Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Using Dog Muzzle - Understanding Why Dogs Nip or Bite

It is rare that a muzzle is necessary for a
domestic dog. Too often, a muzzle is used by dog
owners unwilling or not patient enough to train
their dog correctly. A muzzle, either a wire
basket or a buckled piece of fabric or leather,
is placed over a dog's snout to restrict his
ability to open his mouth. It is often used for
dogs with a tendency to nip or bite, and more
rarely on dogs whose owners feel bark excessively.

Dog training is a necessary part of dog
ownership, and one that is often neglected, at
least in part, by dog owners. Training can be
arduous, and it can take weeks for a dog to learn
not to behave in a certain way or how to do a
certain task, and many owners, especially those
with busy lives and full time jobs, will leave
the training until too late, or sometimes lose
patience.

Nipping is a natural dog behavior and, as such,
you can expect a new dog to nip. Although it is
an instinctive behavior, it does not mean that it
is an acceptable form of behavior. It is not
difficult to train a dog not to nip and bite.

Firstly, let's understand where dogs pick up
their instinctive nipping and biting behaviors.

While there are canines of many species, from
coyotes, wolves to dingos and dogs, all canines
have certain traits in common. When you relate
your dog to the canine family, you should also
know that domestic dogs are the offsprings of
only one direct ancestor - the gray wolf. Over
the years, these "gray wolves" have slowly been
bred for various tasks, be it the speed and
agility of hunting, the powerful nose of a
tracking dog, the strength of a fighting or guard
dog, or simply for the soft and cuddly pleasure
of companionship.

Wolves have a pack structure that relies on
dominance, and while dogs have been bred to be
submissive, to look at you as boss and leader,
this innate need for hierarchy and leadership
remains. Because the wolf pack structure is so
essential in the wild, wolves constantly test
each other to make sure the leaders of the pack
truly should be the leaders. This is done by
play.

Wolves, dogs, and every canine in between, love
to play. It is common to see dogs chase and
wrestle one another in the dog park. Dog owners
are usually very worried when they see their dogs
wrestling and putting their mouths on each others
neck, however these behaviors are very common
when dogs are playing. Nevertheless, this play
has undertones of dominance. In the wild, while
having a great time together, two wolves would be
testing each other while they play-fought, trying
to ascertain whether or not the other animal was
stronger.

Dogs do the same thing. When a dog is wrestled
onto its back or flops over in front of another,
it is in a submissive position, meaning that the
other dog is the "top dog". Because this is a
dog's primary mode of playing, he will try to
play in this way with you. This can be a great
way to bond with your pet, however the nipping
could cause your less dog-friendly acquaintances
to worry or call the police on you.

Training a dog not to nip should be a simple
task. It is vital for you to understand that if
you do not want your dog to nip, you should not
encourage it. The commonly accepted way to train
this out is to yelp loudly as if you are in pain
when a dog puts its mouth on you even for a
second. Reward him when he removes his mouth.

If your dog is very persistent, a muzzle may be
an effective way to curb the behavior. A muzzle
should never be a punishment. Make sure your dog
is comfortable around the muzzle first. Lay it
out and allow him to sniff it, and get used to
it. Later, try touching it on your dogs face.
Finally, put it on your dog and remove it soon
after, slowly working the amount of time it is on
your dog's snout up until he is comfortable
wearing it for an extended period of time.

You must remember that having a muzzle on your
dog will restrict his ability to eat, drink and
pant properly. You should not muzzle your dog for
long period of time.

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