Muzzles...

[Lookie]

Just a preface to the question. My husband left for California for a month. When he was here, he hadn't been able to work, because he's still not a permanent resident (he's American)...so he was always home.

Now that he's gone, I don't feel safe leaving dog and kids alone together. My parents live in the suite upstairs, and usually when they look after the kids, we leave the suite door open, and the kids just play down here and she listens for them. But now with dog here, I don't know what to do. I had meant to crate train her before Brian left, but time slipped by.

Could I muzzle her now, just while I'm at work? And what do you think they are thinking when there is a change like that? Like even crate training...she's had the run of the house (never chews or wrecks anything when alone) and then all of a sudden she's got a muzzle on, or she's in a crate....it doesn't seem fair to her.

Do they just take it in stride, or do they think they are being punished. I just feel really bad for changing her normal routine for this month!! Any input would be appreciated.

[TrishB]

Personally? I wouldn't suggest muzzling. If your dog cannot be supervised while with your children, your dog should be crated. Please do a search on crate training and they will teach you how to introduce her to it.

So you know - this isn't a Rottweiler thing - this is a dog ownership thing. No dog should ever be left alone with children. Why? Well, they're dogs, not babysitters. Children aren't mature enough to supervise dog behaviour and dogs cannot read children properly. Dogs left unsupervised are put in potentially failing situations with potentially huge consequences. Why set her up to possibly fail?

Put the crate in a quiet area of the house where the kids won't bother her / tease her. You'd be surprised what kids will do when not supervised directly. What they may feel is 'playing with her' while she's in the crate won't feel that way to her.

Even when you're home or once your husband returns home - leave the crate out so that she can still return to it if she likes. It sounds like there will be times where your dog cannot be supervised - best to do the responsible dog ownership thing, put your dog in a situation that she can be successful in, and she will!

[ILVROTTIS]

I agree with Trish, i wouldn't leave a dog muzzled while you're at work. A crate would be the best.

[SABELLESMOM]

Make it 3 then. Dogs (no matter the breed) and children must be supervised. Trish said it best.

I'd crate instead. Find a quiet area where the children won't be tempted to disturb or tease her. Once you ARE home you can have her out with the children as you teach each species how to behave appropriately with one another. Under your constant and watchful eye, of course.

[Lookie]

Okay, crate it is. Thanks guys!

Next question? What if all she does is bark or whine while in there. How do I correct that behavior? Cuz I KNOW she's gunna!! hehe

[bacca]

Don't just put her in the kennel and then leave. Start by putting her in while you are at home. If she is doing any whinnnnnning or barking do nothing. Don't speak to her or let her out. If you have a command for quiet and she is barking then use it. If you do not have a command then you need to get one.

If she is nervous about going in start with the top of, till she gets used to itl

Once she seems fine with the kennel, then put the top on but not the door.

Throw treats in the kennel and reward her when and if she goes in.

You need to do this on a weekend or when you are going to be home.

Hope this helps

[AngelBunny]

A good way to make your dog feel comfortable is to feed her in her crate. I assume you feed twice/day?? Put her into a sit stay, put her bowl in the back of the crate, give her your release word, and say "Crate!" in a happy tone.

Everyone else said it, but crate training is the approrpriate thing to do. You must train your children that when the dog is in the crate, they are to absolutely leave her alone--no petting, no putting fingers thru the crate, no nothing. They are to leave her alone.

Your girl may initially whine & fuss when crated, but ignore her. DO NOT let her out of her crate until she's quiet and calm. If you let her out of her crate when she's fussing, you're training her that she gets out of her crate by making a racket.

[TrishB]

Also - dont assume that she's going to fuss, assume that she's going to be fine! Project good feelings and she'll feel that. Project that you're nervous or that you're 'sorry' for putting her in it and she'll feel that too.

Set up the crate, leave the door open, put her favourite toys in there and feed her in there. Leave it up for a couple of days until she's used to it. When she goes in, quietly praise her. Never call her out of it or go in after her. It should be her little space where she can be comfortable and 'get away from it all'. If she comes out - don't react, she just came out! No biggie.

Simply put - don't just set it up, throw her in, lock the door and go out for the day. She needs an introduction! Once she's comfortable with it and you do close the door, don't make a production out of it. Make sure she had a good walk before hand (the old mantra "a tired dog is a good dog"). If you promote it as a good thing, she'll accept it as such. If she does fuss, it's not the end of the world. A silly pup - stop/quiet - should suffice. It's a matter of fact event - treat it that way!

[German Vanegas]

Dog muzzles have valid and practical applications, such as to prevent potential aggression, in protection guard training, to comply with local laws, and so forth. The use of a muzzle should not be disregarded as some kind of "evil device", because it is not. It is a matter of personal choice according to specific individual circumstances.

[Burnsway]

Lookie is there not a place such as an extra room or something where you can safely confine your dog while your gone until you have crate trained her. I believe that a muzzle may be ok but I would worry that if she had to drink or if she threw up or something that a muzzle may not be a wise choice for a long unsupervised situation.

I have always just locked my dogs in bedrooms when I can't watch them closely.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Burnsway

I believe that a muzzle may be ok but I would worry that if she had to drink or if she threw up or something that a muzzle may not be a wise choice for a long unsupervised situation.

I completely disagree that the only reason a muzzle isn't a good choice is because of the duration of the unsupervised situation.

A muzzled dog, left alone with children is potentially disastrous! Now you'll have a frustrated dog that can't express itself, feeling defenseless against children that may or may not be behaving properly. Don't forget that now it may be 'fun' to see how the dog reacts to things now that they've got a muzzle on. Also, dogs can still injure children by body checking, stepping on, pushing down and pushing the muzzle into the children. The kids may also feel sorry for the dog and pull off the muzzle. Since this is unsupervised - there's no limits as to what may happen!

As I said above, muzzles have their place - this just is NOT that time, or that place. JMHO

[Burnsway]

Originally Posted by TrishB

I completely disagree that the only reason a muzzle isn't a good choice is because of the duration of the unsupervised situation.


As I said above, muzzles have their place - this just is NOT that time, or that place. JMHO

And I never said it was the only reason Trish. She had already got those points pointed out to her more then once so why repeat them. I chose instead to give her yet "another" reason it may not be a good idea and an alternative idea.

[Major]

This is more a question on what to do with the dog when unsupervised. Lets not turn it into muzzle thread.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by TrishB

I completely disagree that the only reason a muzzle isn't a good choice is because of the duration of the unsupervised situation.

I think that is the main problem, actually. It would be wrong to muzzled a dog for the long period of time she would be away from the children while she is at work. It is not recommended to let a dog muzzled for more than two hours at a time, and still it requires the presence of the dog's handler to supervise the interaction with the children.

Originally Posted by TrishB

As I said above, muzzles have their place - this just is NOT that time, or that place. JMHO

That's correct, given the particular circumstances of this inquiry.

[Lookie]

You guys are all giving great advice, IF I had thought about this LONG before Brian had left! </procrastination>

I'm still going to crate train her. I've thought it was something I've wanted to do for a while now....BUT, my Mom tried Burnsway's solution (thank you) last night. We put her food, bed and water in my room, and AFTER I left the house, she put her up in my room. She was FINE! Phew! There is an outside lock on the top of the door (from when the kids were toddlers) so the kids can't get in to aggravate her.

So thank you again guys. I appreciate your time!