is it okay to put a muzzle on my dog at night so he won't bark?

Question

he's driving everyone nuts at sleeptime. i lock him inside his cage and cover it with a sheet but he'll start barking at the slightest sound that he hears. since i live in a apartment building with outdoor hallways, it's hard not to hear anyone walk by. i just wanted to know if he can sleep all right the muzzle on. and does it have to be tight?

Answer 1

Chamomile tea works very well, and is safe for him.
Dump it out of the teabag, and use 1 teaspoon for small breed, up to 1 tablespoon for a large breed. Mix it in a little canned food, such as Mighty Dog, or Cesar's, and give about 30 minutes before bedtime... It will keep him happy, but reduce stress. It can be given as needed.
He should sleep through the night, and it will be much safer then muzzling him..
to be forced to sleep with a muzzle will be very traumatizing, and add to his insecurity issues, and make his problems so much worse..
I had several Dobermans that were motion detectors, and my vet recommended the chamomile, so we could get some sleep..works like a charm!
You will find it in your grocer's tea section..
Steep a nice cup for yourself, and wake up refreshed..

Answer 2

I'm a vet technician and the anwser to your question is no...a muzzle is used for short procedures only...a dog cannot pant with a muzzle on...this could case heat stroke...never leave a muzzle on for more than 10 minutes, less if the weather is warm...
Instead, you may need to try some other training techniques or a bark collar...living in an apartment with a barker can be a real problem...research bark collars and conditioning techniques...good luck!

Answer 3

Do not put a muzzle on your dog at night, you could very possibly kill him by doing that. Dogs release heat by panting, they need to pant. By putting a muzzle on him you are restricting him from panting. He can get overheated which in turn could kill him. Muzzles are used to keep dogs from biting, and even then they are not left on for a long period of time. Dogs get stressed by being restricted, too much stress is not good on them. Try getting a toy called an everlasting treat ball. They sell them at Petsmart. The ball itself is a little expensive, but the treats that go in them are not too bad in price. The expense is well worth it because it keeps dogs busy for hours on end. They really stay occupied with trying to eat the treat. Why dont you also try not caging him at night, the barking could be caused from that also. He knows you are home and all he wants to do is be around you. Dogs are mans best friend for a reason, they are there to love and comfort you. He may just want to be near you instead of being trapped in a cage. Just another bit of advice, it is not good to put a sheet over his cage at night. This can also cause him to overheat. He needs a fresh airflow just like we do. Putting a sheet over his cage can make him very nervous. I witnessed someone not thinking in an animal hospital that put a towel over a cage because a dog would not stop barking, The dog overheated, collapsed, and died. The person just didnt know that this would cause a dog to possibly overheat and now learned their lesson the hard way. Just please do not muzzle him.

Answer 4

My aunt in Singapore keeps 5 Chihuahuas. At night, we lock them up together in the kitchen with beds for them to sleep in. I know it might be different while my aunt has 5 dogs while you only have one. But I don't really agree in putting a muzzle for your dog. It depends how long it has be barking at nights. If it's been barking for a long time, probably it feels that something's not right, so you should let it sleep with you for just one night on the bed or in your room. If it's just only barking for a few nights, it's maybe because it was a bit too happy that day, but it'll eventually stop. Try making the place it sleeps, more comfortable and secure. Teach it that it's naughty for it to bark.

Answer 5

No, please don't muzzle the dog all night long. If the dog gets too excited he won't be able to properly cool himself down as he can't pant all that well if the muzzle is one of those ones that keep the mouth completely shut. If he can't cool down he could work himself into a fever which would be really bad for the dog, not to mention cruel.

Maybe you could move his cage into one of the more inside rooms of your apartment, maybe in your bedroom with you? Or get something that makes a "white noise" which will make it harder for him to hear all of the outside foot traffic. Or even leaving a radio on to a classical station or the tv on a soothing channel would help block out some of the noise.

Good luck!

Answer 6

C'mon, dogs are dogs, and they bark :-) it type of feels that your dogs has an extremely sturdy guarding/protection instinct and he or she is taking the job of caution and calling the %. at the same time very heavily. it could be that she perceives the open door as a detrimental difficulty and he or she wanting to guard it. it really is by no skill uncommon, the overdue GSD of my father and mom would behave the exact same way even as they left the door open. only for a short alleviation: possibly making an investment in a doggie-door would help? the first dogs would have an decision to go out and the barking one does not likely ideas. As a couple of minutes period answer, wearing a muzzle (light-weight, breathable you may decrease the barking. Then, you'll want to have a nearer seem at barking behaviors of the 2d dogs. How is she behaving? Is she worried? aggressive? frightened? without information what motives her to act like that each and every thing you are able to attempt are in basic terms quick fixes - which, as you've already considered would or received't artwork. a good commence os to understand your dogs's body language more effective perfect, there's a astounding e book by technique of Turid Rudgass "On speaking words with dogs" - I truly recommend it. Then there's a effective watchdog habit rationalization in Stanley Coren's "Intelligence of dogs". Dr. Ian Dunbar has a section on correcting barking behaviors with positive techniques in his e book "a thanks to coach a clean dogs old tricks" Why those books? because for me (and so on I shared my comprehend-how with) they proved to furnish a lot sounder suggestion that those bunches of Cesar Milan's clones wannabe dogs "operating shoes". it could be also interesting why the first dogs pees interior: are there some well being subject matters or the potty preparation is incompete? i comprehend, i have written a lot, yet i believe there received't needed be a short restoration on your challenge.

Answer 7

A muzzle wont stop him making noise, it will however stop him being able to drink, and probably stress him out even more then he already is.

Your dog is stressed being locked up like a caged bird, you probably need to make other sleeping arrangements for the dog.

Maybe you need to let the dog have a bigger room, or teach it to have its own sleeping corner and bed, something the dog will feel comfortable in.

As for the barking, its a dog, you cant stop it wanting to bark, but you may be able to teach it to stop by positive re enforcement, do a bit research on dog training.

This web site may be useful for you:
http://www.dogtraininghq.com/

Answer 8

Think about it this way....would YOU like a muzzle on you while you sleep?

Have you put your dog through training? If not, do so. If so, you might want to consider a new trainer. Most dogs who bark "out of control" (basically at any sound) do so from lack of training. My inlaws have a dog that used to do the same. Thing is that you don't want to prevent the dog from being able to bark....because one day that bark might just be a necessary thing for you to hear.

Answer 9

a properly applied muzzle will keep a dog from biting. The only way it will prevent barking, is if it is too tight. If it is too tight, it hurts the dog's muzzle and, at the very least, will irritate his skin.

Why does he have to stay in a cage? He is barking to warn you that "danger" is near. Your dog will feel more secure and you will get more rest, if let him sleep in your room with you. Geez, he is in the cage, he can't see you, and he hears something coming...he is trying to do his job and protect you. Think about it from his perspective for a moment.

Answer 10

No, that's cruel. And besides, muzzles only help prevent bites not barks. It sounds like he's home by himself during the day for a period of time and when you get home and get ready for bed, he's not ready. I think your dog needs more excersize, at least a long walk when you get home. This will tire him out and he'll be less hyper, and more inclined to sleep during the night.