Okay, how about a pattern for a dog muzzle?

[SunshineNative]

you could always call that Dog Whisperer guy! :-P

Crating does not always work either, Tucker (my profile pic) learned how to get out of his crate. He would flip it over, get the tray out of the bottom and then get the bottom loose. This was one of the big wire crates... I should have named him Houdini as he gets out of anything..

Heh Heh. That is true! Sometimes you have to get REALLY creative! My wolf boys from last year get fed up with being nice and will just take a chunk out of the door, and walk out of their crates. Luckily for me, they only want to come into whatever room their favourite family member is sleeping in. Well, lucky if you don't mind waking up with a furry partner. Besides, I have learned how to weld out of necessity to repair the crates. Something new to be learned around every corner.

:-)

[Skidder]

Just had to post. I'm also looking for a muzzle pattern. A good friend is a professional trainer for search and rescue dogs as well as personal protection types. They're for police and other agencies. There is a place for them in training and it's definitely not a lack of knowledge on her part. It's also not abusive, or inviting trouble, or even laziness and a case of not knowing how to train. There's also an element of training the dog to accept the muzzle, not just slap it on and turn it loose. So to post generic one size fits all statements about whether or not they're appropriate or what the owner should be doing is a bit odd. However, a pattern would be nice to have. As it stands it looks like I'll have to make one off of one she already has.

As far as crate training, you shouldn't use the wire type crates for a number of reasons. Being very close friends with a number of vets, there's an issue with collars, paws, and other things getting hung up in the wire that can be as damaging or more so than a muzzle. Crate training isn't a matter of just containing the pet. You want to use a crate that has most of three sides completely enclosed such as some of the plastic models you see out there with just the door that allows a view of the world. If you insist on using a metal cage type, then it should be covered on top and three sides with towels or other material. The goal is to create a den for the dog. By keeping most sides and the top covered, the dog feels safe and secure in its den. If you leave them open, then they simply feel trapped and unable to escape or see what's approaching from all sides at once. This can make it worse. I have a blue heeler mix that has separation anxiety and if left alone more than a couple hours, he tears apart everything he can get to. By gradually introducing him to the crate, including some food, toys and other comfort type items, he will detect me getting ready to go somewhere and go into the crate/kennel without me saying a word and wait for me to close it up. He then stays there without any issues until I get back. It's security, not containment that holds the magic.

Anyway, a pattern would still be nice, but it doesn't appear anyone has one so I guess I'll be making my own.

[Leela Valley Leather]

The hardest part of making a "working" muzzle will be fitting the hard bar at the front so that it doesnt jab the dog when it's putting the smackdown on someone who didnt listen.

[Mijo]

I don't have a muzzle pattern per se but Dean and Tyler makes muzzles, http://www.dtdogcollars.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=114 . I've seen their leather muzzles in person, two years ago at Superzoo, and they are really nice. I was thinking about scaling down their "Guardian" muzzle so that it would fit a small dog but I couldn't justify paying for one just to tear it apart in order to scale it down.

San Francisco's public transit allows for dogs that are either muzzled or in a carrier, if the dog isn't a service animal, and I was thinking that there might be a market for small dog muzzles in my area. Then I noticed that most people that bring their small dogs on the bus have their dogs in carriers so I never pursued the idea any further.

[dolo286]

Ur in luck was at the vet today with my american bulldog and they brought in a nice leather one... My eyes lit up with excitement and remembered this post

Email me and i can send u the picture it pretty easy dolo286@googlemail.com

[ERMcdow]

The problem you all have failed to tell this person is a leather dog muzzle for a dog who is chewing isn't good for 1 reason only the dog will chew thru the leather and be back at destroying your house in short work and he might just think its a toy that has a challenge to it I can't use any thing but wire on my Belgum mal but its just for the safety of others while I'm training them Crate training is the better option for a pit get a sturdy one and take time letting them get used to it

[Sheilajeanne]

ERMcdow, this thread has been dormant since 2013. The 6 month old puppy the OP was referring to is no doubt long dead. (Original post was in 2009.)

I agree a dog should not be left untended while wearing a muzzle. I had a dog-aggressive dog I was trying to rehab, and was using a wire basket muzzle with leather straps, which was attached to her collar at both the top and bottom.

She put her toes inside the bottom of the basket, and ripped the straps in two... 

I also tried walking her in a Gentle Leader. She destroyed THAT in about 30 seconds! 

Crate training is definitely the best way to go! My dog spends the better part of the day lounging in her crate - door is always open.