Training your dog to wear a muzzle

Whether you need to train your dog to wear a muzzle due to the Dangerous Dog Act, or you’re being a responsible owner and safeguarding your dog and others, this step by step guide to training your dog to wear a muzzle is going to provide you structure and clear guidance.

The worst thing we can do to dogs that need to wear a muzzle is to put one on and hope for the best. Most dogs will not enjoy this, and it can set your training back miles. The muzzle needs to be a good thing; a fantastic treat dispenser!

Ensure that you have a suitable sized muzzle before starting, as a muzzle that is too small or big can cause discomfort and your dog may be reluctant to engage in training. The muzzle shouldn’t be more than a couple of CMs longer than the dog’s nose, and there should be enough space in the basket for your dog to fully pant and drink water. Larger gaps in the muzzle are going to be useful for providing reinforcement, but not so large that it becomes a safety concern.

At the end of the guide we have provided some information on the push/drop/stick method to help with making progress and knowing when to go back and make it easier. We have also included an empty chart with the muzzle steps listed!

Muzzle training your dog; step by step

Step 1. Have the muzzle on floor and place treats around the muzzle to build a positive association. Repeat this multiple times at random points.

Step 2. Have the muzzle on floor and place some treats inside muzzle.

Step 3. Have the muzzle in your hand and place some treats at the muzzle entrance.

Step 4. Have the muzzle in your hand and lure the dog fully into muzzle by holding a treat through the end of the muzzle. Mark with a ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats through the muzzle (you can put a few treats in at one time, but it would be good to do a couple treats one at a time too).

Step 5. Have the muzzle in your hand and lure the dog fully into the muzzle by holding the treats just outside the end of the muzzle. Mark with a ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and feed multiple treats through the muzzle.

Step 6. As above, lure the dog fully into the muzzle with the treats just outside. Wait 1 second, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and feel multiple treats through the muzzle.

Step 7. As above but wait 2 seconds.

Step 8. As above but wait 3 seconds.

Step 9. Present the muzzle to your dog (without placing any treats in the muzzle or on the outside) and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and feed multiple treats into the end of the muzzle.

Step 10. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Wait 1 second, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle.

Step 11. As above but wait 2 seconds.

Step 12. As above but wait 3 seconds.

Step 13. As above but wait 4 seconds.

Step 14. As above but wait 5 seconds.

When moving onto the next steps involving the straps, it may be useful to sit in a chair and have the muzzle on your lap or between your legs in order to free up your hands.

Step 15. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Move your hand towards the straps, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle. (You may have to break this step down by only moving your hand a couple of CMs towards the straps at a time).

Step 16. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Move your hands to touch the straps, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle.

Step 17. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Lift the straps, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle.

Step 18. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Lift the straps behind your dog’s ears, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle.

Step 19. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Hold the straps together, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’, and feed multiple treats into the end of muzzle.

Step 20. Use soft, lickable, food (peanut butter, squeezy cheese, yoghurt etc), and smear a small amount into the end of the muzzle. Have your dog target the muzzle, and whilst they’re licking the food, do the straps up. Mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and reward with a treat through the end. Undo and take off the muzzle.

Step 21. Using soft, lickable, food, have your dog dog target muzzle. Whilst they’re licking, do the straps up. Wait 1 second, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and reward with a treat through the end. Undo and take off the muzzle.

Step 22. As above but wait 2 seconds.

Step 23. As above but wait 3 seconds.

Step 24. As above but wait 4 seconds.

Step 25. As above but wait 5 seconds.

Step 26. Present the muzzle to your dog and wait for your dog to target the muzzle with their nose fully inside. Do the straps up, mark ‘yes’ or ‘good’ and reward with a treat through the end. Undo and take off the muzzle.

Repeat the above, building up duration.

Once your dog is comfortable wearing the muzzle for longer periods of time in the house, move the training to an outside space, such as your garden. Be aware that you will likely have to go back a couple of steps when practising in a new space.

Push/Drop/Stick

This method of training is relatively simple. You attempt a step in a training plan with 5 repetitions. If your dog is successful on 4 or 5 of the attempts, then you move to the next step (push). If they are successful for 3 of the attempts, you stay on that step and repeat the repetitions (stick). If the dog is successful on only 1 or 2 (maybe even 0!) of the attempts, then you go back to a step that the dog found easier and repeat that step (drop). We’ve split this plan up into small, bite sized steps, but If you find that your dog is struggling when trying to get to the next step, then look to see if there is a way to make that step easier; count in half seconds, use smaller hand movements, try higher value food etc.

Download the muzzle training push/drop/stick plan here