03/30/2025
Artemis has never been muzzled nor needed to be muzzled, but I really believe all dogs should be conditioned to wear a muzzle. Even if your dog is the sweetest, most well-behaved dog that doesn’t eat anything off the ground, there may be a time where they have to be muzzled in an emergency. If your dog is already conditioned to wear a muzzle, they won’t have that added stress in an already stressful situation. I’m not a trainer that relies on or uses a lot of treats, but when it comes to something like this, building that positive association with whatever is the highest reward for your dog is key. Artemis finds small training treats high enough value, but all dogs are different. You can substitute for praise and pets or a toy if your dog finds those higher value than food.This process takes a few weeks. I spent a minimum of 3-4 days on each step with more time spent on the later steps. If needed, I always returned to a previous step for a couple days if Artemis showed discomfort. Eventually, you should be able to just say “muzzle” and the dog will put their nose into the muzzle on their own. I’m using a relatively breathable, adjustable fabric muzzle. I never plan on working Artemis with this muzzle, just have her conditioned in case of emergency. If you do plan on or need to work/exercise your dog with a muzzle, use a basket type muzzle with enough room for your dog to open their mouth and pant.
