Should a dog that needs a muzzle be off the lead?

Spudlet

Spudlet

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Genuine question... I met a situation today that made me wonder.

I was walking Henry and noticed a dog running free ahead of his owners. He was on a side path that ended in a gate so wasn't overly bothered (not that I worry anyway) but then I did a double take because I realised the dog was muzzled.

We were on a circular walk and a couple of miles later we met this dog again. This time it was on the lead and not wearing its muzzle. I recognised it, so put Henry on his lead. However, then his owner got hauled by this dog over to us (it was a big dog and just had a normal collar on). However his owner was totally relaxed about it and actually the dog sniffed noses nicely although I was having a small heart attack as you can imagine! So not sure where the dog's issues lay.

I just wondered whether it might have been better to have the dog on a long line even though it was muzzled? I think it's important for dogs to get the chance for a free run, but it was a busy area with lots of families around and you just wonder if it was the best place for a dog in need of a muzzle (for whatever reason) to be totally off the lead. Obviously I only know what I saw though, so there could be all sorts of reasons behind it... but generally what do you think?

I'd just be concerned about such a big dog knocking someone over if it became agressive, even with a muzzle on.
 
PS - it wasn't a greyhound! And I don't think it was a lurcher (though that is harder to tell) - only just thought of that possibility!
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It looked a bit stockier than most sighthound breeds seem to be, but could have been a crossbreed?

That's probably it, am a bit embarrassed not to have thought of that
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I have no idea, other than just like you came to think about Greyhounds, it isn't only dog/human aggression that makes people want their dog to wear a muzzle, maybe it tries to kill cats/rabbits or something? Maybe the owner thinks that if the dog runs up to somebody wearing a muzzle, they'll be able to see that the dog can't bite them? I'm really only guessing.

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As suggested it could have been muzzled for the purpose of preventing it kill small furries, either way, I don't see a prob with muzzled dogs being off lead, I do think the dog should be responsibly recalled like any other when another dog is approaching.
 
I know a dog that wears a muzzle to stop it eating anything and everything it finds on a walk! Maybe the dog wasn't agressive.
 
Was just going to say the same as RLD. Some dogs make themselves stupid-sick with eating poo, dead fish, dead whatever, wrappers etc - costs the owners much less in vet bills this way!
 
I used to muzzle my Dally on ocassions because he raided dustbins and pic-nics!!!!!!! Not because hes was aggressive! I suppose it depends on the reason they're muzzled.

But what I really really hate since we got our new dog are the amount of people that let their dog say hello to mine without asking and by just assuming its OK. I'm trying to train mine and could do without irrisponsible dog owners to get in the way!!!!
 
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I used to muzzle my Dally on ocassions because he raided dustbins and pic-nics!!!!!!! Not because hes was aggressive! I suppose it depends on the reason they're muzzled.

But what I really really hate since we got our new dog are the amount of people that let their dog say hello to mine without asking and by just assuming its OK. I'm trying to train mine and could do without irrisponsible dog owners to get in the way!!!!

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Ditto this basically.

Dougal was for a time muzzled as he eats all sorts of rubbish
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Hadn't thought of that either
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I wouldn't let Henry run up to another dog that is on the lead but I would tend to assume that a dog off the lead is ok and leave him to it since I know he is friendly!
 
I am going to muzzle millie at the yard as she eats copious amounts of fresh poo.... and stinks to high heaven for ages afterwards as it all gets stuck in her beard!!

I also met a collie with a cow bell on (other days it wears a muzzle) as it keeps catching rabbits, but not quite killing them
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That's interesting - I was thinking about putting a bell on Henry as he keeps vanishing into cover
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He isn't much good at catching bunnies but I do prefer to know where he is!
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lol - think Henry might need something a bit smaller than a cow bell - might have to try it and see what happens
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Fortunately he has only ever caught one rabbit and it was half dead anyway, I think the healthy rabbits of Norfolk are safe for the time being
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But I hate it when he vanishes, he's never that far away but he can pop out anywhere!
 
My greyhound is muzzled when hes let off in a new area, purely because he likes to do what his job intended him for, killing rabbits/squirrels/pigeons and he just happens to be a very good hunter.
Th only other time I've muzzled him is when we went on a greyhound walk (there were 40 greyhounds) and I wasn't sure how he would react to a big number of dogs, but he happened to be fine
 
I attach a fishing bell to my dog as he tends to do vanishing tricks and rather than nag him to death I use one of these. it has a crocodile clip and two bells attached to it and my Oh clips it to his rod so he can hear when he gets a bite.. Clips nicely onto his collar and should he get tangled on anything it will just come off. Works a treat!
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ooo that could work for Henry... might have to venture into an angling shop at some point soon
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Also I could take it off the rest of the time so it isn't like living my life in some kind of permanent 'Jingle Bells' Santa Claus theme park...
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My OH laughs at my dog because the bells are quite girly too.. Sammy on the other hand thinks, well I have a girls name so why the hell not!!
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He never bothers with it, my bells are a little rusty now though so may have to invest in a new set
 
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