There are times when muzzles are being used for inappropriate reasons. Doing so might cause discomfort and pain to your pet, further leading to other behavioral problems.
As Punishment
If your pet is not trained properly in being muzzled, it could be scary for him, or even perhaps traumatizing. There are owners who think of muzzling as a punishment situation for bad behavior. However, your pet will most likely not associate that bad behavior with the muzzling, making it ineffective in the long run. What it does is just whittle away the bond you have forged with your pet and can just make him snap if he sees the muzzle.
Stopping your Pet from Barking
A muzzle is also sometimes employed to control a dog from barking. This could temporarily work, most especially if the animal is afraid of being muzzled. But the dog could still bark away if the muzzle is attached unless it is overly tightened. The better recommendation is to utilize positive reinforcement when training your pet.
To Control Destructive Behaviors
Should your pet develop the habit of chewing on the items you have at home, keeping him muzzled might be thought of as a solution. But it is not advisable to leave your dog muzzled for extended periods, most especially if unsupervised and the root cause of the destructive behavior is not addressed. It should first be established how come your pet is behaving this way and then work to address it. It could be because he is bored and needs more activities. Your pet can also be stressed due to separation anxiety.
If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, contact your vet clinic London, ON.
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