Muzzle Your Dog

Article source: http://editorials.arrivenet.com/. Used with author's permission.

In a world filled with over 100 breeds of dogs, finding the right one for you can be quite a challenge. Being able to research the different characteristics brought to the table by different dogs, can be fun as well as mis-guiding. Talking to trainers and so called experts in a dog related field is confusing to say the least as they all have differing opinions on anything from training and behavior, to nutrition and well being.

A topic of conversation that is however an issue agreed on by all is the fact that dog attacks in our country are at a level of occurrence that is startling, and it is up to us the dog owners to rectify this unsettling trend before we develop an era in which dogs of all breeds are shunned.

The biggest concern that I have is that people do not do the research before attaining a dog. Different breeds of dogs bring different attributes to the table, and by not familiarizing ourselves with what these attributes are, we are potentially inviting trouble to come our way.

The issue of dog "danger lists" has become quite relevant as of late due to the large amount of dog attacks in the last year or so. The sad thing is that this could and still can be prevented. The stupidist thing people tell me is that their dog would never do that! Do what exactly? Eat garbage, pee in the house, attack an innocent person or fellow canine?

I must admit that I am one of those people myself, however owning a Labrador Retriever, the burden of responsibility for me is not the same as it is for somebody acquiring or already owning a breed of dog that is known to be potentially dangerous.

The next question is how do we know which dogs are potentially dangerous? The answer to this is simple:

Dog attacks have been occurring in our society for as long as man has been in existence: and however all not reported, the fact that they are occurring in the first place tells us that we maybe trying to hard to domesticate our four-legged friends. Researching dog attacks that have been reported over the last 5 years, will lead you to the conclusion that their are 4 to 5 main pure or mix breeds of dogs listed as the attack dog. Back yard breeders do nothing to help the situation. Breeding dogs specifically to fight, or simply for the fun of watching two dogs mate, is a sure sign of the irresponsibility that we, supposedly the know-it-all race have shown and our continuing to show on a daily basis.

So what do we do to ensure that the number of dog attacks goes down instead of continuing to rise? By swallowing our egos and concerning ourselves with the safety of others instead of displaying stubborn determination to ensure that our dogs live as carefree as possible.

Solution

- Muzzle your dog in public - I cant tell you how angry I get at people when they tell me that they don't muzzle their dog because the dog doesn't like it! Dogs do not have the same thought capability as us humans. Ramifications do not concern the dog, it is the owner that has to deal with resulting behavior from their pet. Your dog may have a biting incident and forget about it a second later, where as you the handler, are left with the resulting traumatic situation whatever that may be.

The fact that your dog does not like wearing a muzzle should be irrelevant! By fussing frantically when you attempt to put the muzzle on your dog, the dog is obviously showing discomfort and stubbornness. Eventually tossing the muzzle aside and commencing your walk without it, is the worst thing you could possibly do! By doing this, you are telling your dog that if he fusses long and hard enough, he will eventually brake you! This is a terrible habit to get into because it in turn leads to other negative behaviors developing due to you, the owner's inconsistency in asserting the pack leadership with your dog.

We all know that the best way to avoid STD'S is to practice abstinence. Although this practice can be hard for some, it does attain the desired result, which is STD free. When you put a muzzle on your dog, put the muzzle on your dog! Act like it is a normal everyday event. Do not fuss over your dog, and do not give in to his persistent struggle to free himself. If the dog senses that you will crack if he puts up enough of a fuss, then he has already won. Putting the muzzle on your dog should be understood by your dog as a fact of life. Wearing a muzzle does not in anyway hurt your dog. What it does is keep his mouth closed disabling his bite! Now why is this a bad thing?

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