How to Get Your Dog Used to a Muzzle - 6 Steps

It’s good for all dogs to be comfortable wearing a muzzle, not just aggressive dogs.

You never know when your dog might need to wear one, but if he does, you want the muzzle to be a positive or neutral experience for your dog.

Let’s face it, if a muzzle is needed it’s usually because the situation is already stressful in some way. That’s why it’s important that the muzzle doesn’t add even more fear or stress to your dog. You want it to have the opposite effect or at least neutral.

Some examples of why your dog might someday need a muzzle:

Even friendly dogs bite when they’re hurt or scared.
Your dog might act very differently during or after a traumatic event. (And “traumatic” to a dog could be something fairly simple.)
Some breed discrimination laws require dogs to wear muzzles in public based on breed, not behavior. You never know what breed or mixed breed will be targeted.
“Dangerous” dog laws are tricky. Your dog might legally be required to wear a muzzle in public someday based on one fluke experience that wasn’t his fault.

Why my dog Remy needs a muzzle

I have a stubborn young weimaraner who mouths and bites when I’m trying to do something basic like trim his nails. Annoying, but not a huge deal …

However, when Remy was hurt in July he would not let us clean his wound without trying to bite us.

We were backpacking in the mountains with some relatives and their dog. The first evening, the other dog attacked Remy and tore a hole in his ear. Going to a vet wasn’t a realistic option due to our location, but we needed to do our best to keep the wound clean.

You know all those articles that recommend you keep a muzzle in your first aid kit? That is good advice. We didn’t have one.

It took one person to hug him tight and try to hold his mouth shut while the other quickly put antibacterial cream on his torn ear.

This is not exactly ideal, but we made it work.

I decided it would be a good idea to buy a muzzle for Remy so I have on hand in the future. I haven’t gotten one yet. Let me know in the comments if there is a brand or style you recommend.

How to get your dog used to a muzzle:

I wish we’d had a muzzle with us in July, however a muzzle is even more useful if your dog has positive associations with it.

In our case, I would’ve just slapped the muzzle over Remy and called it good. That’s just what you have to do sometimes.

But ideally, you want your dog to associate a muzzle with FUN, AWESOME things like treats, peanut butter, steak, belly rubs, walks, car rides – whatever he loves! You don’t want him to associate it with the vet, nail trims, pain, medications, etc.

Here are my steps to help your dog get used to a muzzle:

You don’t have to follow these steps exactly. These are here to help you brainstorm.

I would wait a day or more between each step to slowly get your dog more comfortable. Practice each step for just a few minutes at a time and keep it fun.

VERY IMPORTANT: Don’t tease, laugh at or feel sorry for your dog when you train him to wear a muzzle. This will only make your dog feel anxious or bad about the muzzle. Instead, you should be SUPER JEALOUS of your dog’s awesome jewelry! Treat the muzzle like it’s an expensive watch or necklace. It’s something to be proud of!

“Wow, what a handsome boy in your new jewelry!”

“Wow, so pretty, What a good girl you are!”

Now, onto the steps:

Step 1: Let your dog sniff the muzzle, give a treat and praise.

Use steak, jerky or hot dogs. When the muzzle goes away, the treats stop. Your dog thinks, cool, I get treats when that thing is out!

View dog muzzles on Amazon HERE.

Step 2: Gently touch the muzzle to your dog’s face and give a treat.

Repeat several times.

Step 3: Put the muzzle on your dog for 1 second without actually strapping it on.

Repeat several times. If you have a basket muzzle, put the treats on the other side so he has to put his face in to get them. Repeat.

View muzzles on Amazon here.

Step 4: Hold the muzzle on your dog for 3 seconds.

Then 4 seconds, 5 seconds, etc. You’re not actually strapping the muzzle to your dog yet, just holding it.

Step 5: Put the muzzle on and strap it on.

Give treats and praise. “What a good boy!” Remove the muzzle, and stop giving treats. Treats come when the muzzle is on.

Step 6: Leave the muzzle on for 30 seconds.

Then 1 minute. Then, only when your dog is more comfortable, leave it on him while you do something fun like a walk, trick training, a car ride, etc.

That’s about all there is to it!

Does your dog wear a muzzle? Let me know in the comments how you got him to tolerate or enjoy wearing it.

Reasons a dog might need to wear a muzzle:

Travel
Introducing dogs,
Emergencies
Disasters
Grooming
Nail trims
Medications
Insulin injections
Vaccinations
Ear cleanings
Eye drops
Wound care
Introducing your dog to something he’s scared of like kids, other dogs, whatever it might be
Introducing your dog to cats or other animals

Does your dog wear a muzzle?

Let me know your experience in the comments. I’m also curious what kind of muzzle you use. I don’t have a lot of experience. Is a basket muzzle best or a fabric muzzle? What brand do you use?

Related posts:

Jude

Tuesday 4th of January 2022

It’s me Jude again, I feel my dog is to old for a muzzle, and it might make him stressed, what do you think? I’m reeling about the nose bleed from restraint, I know it was 2 years ago, but will my dog be more upset, if we don’t change vets, or is it better the devil they know !!!!! I want what’s best for my boy.

Lindsay Stordahl

Hi Jude, it's totally up to you. Don't worry about what your dog thinks. Your dog will probably not be thrilled about going to any vet, unfortunately. But you should like and feel comfortable with your vet and now it sounds like that is not the case. So I would lean towards finding a new vet, if that is reasonable in your area. I switched vets myself when ours refused to support my decision to feed my cat a certain raw diet. I'm happy I made the switch to a vet who supports my decisions. Or will have open discussions. Good luck. And your dog is not too old for a muzzle but I know sometimes muzzles are hard to get the right fit on dogs with flatter faces like Frenchies.

My husband confessed to me, that when he took our dog, to our vets two years ago, the vet gave our dog a nose bleed, as he was restraining him. This has really very upset me, and I want some advice. Should we have changed vets then, or now that I know. I have been with this veterinarian practice for over 30 years but the original owners retired, 4 years ago, and I only know one of the three vets now, but we now see a new male vet the one that coursed the bleed, my dog has never liked going to the vets, I think it is because he broke his leg, when he was 18 months old. He is a french bulldog intact, never mated, nearly 9 years old. Should we change vets, I am a loyal person, and have stuck with them, my husband has never been keen, because the receptionist, can be quite unfreedly. What should I do, my husband didn’t tell me because he knew I’d be mad and upset, now I’m mad and upset with him.

Debbie Quarrington

Sunday 24th of May 2020

This is a great discussion. I have a dog which is great with people but will attack any dog he sees. He has already attacked 2 dogs injuring one. He has to wear a muzzle anytime in public just to ensure that no harm will ever come to another dog. He is fantastic with people and is fact very skittish and nervous. He himself has been attacked and had severe injuries from several dogs. On where he was bitten in the groin and it bled for 2 weeks. We had to hold our breath wether it would heal or not. This last attack was what I think pushed him over the edge. Problem is he is a 100lb dog with Shepherd, PitBull, Malmute and Husky mix. He is very strong and very prey driven. His mother was rescued pregnant from up North in Canada. He is muzzle trained but does not love it. I realize from reading this I must make more of a big deal and more treats!. I do not like the muzzle I use now as it is too big for him, the next size down too small. My problem is that he loves to run free at our cottage and with a loose muzzle I am afraid that a twig or something can get caught in ti and hurt him. Any suggestions? Thanks

I'm afraid I don't have a solution to that. I would worry about sticks and twigs too. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons for the cottage situation and decide if he should even be off leash or not and if no muzzle is a greater risk than wearing it. I'd probably just have him wear it and risk the sticks.

Desiree Haight

Tuesday 24th of September 2019

We have a hospice foster that's been with us for several months. He's always been friendly to people that come over to the house, but we discovered recently that while on a walk he likes to randomly bite people in the leg that walk by, with no provocation. So I conditioned him to a muzzle much the same way you suggest. He only wears it on walks, and I get very excited for "walkies" when I get it out and put it on. He loves to go for walks and starts bouncing up and down when he sees the muzzle.

Jill

My two labs will eat anything on the ground, especially poop. One got extremely sick and nearly died a couple of years ago from picking some up while on a walk and can now only go off leash with a muzzle on. Neither of them mind the muzzle - I use plastic basket muzzles for both my dogs, as well as clients dogs whom may require one due to being snippy with other dogs in the park.

I have a fabric muzzles in my first aid kit and because they hold the mouth tighter shut, I only use the fabric for emergencies only. Basket muzzles are preferred while out walking as they allow the dog to pant and they can also drink with them on during warmer weather.

So glad you found a solution. Does he nip out of excitement or fear?

Margaret Sheridan

Thursday 19th of September 2019

I use a JAFCO muzzle with a treat hole and single strap. They are designed for longer term wear. My Malinois has some handling issues so we need one at the vet, in public and for nail trims. She has no bite history and the muzzle keeps it that way. She doesn’t mind wearing it. I used dog treats and spray cheese to get her adjusted.

Thank you for that info, Margaret.