Okay, how about a pattern for a dog muzzle?

[wildrose]

Von Fuct, I understand how frustrating chewing dogs can be. The Airedale my parents have now is their first female, and she is mouthy about everything! She's not a mean biter, but just is always snappy. She's also a jumper - almost knocked my son down a set of stairs. Friendly dog, poorly trained. The training is everything.

My understanding/experience, Tony, is that crate or kennel training is the use of a metal (or other) "cage" appropriate to the dog's size where you put a nice bed and things to keep him/her comfortable when you need him/her contained. I.e. you're going out to the store or when we had puppies we'd put him/her in there overnight to keep them from wetting around the house. It is NOT for very long periods (as my mother's boss found out).

It should not be a negative experience for the dog. It should almost be like a "den" where they feel safe. We left our crate up with the door open for quite some time as the latest Airedale grew, and often found her or one of the cats snuggling in there. She knew she could get in away from the visiting kids there (though I have a funny pic of my son climbing in there with her!)

Muzzles can be important too. I often see a variety of them on dogs being walked; or at groomers; or on tv vet shows where the vets are unfamiliar with how the dog will react to treatment.

[CitizenKate]

It should not be a negative experience for the dog. It should almost be like a "den" where they feel safe. We left our crate up with the door open for quite some time as the latest Airedale grew, and often found her or one of the cats snuggling in there. She knew she could get in away from the visiting kids there (though I have a funny pic of my son climbing in there with her!)

The younger of my two dogs was potty-trained when I adopted him (he was rescued from a shelter), but had a horrible chewing problem. I would come home for lunch and find chewed-up stuff all over the house. Oh, no, my sheepskin slippers!!!

Crating him ended that problem instantly. Beyond the first day or two, none of my dogs have minded being crated when they were in training. I could just say, "Go kennel", and he went in, sat down, and waited for me to close the door. It really is not difficult to do at all. But just remember, you can't leave them there more than a few hours at a time, and be there to mind him when he's out. Then, you can gradually allow him to spend more time outside the crate, but you'll find he will still want to go there when he wants to be left alone.

Muzzles can be important too. I often see a variety of them on dogs being walked; or at groomers; or on tv vet shows where the vets are unfamiliar with how the dog will react to treatment.

They are very useful for training or when the dog is being handled, but I don't think you'll find too many trainers or makers of muzzles who advocate leaving a dog unattended with a muzzle.

Kate

[SunshineNative]

Finally a subject I DO know something about. Canines: wolfs or dogs!

Muzzles certainly have their uses and their place, but for the problem you are having.... well.... this isn't the place or time to be using a muzzle. Pits are as sweet as any other animal when born, its when humans make the wrong choices that they are taught aggressiveness and poor social behaviour. I wouldn't want you to lose your friend because he becomes aggressive with a muzzle on. His behaviour is telling you something!

The problem with him destroying items by chewing is his way of telling you he is fearful and needs some boundaries. Buy a STURDY crate, but you cannot just dump him in there when you leave and expect all to be well when you come back. He has awesome jaw muscles and will take most crates apart like so much fodder. It will have to be metal, a good gauge.

While you and your roommate are in the home with him, let him explore the crate, like a great gift you have for him, be excited. Then place him inside with a blankie, and some of his toys, close the door and wait 15 minutes. He may scream and fret, but dont let him out until your time expectation is up. Do it several times during the time you are home. Each time give him a treat, lots of hugs etc for having been a good boy in his crate. At night, he should be sleeping in a crate.

Crate training a canine is a way to provide a safe haven for him/her to go to when all is hectic about the home. From the first night with a new puppy, crate training should be on your mind. He will know where his "room" is, and it can be used as a time out spot, a quiet refuse from a busy home, and a secure place to lay his head and rest.

Furthermore, I would suggest a $110 investment into a puppy class. I don't usually recommend a specific place, but will tell you that PetSmart has an awesome training program for novices. It isn't so much about training the canine, but more about training the people how to deal with the canines and how to teach boundaries and get the expected results.

Good Luck!

Thanks guys!

Trauma, it's a personal job, not a commissioned piece and the purpose of the muzzle is to keep my roommates dog, Duke, from chewing on everything in the house when he is left unsupervised (which isn't that often). He's a 6 month old pit bull and still chewing on everything from the carpet, the wood door jams, electronics cables and plugs, the furniture, etc.

Thanks again guys for the replys!

[cybertracy]

Good job wildrose . . . and I'm sorry VonFuct if you felt unwelcome, that was not my intention nor to judge your training methods. As a Veterinarian Technician for 12 years, I was only trying to point out how hard it would be to make a safe or effective muzzle for a Pitt Bull, and as others have stated, how unsafe an unsupervised muzzled dog can be (like a 2-year-old child playing with a plastic bag, may be fine, but the potential is scary). You will make the right choice for your situation I am sure.

Celticleather. . HA! THANK YOU! I'll try to reproduce on of those Scold's Bridles and hang it on the wall next to my 120-year-old prison shackles near where she sits for dinner. Not that I'm threatening her or anything but my "unconventional" decorating flair did damper her down a bit~perhaps with today's economy and the consolidated families living under one roof, these could make a comeback!

Edited August 14, 2009 by cybertracy

[tonyc1]

Von Fuct, I understand how frustrating chewing dogs can be. The Airedale my parents have now is their first female, and she is mouthy about everything! She's not a mean biter, but just is always snappy. She's also a jumper - almost knocked my son down a set of stairs. Friendly dog, poorly trained. The training is everything.

My understanding/experience, Tony, is that crate or kennel training is the use of a metal (or other) "cage" appropriate to the dog's size where you put a nice bed and things to keep him/her comfortable when you need him/her contained. I.e. you're going out to the store or when we had puppies we'd put him/her in there overnight to keep them from wetting around the house. It is NOT for very long periods (as my mother's boss found out).

It should not be a negative experience for the dog. It should almost be like a "den" where they feel safe. We left our crate up with the door open for quite some time as the latest Airedale grew, and often found her or one of the cats snuggling in there. She knew she could get in away from the visiting kids there (though I have a funny pic of my son climbing in there with her!)

Muzzles can be important too. I often see a variety of them on dogs being walked; or at groomers; or on tv vet shows where the vets are unfamiliar with how the dog will react to treatment.

Thank you for your explanation. It's just like confining your dog to a certain area like a yard or a run while you're not around. I guess it's similar to using a baby's playpen!!!

Tony.

[frontpost]

What is crate training?

Tony.

A crate is a box with a door to keep you dog in. When my dog was a pup I would let her stay inside with the door open, then shut the door. She got to the point where she felt safe inside. Now she can travel in the crate and she can't jump around, and cause me pains.

Edited August 14, 2009 by frontpost

[SunshineNative]

So sorry you feel like you were the new guy and got slammed. I for one have my own opinion and think the very idea of muzzling a dog for chewing to be ridiculous. When your mother potty trained you, did she tape a baggy over the offending part? If you would try to get your roommate and his pooch to a training class, then maybe you would all live a better life. There is absolutely no way that a muzzle will help you reach your goal. Chewers do so for many reasons and the very idea that you think a pit is going to calm down with force is a testament to the fact that you do not know the mentality of that breed. He WILL become aggressive after such treatment. I have trained, bred and raised German Shepherds and Full blooded Wolves for over 40 years. The only one who is loosing in this whole mess is the dog.

Wildrose, THANK YOU! I appreciate your reply very much. And yes, I will talk with my roommate about both crate training and muzzle use. Not trying to turn this in to an online shoving match at all, I'm just frustrated with a bad situation and trying to find a workable solution.

[wildrose]

Let's not get into baiting again, shall we? There is no reason to get antagonistic when the purpose is to present information/get information.

[whinewine]

A crate is a box with a door to keep you dog in. When my dog was a pup I would let her stay inside with the door open, then shut the door. She got to the point where she felt safe inside. Now she can travel in the crate and she can't jump around, and cause me pains.

We have an adopted greyhound. Racing greyhounds are all crate trained... because when they are not racing, they need to be controlled in a small environment (for transporting & otherwise) & so they live in crates/cages. We got ours with the crate, and, during the day, she pretty much had free reign of the house (although the crate door was always open if she needed to 'get away from it all'), & she only went into the crate at bedtime. However, she realized early on that she was a family member (she being the very bright girl that she is) & since she was a family member, she gave up her crate. [To prove & to reinforce that point she broke my wife's ankle (but that is another story entirely).] Bottom line: for a dog, the crate is a secure area- a SAFE area.

Some dogs NEVER wish to give up their crate, & some do. BUT IT IS A SAFE HAVEN for them, and once they learn that, they know they can never get in trouble when they are in the crate, & they like that! It gives them limits & they know that, and that makes them good dogs.

[BradB]

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..

Edited August 16, 2009 by BradB