In this article
  1. Why every dog can benefit
  2. Why you shouldn't wait for an emergency
  3. Choosing a muzzle your dog can pant in
  4. Teaching the muzzle, step by step
  5. If your dog is worried by it
  6. Muzzles in public and the law
  7. When a muzzle isn't enough

Your dog has cut a paw on a Sunday walk and the vet needs a proper look. The nurse asks whether your dog is all right in a muzzle. If your dog has worn one a hundred times for a dab of squeezy cheese, the examination goes ahead calmly. If not, a sore, frightened dog meets a strange contraption at the worst possible moment.

Many of us still picture a muzzle on a dangerous dog. UK charities see it differently. Dogs Trust says it is useful for all dogs to be able to wear one comfortably, and that dogs can learn to enjoy it the way they learn to wear a collar or harness1.

Here is why it is worth teaching early, how to choose a muzzle your dog can pant in, and a step-by-step plan built on treats and patience.

Why every dog can benefit

Illustration: a vet listening to a dog's chest with a stethoscope on an examination table

Most of the reasons Dogs Trust and PDSA give have nothing to do with a bite history1, 2.

  • Vet visits and emergencies. Fear, pain and illness can change how a dog behaves, and a muzzle-trained dog can be treated quickly and safely in an emergency1.
  • Scavengers. For a dog on a strict diet, or one who tries to eat everything, Dogs Trust says a muzzle could be a life saver1.
  • Worriers and chasers. PDSA lists nervous dogs and dogs with a high prey drive2; Dogs Trust adds dogs who have learnt to chase and catch, or have behaved aggressively in some situations1.
  • The law. Some dogs must wear a muzzle in public1, 2.

At the vet

  • 55%of dogs showed some fear when examined by a vet, according to their owners4
  • 1 in 7showed severe or extreme fear during the examination4
  • 26,555owner questionnaire responses lie behind those two figures4

So fear at the vet is common, and a muzzle your dog already loves is one less strange thing on a hard day.

Why you shouldn't wait for an emergency

It is tempting to keep a muzzle in a drawer for the day you need it, but that is the worst time to start. PDSA warns that skipping the training and just putting the muzzle on is likely to scare your dog and make it harder every time you try2.

In an online survey of 1,862 dog owners by researchers in Vienna, published in 2020, how a dog had been introduced to the muzzle (habituation, short or intense training, or no preparation at all) was significantly linked to how they behaved the first time they wore one and afterwards: pulling at it, rubbing their nose on things or freezing3. The researchers concluded that owners need better guidance on muzzle fit and training, to reduce the harm to their dogs' welfare3.

A muzzle can also be met with the very behaviour it is meant to prevent. In a US survey published in 2009, 140 owners booked in at a university veterinary behaviour service said which methods they had tried. The researchers classed the muzzle as a confrontational method, and owners reported a growl or bared teeth, a snap or lunge, or a bite from at least a quarter of the dogs it was tried on5.

That survey was small, it did not record how the muzzles were used, most of the dogs had been referred for aggression, and the authors could not tell whether a method had caused the aggression or been tried because of it5. Still, it is a fair warning against the drawer-to-face approach.

If your dog needs a muzzle before their training is finished, Dogs Trust suggests a completely different style for that occasion (your vet may have a selection), so the training with your dog's own muzzle is not disrupted1.

Choosing a muzzle your dog can pant in

Panting is important for keeping a dog's temperature in check, so choose a muzzle your dog can eat, drink and pant through, such as a basket type1. PDSA's vets recommend basket muzzles because they usually let a dog open their mouth fully, allow plenty of airflow and have gaps wide enough for treats2.

Fit matters too. In the Vienna survey, only 71.3% of owners reported a fit that did not clearly impair their dog's welfare, and 161 owners (12.9%) had noticed physical effects, from damaged fur or skin to effects on temperature control, eyes or digestion3.

PDSA suggests measuring your dog's nose, from the tip to just below the eyes and around its widest part, then checking these points2.

Checking the fit

  • Your dog can easily open their mouth to pant and drink2
  • There is roughly 1cm of space between the nose and the end of the muzzle2
  • You can slip one finger under the straps2
  • Your dog cannot shake or pull it off2
  • Nothing blocks their vision, digs into their face or restricts their mouth movement1

If it rubs, Dogs Trust suggests wrapping a non-irritant fabric around the inside of the nose-piece1. Take extra care with flat-faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs: they often struggle with their breathing and a muzzle can make it worse, so ask your vet to help you find one that fits2.

Teaching the muzzle, step by step

This plan follows Dogs Trust's method1. If your dog guards food, is uneasy with people near their bowl or struggles with having their face or head touched, work with an accredited behaviourist or other qualified professional first1.

Start somewhere familiar and quiet, with small treats and a tube of squeezy cheese or pâté, which makes rewarding through the front of the muzzle easier1. Early on, always leave your dog free to take their nose out whenever they like: that choice builds their confidence and trust1.

Teaching a muzzle in seven stages

  1. Meet the muzzleReward a look at it, then put treats around it on the floor and one just inside1
  2. Nose inHold it still at nose height with a treat at the opening, then further in. Never move it towards your dog1
  3. Wait for the offerReward through the front when your dog puts their nose in by choice, and build the time slowly1
  4. Add a few stepsWalk backwards holding it, rewarding your dog for following. Always move away from them1
  5. Meet the strapsClick the buckle shut a few times from across the room, rewarding calm, then drape the loose straps over the neck1
  6. Fasten and unfastenDo it up and undo it at once, then build from a few seconds, with games1
  7. Out and aboutShort, quiet walks with treats to hand, and a refresher every so often1

Food seems to help: in the Vienna survey, owners who used it in training reported less avoidance while the muzzle was being fastened, and dogs more likely to push their nose in by themselves3. PDSA also suggests feeding meals beside the muzzle for a few days, practising in different places, including the vet's, and putting it on regularly with a treat even if your dog rarely needs it2.

If your dog is worried by it

Some dogs find the muzzle so worrying that no treat seems worth it, perhaps because they have worn one before and not enjoyed it1. Try leaving it on the floor and dropping treats near it, moving them closer as your dog gains confidence1. If your dog seems stressed during a session, stop and try another day2.

Getting back on track

Do

  • Go back to the last stage your dog was relaxed at, then progress more slowly1
  • Distract a dog who paws at the muzzle, take it off and repeat an easier stage1
  • Ask your vet about the fit if the skin looks sore or your dog can't eat or drink in it1

Don’t

  • Tell your dog off for shaking it off2
  • Use a muzzle as a punishment2
  • Leave a muzzled dog alone, as they could get caught and hurt themselves2

If your dog still won't go near it, speak to your vet, who may suggest an accredited behaviourist1. The time is well spent: Dogs Trust says it should help in other areas of your dog's life too1.

Muzzles in public and the law

Once your dog is happy in their muzzle, Dogs Trust says, they can have just as much fun on walks1. Some people may give a muzzled dog a wider berth, which can even help a dog who feels worried around other dogs or people1.

For some dogs, a muzzle in public is the law, and XL Bully owners are one example. In England and Wales it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without a valid Certificate of Exemption, and owners must keep the dog muzzled and on a lead in public, with the lead held by someone at least 166. Defra recommends a muzzle that does not stop the dog panting, breathing or drinking6.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own XL Bully rules, and in both it is an offence to have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle7, 8.

When a muzzle isn't enough

A muzzle manages risk, but it won't change how your dog feels about a situation or trigger. So even with one on, try to avoid situations that worry your dog: scary experiences could make their behaviour worse in the long term1.

Illustration: an owner and a trainer kneeling on grass with a spaniel on a long line

If your dog growls, snaps or panics in certain situations, or their behaviour changes suddenly, start with your vet, because fear, pain and illness can all affect how a dog behaves1. A qualified behaviourist can then help change how your dog feels, while the muzzle keeps everyone safe1.

Taught slowly, with treats and patience, a muzzle stops being a sign of trouble and becomes one more thing your dog is happy to wear. On the day you need it, every dab of cheese will have been worth it.

Sources and further reading8 sources

The small numbers in the article link to the source behind each fact. Sources open on their own websites.

  1. How to train your dog to wear a muzzleDogs Trust
  2. How to muzzle train your dogPDSA
  3. Owner reports on the use of muzzles and their effects on dogs: an online surveyJournal of Veterinary Behavior (Elsevier)
  4. Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultationsPLOS ONE
  5. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviorsApplied Animal Behaviour Science (Elsevier)
  6. Ban on XL Bully dogsGOV.UK (Defra)
  7. XL Bully dogs in Scotlandmygov.scot (Scottish Government)
  8. XL Bully dogsnidirect (Northern Ireland government)