Muzzling/Responsibility question

F

FinkleyAlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 October 2006
Messages
1,407
Visit site
Hi everyone

My malamute has become somewhat unpredicatable in the last two months when meeting other dogs. She used to be incredibly friendly and submissive untill she was bitten by a small dark dog, but has now become very hit and miss when meeting dogs. 8 times out of 10 she'll get on with them fine and runs and plays with them, the other two times (particularly if they're small or dark) she'll go for them - she never bites but makes growling noises and generally winds the other dog up. This generally happens when the other dogs are snappy at her, but obviously as she's a big wolf-like dog it's very scary for the other dog and their owners. Initially we gave her the benefit of the doubt and kept her on the lead whilst being walked but she'd been so good with every dog that she met that we decided to let her off - her recall is usually pretty good but being a malamute there are times when she pretends she can't hear us. However a few days later she went back to her old behaviour, and back onto the lead.

She now wears a muzzle when she goes to any public parks, and has been kept on the lead so far. I feel awful as she's a big dog and needs to run and absolutely loves to be social when she likes the other dog, but as we live in London there aren't many large parks where she won't come across other dogs. Would it be completely irresponsible to let her off the lead (muzzled) or is she somewhat doomed to a life on the lead?
 
Last edited:
I'm prepared to be shot down here, but I can't see the harm in her running off the lead (if she is muzzled) as surely she can't do any harm. As you say - she is a big dog and needs her exercise. Maybe if the memory of the dog who nipped her fades in a while, then you can start to take the muzzle off for short periods (with friend's dogs etc) and wean her off using it.

Fiona
 
I would get her into some training classes.

I would say if you know she is not going to go round the corner and pull the muzzle off and you know she won't run to far away from you then go for it.

Make sure you can always see her so she doesn't get hooked on anything and hurt herself.
 
I honestly believe that many dogs become defensive when on a lead, and will sense your aprehension through the lead when others approach or are around.
I think that a well fitted, muzzled dog running free is more relaxed and sociable than an unmuzzled one on a lead. Obviously i'm generalising massively here but most dog owners would see that you have taken steps to prevent her causing harm to others but giving her a degree of freedom to get her confidence back with other dogs.

Good luck if that's what you decide! :)
 
Thanks everyone. She goes to training once a week and has done since October ish - she has passed her bronze award and is working for her silver - can do near enough any trick you ask her to and will whizz around an agility course perfectly, she's also clicker trained. She's fine with the dogs in her class (bar one who sets her off by snapping at her) but as soon as she's in a park it's like her brain flies out of the window and she forgets all her training. I think we will keep the muzzle on and let her off the lead when we can't see any dogs around (unless we have their permission) - occasionally we've let her off and she's been great untill she sees a small dog on the other side of the park and flies off and all her recall/training skills go out of the window!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top