We have actually made quite a bit of progress. I actually give Hannah a ball when we are outside, which definitely cuts down on the foraging as long as the droppings aren't fresh. It is far less traumatic for a dog to be muzzled if it has been conditioned to accepting one. That way, it won't have an ill fitting muzzle foisted upon it. When I take my dogs to a vet whose tech might insist on a muzzle, I provide my own. I think every dog should be conditioned to accepting a comfortable muzzle. I certainly wouldn't keep a dog muzzled for an extended period of time. It is used as a tool to prevent self-rewarding, habitual behavior during short periods of time when you aren't focused on the dog and ready to interrupt/redirect the behavior by other means. For example, when my dogs are out with me during clean-up, I've placed a muzzle on Hannah to keep her from eating rabbit droppings. The idea is to break the power of habit, while working on getting the dog to stop the self-rewarding behavior. You don't have to keep a muzzle on the dog for the rest of her life. I don't think the solution is to keep a muzzle on this dog for the rest of her life. Two of my dogs love to lick their toys, but it has to be a very specific kind of toy. You might also try a behaviorist, and/or different toys. (something benign but that the dog doesn't like). There need to be consequences.a good one if she stops, (praise and treat) and a less good thing if she doesn't. simply chastising her is not effective, as you have discovdered.

She is trained to know that if I tell her to stop, she has to stop, because if she does she gets something good and if she doesn't she will be confined somewhere for a few minutes and she doesn't like that.Ī similar training would probably work on your dog. She would continue endlessly if not stopped. One of my BCs does lick the rug, the floor, the side of the couch. I have not had this problem the way you seem to have it. If you have, to no effect, then you need to try a different training method.

Have you tried to train her out of the behavior, or to stop completely when you tell her to? Making the dog wear a muzzle 24 hours a day (except when outside) only prevents it, doesn't address the behavior. There must be some other way to stop the behavior, which is what you really want.

To keep a muzzle on the dog all of the time would be a shame, in my opinion, and I would not do that. ĮTA2: The one you posted actually looks perfect. In any case, it is narrower at the nose, so it may work. I've heard them called Italian basket muzzles. I've used one on a limited basis to disrupt Hannah's habit of foraging for wild rabbit droppings.ĮTA: Ah, I didn't read this part, sorry: 'The majority of muzzles will still allow the dog to lick, even though it may prevent barking, biting, chewing.' There is a similar muzzle that has a piece that fits between the dogs nose and the end of the muzzle. The Baskerville muzzle is by far the best I've used, and I think it's more comfortable for the dog. I prefer a muzzle that allows the dog to pant. I have searched Amazon and found this muzzleĪny suggestions for another brand of muzzle that will serve the same purpose? The majority of muzzles will still allow the dog to lick, even though it may prevent barking, biting, chewing.īTW, while I was searching muzzles, I was a little freaked out by the muzzles that have ferocious teeth designs.

I guess I could keep her in a crate more since she doesn't seem to lick when in her crate.Īnother alternative is to put a muzzle on her so she is physically prevented from licking. Alternatively, there is no way I could keep her attention for several hours straight as an attempt to prevent licking. She has been switched to raw food - suggestion of one vet who thought her system may be 'unbalanced' and thus, she feels the need to lick.Īnd I do not want to keep chastising her every 30 seconds. I would like to stop it as much as possible. One dog seems to have an OCD need to lick our wooden floors (mostly) and our area rugs (sometimes, but not too often).

Muzzle for barking dog