What Type of Muzzle Is Best?

[Patty1231]

I need to get my 16 month old male a muzzle for car rides 'cause he keeps chewing on the harness and seatbelt (previous thread). I bought a Four Paws Quick-Fit Muzzle, Size 5XL, but he is able to get it off even when I tighten it up. Is it too big - should I have gotten the Size 5 (it looked too small but I haven't tried it) - or is there a better muzzle I should be looking into. He's a short-snouted rottie and mid-snout measures 11.5 inches. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Rott-Wiley]

When I was in the service, back in the '60, every dog had a Box Muzzle to wear when they had to go to the monthly vet visit. You can get one like it at: http://www.upco.com/cgi-bin/Upcol.st...73e/Search/Run

Type in muzzle in the search window and hit enter. It is the Vinyl Boxer Muzzle on top for $8.55. They are the best IMO.

[TrinityRun]

Will a crate fit in the vehicle? Much less stress than a muzzle.

[Patty1231]

I drive a small car (Ford ZX2) so a crate won't fit. He rides in the back seat because he's too big for the front. I'd love to have an SUV but that's not an option for me.

[TrinityRun]

I would suggest teaching the dog the "leave it" command. There are several excellent threads in the archives here for more information on that.

I would not muzzle the dog if I didn't have to. Train first.

[Patty1231]

He does know the leave it command and this works while we're in the car but, as we drive along, he's back at it. I can't watch him and the road at the same time and by the time I notice he's chewing again he's half or all the way through either the harness, the strap, or the seatbelt. Do you think it would help if I left the harness on him around the house so he got more used to it? I thought of trying this but it doesn't help much for right now when we are in the car. He went through the drivers seatbelt when he was younger. Since wearing the harness, he has chewed through his roadie three times, part way into one of my rear seatbelts (about 1/2 inch), and has attempted to ruin his new harness and the seatbelt strap it attaches to. It's not like he's real restricted in the back seat. It is small so movement is limited anyway - the harness and strap really don't limit his movement that much - he's able to go from one side of the seat to the other and lay down. He just doesn't like the harness, I think.:(

[JD102175]

Have you tried giving him a toy or bone to keep him occupied while he's back there?


Jaime

[Patty1231]

Yes, a rope and a chew bone. I think he just doesn't like the harness so I've started wearing it on him when we go for walks to get him used to it and have him associate it with a good thing. We're never in the car more than 30 minutes and that's to training classes once a week. Usual trips are 10-15 minutes. Hopefully, this will work; if it doesn't, I'm gonna have to go the muzzle route.:(