muzzle advice

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

muzzle advice

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Hi Marie

Please use the muzzle when you are out and about, cats can just appear at any time without warning and it only takes a split second for a situation to happen.

Also please take into account that Mason does have a high prey drive.

I will give you a call later tonight.

JanW · Master

We muzzle one of ours, he is quite used to it and it does him no harm. I just explain to folk he's not very happy around small furries and its in case he tries to nip one. (haa haa - more like eat one but that seems to scare casual enquirers!

)

I'd rather be 100% sure there's not going to be an incident if a small furry runs up to him.

Anyanka · Master

To start with, I muzzled Piper whenever we went out, but found that it makes her look too scary, which is especially worrying when we meet people with small children. I now only put the muzzle on her when she is off the lead, but make sure that she cannot slip her collar and that I have proper hold of the lead.

She is bad with cats, but worst with small dogs - great with bigger dogs and people of all sizes though.

Laura · Master

I keep Rosie muzzled down the local park as she has made some escapes from there, but we have just started to let her off lead without the muzzle most other places. We just dont want the risk of her catching a neighbourhood cat. I would keep your dog muzzled as it sounds they are really keen and you wouldnt want anything really bad to happen.

Gail · Big Cheese

I always hated the thought of muzzling my dogs but would rather do it than take any chances.

Neo is not muzzled on walks but will usually respond to distraction tactics if we spot a cat, although i do muzzle him on vet trips as it's such a small waiting room. Sally is being muzzled all the time just now as everything is so new to her and her prey drive is very strong, even birds are fair game to her at the moment. hopefully that will change as she becomes more confident about her new surroundings and more used to meeting dogs, kids etc but she is fine with wearing the muzzle and i enjoy our walks more with the added peace of mind that it brings.

Teresa · Enlightened One

Definitely muzzle all the time as the prey-drive is so high. Our Dave is exactly the same. We don't muzzle him on walks but he could never be let off the lead - his prey drive is so strong it would overcome any possible recall.

We had a bit of an incident in our garden last year - Dave caught a cat. Luckily, he didn't kill it but that was only because Neil got to him quickly. Believe me, you would never want to witness that so I would recommend muzzling as the alternative. As ex-racers, they are so used to it that it doesn't bother them and it's always better safe than sorry.

Amber · Master

I have to muzzle one of mine round the streets, as she would kill a cat if she got hold. Unfortuately, she did, whilst on the lead, as she gives NO warning, is too fast to be stopped with leash control, would not let it go and goes straight in for the kill if the cat is within striking distance. I felt terrible about that - we hadn't muzzled her previously as the rescue had told us she 'might not be too bad with cats', we had had no real problem like that with Oscar our other greyhound and she doesnt make a big noise or even pull much on seeing cats, so it was a bad accident, but totally my fault. Like you, I'm in a residential area where there are lots of cats lurking everywhere and it can be impossible to spot them hiding under cars, in bushes etc., so I feel that muzzle in addition to lead is the only option when walking the streets. I also wrap her lead around my hand a couple of times to keep it short and ensure it cannot be pulled out of my hand.

Most people don't seem to be bothered by the muzzling and still admire and pat her!

FAJ · Enlightened One

Harry is muzzled on-lead if we're going to be somewhere with lots of other dogs around and the potential for cats (not if we're in a field in the middle of nowhere). He doesn't mind one bit - he knows he's going out for a walk and he gets a treat every time the muzzle is popped on. As far as Harry is concerned, that's a result!

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Thanks for all your advice folks. Looks like Mason will be a muzzle boy for the foreseeable.
Always better to be safe than sorry!