Has Your Greyhound Ever Hurt Itself With A Muzzle On?

[Guest 2greygirls]

I agree with everyone here..the basket muzzles are loose, and they can get them off if they really really want to, or if they get caught on something, it's just a slip over the old earsies... the worst I have ever seen is when a racing dog needs to live in their muzzle due to chewing on the crate and damaging their teeth, we would have to make sure the little pad for their nose stayed clean and soft, if not they can rub their hair off...but those were extreme circumstances, and not common.

 

when you say "muzzle".. people think of a restrictive device, intended to keep the mouth closed... and in that respect, I have to say that the dog walker was probably voicing a valid concern, and kudos to her/he for speaking up if they thought that was the case, you would not leave a dog unattended in a device like that.

[Guest Amber]

I agree with your dog walker - in kennels when they're muzzled, at least people are in and out most of the time. And if American racing dogs are in crates, then surely they're only muzzled for supervised turn-out, not constantly in the crate? My friend's dog got his foot caught in the muzzle and was immobilized on the floor. In emergency and for short-term use, a muzzle can be useful (e.g. cat/dog intros, first time you leave new dogs alone together) but I personally don't think it suitable for everyday, long-term use for 10 hours a day unsupervised.

[Guest LindsaySF]

Your dog-walker is probably thinking of the cloth muzzles which fit snugly over a dog's snout to prevent biting and inhibit barking. Those do keep a dog from opening its mouth and panting. Regarding those, she's right. I would never leave a dog unattended in one of those.

 

A basket-style turnout muzzle, however, is designed to be worn comfortably for longer periods and allows panting, drinking, barking, and even eating small bits that can fit through the mesh (i.e. treats, pieces of kibble). What they won't allow is biting other dogs or grabbing and chewing something. So your cabinets, venison, etc. are safe.

What they said.

 

Your dog walker is probably thinking of a cloth muzzle which is to be used only temporarily and under supervision (grooming, etc). Except in certain circles (like Greyhounds) plastic kennel/basket muzzles are not common and people don't know what they are and think they are cruel/inhumane/dangerous.

 

I would show her the muzzle and demonstrate how your dog can still pant, drink, etc, to ease her fears.

 

 

My friend's dog got his foot caught in the muzzle and was immobilized on the floor.

What type of muzzle was it (plastic, wire, etc), and where did the foot get caught? If it got caught in the strap then the muzzle was probably on too loose.

 

 

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

Edited January 18, 2010 by LindsaySF

[MerlinsMum]

I would never advocate leaving a dog in a muzzle with a stool guard in it all day, but a regular basket muzzle is absolutely fine.

 

My two are muzzled during the day because Sagan is a chewer, so I worry about him swallowing something that could hurt him. And I wouldn't want to muzzle just one of them - especially since Merlin rules the household. If they ever got into a fight, Sagan would not be able to defend himself in the same way if he was the only one with a muzzle on. They don't care at all and never make a fuss - in fact they know they get a cookie when I leave, so they can't wait for me to put their muzzles on them and then get their cookie.

 

The can sleep, eat, drink with it on. Sounds like your dog-walker is unfamiliar with greyhounds and has not seen a basket muzzle before. A basket muzzle is very, very different from the muzzle you usually fit on other dogs, and greyhounds are used to them. There is nothing harmful about it, and they can drink and pant with no problem whatsoever.

 

The only problem I'm having at the moment is that Sagan has a scratch on the right side of his nose, I think it's from his muzzle, but I am just going to put a soft lining in it and I'm sure he'll be fine. His fur is also dry right now so that's probably not helping.

 

If he hasn't worn it in a while, you might want to put it on him for a few minutes at first, maybe with a little bit of peanut butter spread on it, and then take it off. Then put it on for a longer period of time, etc., until he is used to it.

[Guest Amber]

Hi Lindsay, It was a plastic turn-out muzzle. Not sure how he managed to get his foot stuck or where he got it stuck, but he couldn't stand up in the contorted postition he got stuck in! If the muzzle is on really tight maybe that wouldn't happen but OTOH if the muzzle is tight but still gets caught up on something, then how will the dog get free (if it's on really tight)? I have left dogs muzzled on occasion (for inter-dog safety) but wouldn't for the OP's problem.

[seattlegreygirl]

Ours are muzzled when we are at work during the day and our dog-walker is perfectly comfortable with it. We explained how they could still drink water, pant, etc. and also let her know that muzzles are on for safety (both for pups safety if they play and also because one loves to chew on furniture), and she understands that.

[Guest KennelMom]

A greyhound is perfectly fine wearing a basket muzzle for long periods of time. Kennels at the track have been known to leave muzzles on during they day to save time at turnouts and just take them off after last turn out or meal times.

 

I would not leave a stool guard on a dog unattended, but a plain ol' basket track muzzle is fine. They can eat, drink and pick up toys with one. I would recommend padding the nose guard to prevent muzzle scars though.

 

A basket muzzle is pretty easy to get off if the dog puts in even a half hearted attempt.

[pokealong]

My 4 are muzzled when I'm not home, basket muzzle. You should see my 2 year old zip around the house playing with her toys with it on. When I get home she doesn't even come to me to take it off. They get used to it and they can play, eat, drink, pant, and live very comfortably with it on. It is for their protection from each other as I have 4 and they can get quite rambunctious and pissy with each other.

[greysmom]

Muzzling Zero should be fine. All mine wear them at one time or another, and sometimes for a protracted period if they have an injury I don't want them to lick. They can eat, drink, pant, barf, even have stuffed Kongs.

 

Three of them don't seem to care, but my girl Toni is the Mistress of Removal around here. I have hers as tight as it will go without mashing her nose into the plastic and she has perfected a technique of rubbing that scrapes it right off. If I needed to use it when she was unsupervised I wouldn't hesitate to buy a keeper strap to go through her collar.

 

You can line the nose piece with felt or moleskin if it starts to rub his nose.

 

FYI, many greys are so talented that they can still chew with it on, so don't assume it's going to be a miracle cure for his bad habits. If you haven't yet, you may want to read the current countersurfing thread and use some of the "traps" people have suggested to deter him.

[Wonder]

recommend padding the nose guard to prevent muzzle scars though.

Passion's getting a nasty scar but now she has a new muzzle so I should probably pad it

[Sambuca]

As a greyhound owner, I think the muzzles are fine. As a dog walker, I understand where yours is coming from, if she doesn't know anything about these muzzles. I'm glad you have a dog walker who tells you when she is concerned about something. Explain to her how greyhounds are raised with the muzzles and show her how the dogs can function with them on and she should be willing to listen.

[Guest Vers]

I currently muzzle both dogs at night, since they sleep loose in my bedroom, and the cats can get a little crazy after dark and stir things up. Stella came with a muzzle scar from a standard kennel muzzle, so I switched to the really lightweight and comfy Australian nylon muzzles (bottom of the page). Neither pup seems to mind in the least, and neither even attempts to rub them off the way they did with the heavier plastic muzzles.

[Guest arlosmom]

We have never had problems. I no longer crate mine so I muzzle them when we are not home. In addition, I have a grey who is obsessive compulsive on licking his foreleg since an injury that happened 6 years ago. He is on prosac which usually controls the urge but every now an then it doesn't and I have even had to put a poop cup on the muzzle. I drilled extra holes in it for breathing and water drinking but it keeps his long tongue from slipping through the basket. I don't like having to use it from time to time but it keeps him from licking the leg till it is bleeding and infected.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

I would be willing to bet that the same people that are against the use of a muzzle are also against the use of a crate. Take it with a grain of salt. Greyhounds are used to wearing muzzles for extended periods of time as well as being crated for extended periods of time. The basket muzzle is designed to be able to be worn while eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., plain and simple. It is not cruel, or otherwise detrimental to the physical or psychological well-being of your hound, I am sure your hound will survive just fine.

[Guest Amber]

I would be willing to bet that the same people that are against the use of a muzzle are also against the use of a crate. Take it with a grain of salt. Greyhounds are used to wearing muzzles for extended periods of time as well as being crated for extended periods of time. The basket muzzle is designed to be able to be worn while eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., plain and simple. It is not cruel, or otherwise detrimental to the physical or psychological well-being of your hound, I am sure your hound will survive just fine.

 

 

Yes, you're right, I don't agree with leaving dogs crated for long periods of time either (except overnight when everyone's asleep, that's OK, but imagine being crated all night and then crated for 10 hours a day as well). Our racing dogs in this country are not crated, nor are they *routinely* muzzled for long periods (some are, some aren't...some greys come into rescue with horrible muzzling scars). I just don't understand really how someone can see that their dog's nose is getting scarred from constant muzzling and not mind about it?

 

My second point is this: these retired dogs are now pets, not racing. I like to treat my greyhounds like normal dogs, I like to socialise them like normal dogs and I wouldn't want to muzzle for hours on end, nor crate for hours on end ANY dog. If a dog needs to be muzzled and crated all the time and put on Prozac then maybe there is something wrong with its lifestyle, JMHO.

[seeh2o]

I would be willing to bet that the same people that are against the use of a muzzle are also against the use of a crate. Take it with a grain of salt. Greyhounds are used to wearing muzzles for extended periods of time as well as being crated for extended periods of time. The basket muzzle is designed to be able to be worn while eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., plain and simple. It is not cruel, or otherwise detrimental to the physical or psychological well-being of your hound, I am sure your hound will survive just fine.

Absolutely not. I muzzle both my dogs, but don't crate them. Claire doesn't need to be crated and Carl will not be crated. He broke the soldering apart in a wire crate and, fortunately without injuring himself, tore the entire thing apart. So no crate for Carl, muzzle only.

Edited January 20, 2010 by ckruzan

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

I would be willing to bet that the same people that are against the use of a muzzle are also against the use of a crate. Take it with a grain of salt. Greyhounds are used to wearing muzzles for extended periods of time as well as being crated for extended periods of time. The basket muzzle is designed to be able to be worn while eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., plain and simple. It is not cruel, or otherwise detrimental to the physical or psychological well-being of your hound, I am sure your hound will survive just fine.

Absolutely not. I muzzle both my dogs, but don't crate them. Claire doesn't need to be crated and Carl will not be crated. He broke the soldering apart in a wire crate and, fortunately without injuring himself, tore the entire thing apart. So no crate for Carl, muzzle only.

 

 

I am sorry, but I really don't understand your post. I am speaking in general to the people that adamantly oppose the use of a muzzle or crate REGARDLESS of reason other than they think its "cruel". That is what I meant by my statement. Obviously if you have a hound that has SA issues and becomes dangerous to put said hound in a crate, then of course you dont put the hound in the crate.

[seeh2o]

I am sorry, but I really don't understand your post. I am speaking in general to the people that adamantly oppose the use of a muzzle or crate REGARDLESS of reason other than they think its "cruel". That is what I meant by my statement. Obviously if you have a hound that has SA issues and becomes dangerous to put said hound in a crate, then of course you dont put the hound in the crate.

 

I'm sorry, I misunderstood you post! I agree with you.