Eating stuff

[Misty Taylor]

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Hello
Does anyone have experience of using a muzzle on a young whippet. Really don't want to take this route but Misty eats anything she comes across, including poo, and last week had a traumatic afternoon at the vets after eating a surgical glove.

 

[JudyN]

Not a whippet, but a lurcher...

You need a basket muzzle that allows her to pant and drink. The muzzles that hold the mouth shut can be dangerous, particularly if the dog runs, and are also unpleasant for the dog - imagine being gagged. I'd recommend something like this: https://www.themuzzleshop.com/product-page/lightweight-running-race-muzzle-whippet

Bear in mind that it won't stop poo eating, and if she does eat poo while wearing it you then need to whip it off quickly before she goes and greets someone.... But poo is likely to be a lot less harmful than surgical gloves and similar.

I started muzzle training by smearing peanut butter on the inside and holding it while Jasper stuck his nose in and licked it. When you get to the point where she's really keen to stick her nose in, you can hold the straps behind her head, and progress to fastening and unfastening it. Then extend the time it's on for, while distracting her with more treats, or a bit of training, or whatever. Then take it outside, and just gradually build up the time it's on for. If she's fretting and trying to get it off, it may be that you're going too fast and/or not building in enough fun distractions.

In the meantime, work on 'leave' and 'drop' cues. Even if they never work if she discovers something really delicious, hopefully she'll learn that what you have to offer is at least more fun than a surgical glove. With limited opportunities to eat stuff she shouldn't, as she matures she should grow out of eating anything and everything.