Oftentimes, owners of muzzled dogs are quickly or unfairly judged by those around them who either believe that the dog is aggressive due to being untrained, or that the muzzle is a “cruel” thing for them to wear. We at Mia’s Muzzles aim to change the stigma surrounding muzzles and show just how much of a positive impact they can have on the lives of the dogs and their owners. Dogs are highly intelligent and social creatures. They are emotional beings who can have good days and bad days just like us, and also like us, suffer effects from stress, anxiety, trauma, obsessions, and bad habits which cannot be simply “trained away” in a short period of time.
As nice as it would be to have the opportunity to explain to every passerby and commentator who has their questions, remarks or concerns, there often isn’t much chance for a full conversation as to how and why your dog is muzzled. We asked dog owners to let us know what they would say if given the chance, and their experiences with having a muzzled dog and the public. The responses were incredible, sometimes sad, and also heartwarming. The muzzled dog community is made up of some of the most caring and responsible owners who are doing their duty to keep both their dog and others around them safe, as well as some of the most well-trained dogs out there.
Dog Owners’ Responses
Here are just a few of the dozens of responses we received
“Breaking the stigma is something that is SO important to us – that’s why we’ve been so open and honest with Lucifer’s reactivity online. He looks like a little puppy and is often mistaken for being around 6 months old and people seem to think that means he CAN’T be reactive and will legit argue with me. I was walking through a campground last year and had someone get mad at me for not letting her kids “pet the puppy.” When I explained he was reactive, I was informed he “sure doesn’t look reactive, you obviously just don’t want to do any training and take the easy way out instead,” referring to his muzzle. Like, lady, do you know how much training and conditioning him to be comfortable and confident in his muzzle let alone the work that went into him standing here calmly beside me, not responding to you as you go crazy in front of us….”
“I wish people realized that muzzled dogs have MORE freedom, not less. They can get out more, interact more, and everyone is safer. And that you can condition dogs to be indifferent or even love their muzzles because it means MORE fun stuff in their life 
”
“My shiba boy got attacked by an off lead dog of an irresponsible owner (nowhere in sight when it happened) and became fear reactive. With muzzle I don’t have to leave him behind when we go on hikes, festivals and places with crowds and dogs. It gives him more freedom, not less x”
“She’s dog and people selective, she hasn’t bitten and I want to keep it that way.”
“We muzzle because my dog is very stranger danger aware and does not like people in his space. The vets deserve to feel safe while doing their job and I refuse to risk my dog’s life because entitled people think every dog should be friendly.”
“Can’t you just train your dog?”
Yes. I have. To wear a muzzle, to relax in a muzzle, to act like a normal dog, playing and sniffing and running about. Without the muzzle she is not a relaxed dog. She obsessively finds things to eat. If that’s grass, something dead, something toxic, some hazardous, she dosnt know or care. Find thing chomp thing, repeat.”
“I feel like some people just can’t understand without living through it themselves. My guy has aggression but he’s old now so doesn’t really care as much. But he also eats and swallows everything he can. I hear so many comments along the lines of “try training instead” or “wouldn’t need it if he was trained properly”. He’s a rescue and we did years of training. And still went through 2 surgeries to get obstructions out of his intestines as well as him thankfully passing multiple other items through one end of the other. It’s frustrating hearing people make comments.”
“Since being attacked by two unleashed and roaming dogs while my boy was on a leashed walk, he has a fear of being close to unknown dogs. He needs slow introductions. To ensure no fear reactions, he wears a muzzle to the vet and any other area where we are in tight spaces with other dogs. While he has never bitten before, I do not take any chances. I would like others to know that he is not dangerous simply because he wears a muzzle. The reality is that he is afraid and as a responsible owner, it is my job to take every precaution to ensure safety.”
“I have four dogs. My first, Emma, a working-line border collie, was ‘the perfect dog’ until she hit adolescence. Then those fear-genetics rose with ferocity. Children, other dogs – scared of everything. Which manifests as ‘aggression’ (really she’s just asking the scary thing to go away).
She inspired me to leave my desk job and retrain as a dog behaviourist, specialising in fear and the accompanying aggressive displays.
Since Emma I’ve proactively rescued three more dogs who all struggled with this, and my business is aimed at those people who are shamed, can’t find classes or walkers for their dogs. Their perfect, glorious dogs who are just being dogs, are routinely shunned for being ‘nasty’. And this leads to relinquishment to shelter.
We have to remember that dogs are also animals. Who when frightened do ritualistic animal stuff.
Many, many of the dogs who I work with wear muzzles, for their protection just as much as everyone else’s. And we’re all so proud of them.
They are the BEST dogs. The most wonderful of dogs. The sweetest, gentlest dogs. Who are just scared and need our help.
So, people who stare and shout now? I smile sweetly. I feel a bit sorry for them that they’re so disconnected from our dogs. And I feel blessed every single day that frightened dogs, who wear muzzles, trust me to take them on an adventure.
Literally nothing more life-affirming than that!”
“My dog has to wear a muzzle because of other irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs run up and attack my dog. Now any dog that runs up in his face is seen as a threat. He’s walked on a bright orange harness that displays “no dogs” but almost every single walk there’s an out of control dog “who just wants to say hello”. And everybody knows it’s always the big dog’s fault 
”
“We muzzle (with a Mia’s Muzzle!) because our pup is deaf and can startle/ react at night and in the dark. Part of keeping him conditioned to be happy and healthy in the muzzle is to wear it out and about so it’s a part of normal life, not just a part of his life where he can get scared and react. This way he has a positive association with his muzzle and it doesn’t add to the stress of situations he finds difficult. Also, his muzzle allows his humans to be calmer and more confident in handling him when he startles, which in turn keeps him calmer and more comfortable overall and helps reduce his stress. Most people don’t get muzzles until they get to know a muzzled dog!”
“This….. This is sad. Not the muzzle. The muzzle will prevent this from happening again.” (referring to surgery for foreign body obstruction)
“Kuma has always eaten things he shouldn’t. Everyone always tells us “oh labs eat everything, not a big deal!”. Well, not only did all his scavenging cause him constant GI issues, but Kuma had a partial blockage a few months ago that required multiple days at the vets receiving fluids. He wouldn’t eat, and couldn’t even keep water down. It was very sad to watch.
Thankfully we got it to pass naturally this time, most dogs aren’t so lucky. It was dried up grass and a small wood chip that formed a ball in his small intestine. Items everyone told us were “harmless”. We decided to bring in a trainer to fast track our muzzle training and now kuma has SO much freedom. He goes off leash hiking every weekend. Gets to sniff every grass patch, even the ones covered in wood chips. Gets to lounge in the backyard, without the risk of him gorging on grass & eating rocks. I don’t have to constantly shove my hands in his mouth, which he is understandably not a fan of, and my fingers aren’t at risk of getting caught in between his teeth while he’s trying to chew whatever the item is.
Also, breaking the habit with the muzzle has actually made his behaviours better when we take the muzzle off. He has come such a long way since he started wearing the muzzle, and it has been such a wonderful training tool while we work towards improving this behaviour.
He may never overcome it entirely, and we may never fully trust him. But that’s okay, because the muzzle has allowed him to have a full and enriching life like any other unmuzzled dog.”
“My dog is fear-aggressive. She is the sweetest, cuddliest, best girl but when a dog rushes her and gets into her space, she understandably gets scared and lashes out. She grew up as a stray on a reservation and so undoubtedly has some trauma from that, definitely had some litters of puppies and had to fend for herself for the first year of her life. Plus even if she didn’t, she’s perfectly entitled to her own space when we’re out in public. It’s not fair for other owners to just assume that since their dog is friendly, that they can just let them off leash with little to no recall and let them rush other dogs that are on leash. It’s frustrating and I’ve tried so many other methods. The muzzle is for everyone’s safety, including other peoples pets. My dog and I can finally go on walks in (somewhat) peace with her muzzle and it increases her quality of life immensely.”
“Dogs are not robots, my boy eats rocks and is very dog and people selective.”
