We are all a complex combination of genetic makeup and environmental experiences, the good old nature vs. nurture debate. Dogs are no exception. My dog Frankie did not get the socialization he needed as a puppy, is a survivor of the parvo virus (a deadly disease that is preventable by vaccination) and then as an 8-month-old adolescent suffered an accidental electrocution.
The combination of these three things has resulted in Frankie suffering from anxiety severe enough that he is on daily medication. He is very friendly and social with people, loves to play Frisbee and tug, but the lack of socialization and his anxiety make him tricky with other dogs. I explain it as, he likes the idea of other dogs, but the reality of them approaching too quickly, touching him, bumping into him or mouthing him in play is too much – for him, it’s about survival.
I practice what we teach. In order to keep Frankie and other dogs safe, he simply does not have the opportunity to meet or interact with other dogs. I manage him closely and Denise and I accept him and love him for who he is.
It’s really challenging to get Frankie out of the house for exercise when so many people want their dogs to meet. I am constantly asking people to keep their dogs away, whether we are on the sidewalks of Keene or out on the trails. Even when I state that he is not friendly, people still let their dogs approach him or they don’t have a solid “Come” when called to call their dogs away from us. These situations are stressful for both Frankie and me.
For these reasons I am conditioning him to a basket muzzle. A basket muzzle will allow him to open his mouth to fully breathe, pant, eat and drink. It will keep Frankie, and other dogs, safe. When the muzzle is on, I’ll admit, he looks like a doggie version of Hannibal Lecter. But, Frankie loves to see the muzzle and he loves wearing it. Why? Because I’ve worked hard at classically conditioning him to the muzzle. How did I do that? With liverwurst, cheddar cheese and other delicious treats. For Frankie it’s a basic formula, muzzle = incredible food. Prior to the muzzle, when dogs approached him, I had a huge emotional response. I would yell at the dog to get away or at the person to call their dog. I’d shorten Frankie’s leash tight and pull up hard on his gentle leader to make sure I had control of his head. As much as I would try not to do these things, I did them, every time. None of my actions made experiencing a dog very positive for Frankie.
Enter the muzzle. After spending several weeks teaching Frankie to voluntarily place his snout in the muzzle and conditioning him to wear it around the house and the yard, it was time to practice in public. We went to a local park. Just as I was about to take the muzzle off, I realized someone with an off-leash dog was walking directly toward us.
What happened next was really cool and I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario.
Because Frankie was wearing the muzzle, I was able to stay relaxed and keep his leash loose as the dog approached. Frankie stood very still and gave two low growls to communicate to the other dog that he was uncomfortable, and the key part to all this is that the approaching dog listened to the communication. He turned his head to direct his gaze away from Frankie, turned his body sideways, started sniffing the ground and slowly moved away. Frankie asked for space and the approaching dog very gently gave it.
As the dog moved away, I could see and feel Frankie relax. It was amazing. No yelling, no rough yanking, and no unnecessary stress for either of us.
The muzzle allowed me to change my emotional response, which created a great opportunity for Frankie to effectively communicate his need for space.
I look forward to each muzzled outing with him as we both build more confidence with the help of our new tool.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Amy Willey is a co-owner of Everything Dog, which offers private lessons, group classes, board and train, as well as day training services.