Harry the husky limped through the glass doors of the clinic. His injured leg made it hurt to walk. To add insult to injury, he suddenly realized he was at the doctor’s office. What? How could his human mom do such a thing to him when he already felt terrible? What’s next? He thought he knew: poking, prodding, maybe a sharp little pinch. Fear sidled in, and his body trembled.

How does Harry usually behave? When he’s not in pain and fearful, he is joyous, silly, an accomplished hide-the-sock player and an aspiring rock-and-roll singer. Today, though, he wonders if his mom betrayed him, and his instinct is to protect himself. He has tools for that: snapping, lunging, biting. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but his fear overrides his judgment.

“Even normally gentle dogs can be reactive in certain circumstances, but that does not mean they are bad dogs,” said Dr. Kathy Passinault. “They just need a little help to ensure the safety of those around them, and muzzles prevent the opportunity to fail.”

Muzzling a dog – even a usually gentle pupster – gives peace of mind that there will not be unfortunate incidents. “Even though a lot of owners think of their pets as furry kids, we have to acknowledge they are not,” said Passinault. “They are domestic animals, but when they are sick, injured or fearful, they have the same instinctual capacity for self-preservation and unpredictability as wild animals.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, last year there were about 4.5 million dog bites recorded in the United States, and as expected, about half of those bitten were children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report in fall 2023 showing statistics for deaths from dog attacks. During the documented period between 2011 and 2021, the most recent available years, the nationwide death rate averaged about 43 per year.

Consumer Affairs reports the number of claims and costs related to dog bites is rapidly rising, with the average cost per claim rising 86 percent in the past 10 years. Passinault recalls stories about startled dogs snapping at a simple hand movement, noise anxiety evoking a fight rather than flight response, pups grabbing children who reached for a toy, or dogs so afraid visiting a veterinarian that they bare their teeth and growl a warning.

“It happens all the time, and most often we don’t see it coming. It occurs at home, in public and even at the veterinarian’s office. Few owners believe their dogs will ever injure someone, but it happens. That’s why as health-care providers, we encourage muzzle training. It reduces the risk of unexpected bites.”

Passinault explained that not all dogs need to be muzzle trained, but she finds it interesting that muzzle-trained dogs often seem less stressed than many other dogs during exams. “The muzzle is just part of their normal routine. From a doctor’s perspective, we see owners with less anxiety about their dog hurting someone, and we have even better results from the exam. With a less stressed dog and without concern for staff safety, we can be more thorough. It’s a win-win.”

When dogs wear muzzles for short periods of time as part of their regular activities, it’s not scary when owners slip them over their pets’ snouts every time they go to certain places, including the clinic.

“Of course, the easiest training starts when they’re babies, but even adult dogs can be muzzle trained,” said Passinault. “Like anything you do with your pet, the best results come from positive associations. The first step is choosing a good basket muzzle, because those don’t inhibit a dog’s ability to enjoy most activities. That style still allows for getting treats, panting and vocalizing. It might present obstacles in sock-hiding competitions, though.”

Passinault said owners can start training by gently slipping the muzzles over the snout, and at first just leaving them on for brief periods. “Pass a treat through, so your fur baby realizes right away the muzzle doesn’t get in the way of the good stuff. Gradually increase how long the muzzle is on, and then start activities like walking, playing or conducting your usual training exercises with treats. The dog will then have positive associations.”

Regular training treats work for many dogs, but high value treats like bits of liver paste, squeeze cheese or peanut butter may encourage the more reluctant pupils, she said.

Passinault noted that gently touching and handling muzzled dogs can be a plus in their health-care environments. “When the muzzle is on, mimic the ways veterinarians and staff gently touch them. Stroke them, knead along the curves of their bellies and peek in their ears so they’ll be more relaxed during their clinic visits. For the best outcomes, muzzle dogs before they arrive for appointments.”

Learn more about dog behaviors and safety at the Muzzle Project.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 414-421-1800 or visit https://greendalevillagevet.com/