happen. You present the muzzle and while it’s in view you toss treats. Then hide the muzzle behind your back for a minute with no treats/attention/praise for Fido. Repeat until Fido gets excited to see the muzzle.

2. Muzzle is LOOSELY clipped to their neck (their nose NOT in the muzzle) and they get treats tossed around for them (just a few so its only on for a few seconds to start). Muzzle comes off BEFORE they get bothered by it and they get no attention for a minute. Then muzzle is clipped back on and repeat.

3. Put treats in the bottom of the muzzle (cupped in your hand so the treats don’t fall out) and let the dog put his/her nose in the muzzle to eat the treats. You want to remove the muzzle from the dog’s nose when they are finished NOT wait for THEM to take their head out of it. Repeat until your dog is happily pushing his/her face in the muzzle.

4. Extend the amount of time your dog keeps their nose in the muzzle eating—so use peanut butter, squeezy cheese, or other lickable reward and smear/squeeze some in the end of the muzzle so your dog spends a few seconds licking out the muzzle.

5. While they are comfortable licking out the muzzle, you can start pretending to clasp the neck strap. Grab the straps and hold them to the back of the dog’s neck and even do some petting while the dog licks-remember to remove the muzzle before the dog backs out.

6. Start loosely clasping the neck strap on while the dog continues to lick out of the muzzle. Work to slowly tighten it until it’s fit correctly. Remember to remove the muzzle before the dog gets bothered

7. With the muzzle on and fit correctly, start pushing treats inside the muzzle for Fido to eat while you ask for FUN behaviors—sit, spin, down, touch, whatever your dog LIKES to do. Remember to reward frequently. Practice having Fido move around while asking for fun behaviors.

8. Enjoy a dog who LOVES to wear his/her muzzle!