#muzzleuppup

The day I adopted Robert, the rescue recommended a number of things. One of those was a muzzle. They stressed the importance of muzzling so much that we quite literally left the rescue centre to head directly to the nearest greyhound supply store to buy one. We opted for a bright blue one, something that took the edge off that "scary dog" stigma associated with muzzles.

Robert showed little to no signs of aggression towards other dogs. When small dogs ran across the field, his ears would perk and he would watch them with interest but kept his cool. Birds were likewise ignored, the city centre pigeons were nothing more than ornaments to him. We didn't meet many cats, but like small dogs, they were ignored unless they ran, and even then, there was no mad rush to chase them. All the same, I knew that instinct was there, and had been built upon by his years in the Coursing industry. Until I was confident that he viewed other dogs only as friends and not food, for everyone's safety, he would be muzzled. He was well used to wearing a muzzle, having likely been wearing one on and off all his life, so they never really bothered him.

What bothered me though, was people's reactions to his muzzle. People crossed the street to avoid him, or made comments about him being an aggressive, bloodthirsty dog. Others told me I was a lazy owner, slapping a muzzle on my problem dog instead of training him. One woman told me my dog needed rescuing from me if I was going to muzzle him all the time. I knew there was a stigma out there surrounding muzzles but until my own dog was wearing one, I never truly understood it.

There are numerous reasons a dog may need to wear a muzzle. They may be required to wear one by law as part of Breed Specific Legislation. They may be dog or human reactive and need a muzzle to ensure the safety of others they encounter. They may be recovering from surgery and need to be prevented from licking a wound. They may be scavengers, snacking on the delicacies that are rocks, cat poop or rubbish. Whatever the reason, Muzzles, when sized appropriately and used appropriately, give dogs freedom they wouldn't have without them.

For the first few weeks of owning Robert, he wore his muzzle on every outing. As we grew to understand each other and communicate more effectively, I started trialling short periods without it. Those periods became longer and longer until the muzzle stayed on its hook in the hallway gathering dust. We still use it occasionally, such as when we play off leash with other hounds (in which case all the dogs are muzzled, not for aggression, but more as a crash helmet!) or when introducing new foster dogs (again, not for aggression, but just to ensure everyone is on an even playing field!). Many people who are considering adopting a greyhound are often put off by the idea they will need to muzzle them, but I promise you, it truly is for everyone’s benefit. It gives you as an owner a peace of mind whilst you get to know your new dog who is adapting to a loud and often overwhelming world outside of kennels! It gives your dog a chance to experience this new world with a safety net, if there’s a misunderstanding or reaction with another animal, the damage is limited. Muzzles are not a sign of a lazy or cruel owner, but if a responsible one, who is advocating for their dog and their rights to public space in a safe and controlled manner. Your dog may never actually NEED to wear a muzzle, in which case muzzling is just a precaution that can be done away with in time. But some hounds do struggle to acclimate from the Get-that-Bunny mindset, and adding that extra security ensures they can still explore and experience the world safely.