Do muzzles work to keep dogs from barking?

Question

I have tried the static shock collars with not-so-great results. I am considering a citronella collar also, but I just need something that works. I have considered a surgical de-bark procedure, but that is expensive in addition to being semi-permanent and somewhat cruel. I want to hear about effective options about keeping my dogs quiet besides getting rid of them (it's coming to that if I can't keep them quiet).

I tell them "ENOUGH!" whenever they get started, but I have to get up 3-4 times a night and 5-6 times a day to tell them.

I probably need to find them a good home...I don't hardly have anything to do with them but feed them and tell them "ENOUGH!"

So, do muzzles actually work? If I take them to the shelter here, I may as well just shoot them myself. The shelter here is full of shepard mixes that won't find homes.

thanks for helping me think it out.

Answer 1

No, form all of my past experience with dogs, muzzles aren't good for barking, or for The dog itself. I really suggest you use a citronella collar to stop it. If the dog is barking, it might ant something (i.e. Outside, play) if it needs to go out, you need to take it out. If it just wants to play, well, The citronella collar will help there. My dog was barking so bad, the police came and threatened to have him put down if he didn't stop, next day, we bought the citronella collar, and poof! He stopped. we took it off, he didn't bark anymore.

Answer 2

Depending on the muzzle, yes, it will prevent barking. However, that is NOT a solution to the problem. Nor is debarking, which is more than "somewhat" cruel.

If you truly have nothing to do with them but feeding and yelling at them, I think you have probably hit on the problem. These dogs need more structure, more mental and physical exercise, and more companionship! If you can't provide that, they are better off in another home.

Without knowing more about the circumstances surrounding the barking I can't give any other suggestions. You might contact a trainer if you want to actually do something to change their behavior instead of just squashing the symptom.

Answer 3

Have you tried obedience training? There are many great books in the library on this subject. Muzzles may help as long as they are secure, but they would have to be removed a few times a day so the animal could eat and drink water. But, then again, a dog needs to be able to pant, as this is how they sweat. If they can't pant, they could become overheated. Surgical removal of the animals voice-box does seem very cruel, but some people have done this in order to keep their pet and avoid law-suits from neighbors.
First, you will need to establish your dominence. You need to be the "top dog" and not allow your pets to "rule"you.
Put a leg on either side of them, with them standing between your legs. Make them stay there by holding onto the collar.
Another thing to remember is: NEVER allow your dog to put his paws up on your lap or jump up onto you in any way. To the dog, this shows you are NOT the top dog and they are running the show.
Use a loud, harsh voice when commanding them to stop barking. Use a leash if you have to and gently but firmly tug on the leash when they bark, for any reason. Show them you are boss and they need to listen to you.
One thing I have used in the past, that works and is animal behavior: when a dog (or cat) does something wrong, grab them by the scruff of their neck and slightly shake, while saying NO in a firm voice. This does not hurt the pet and is what the mother animal will do (and not as gently as you do it) when her pup or kit gets out of hand.
There is a multitude of ideas. Try many, be consistant, be firm, take the upper hand, become the top dog.

Answer 4

Muzzles are not a good idea for anti-barking. Although most dogs are nasal breathers they tend to exhale more through their mouth when they sleep, and if they get hot they cannot pant to cool themselves. Citronella does help to some degree, but I would suggest them sleeping in your room and keeping a spray bottle handy, they bark, you spray and give them a firm NO. You are right about a shelter not placing a Shepard mix, Shepard's are on a non adoptable list along w/ pits, Akita's, malamutes and others. If you really must get rid of them try placing them in a home yourself. Do a home visit w/ whomever wants them, type up an agreement that if it does not work they come back yo you. You may also want to look for a no kill rehabilitation adoption group.

Answer 5

To stop them from barking try putting about five pennys in an old pop can and shake it if shaking it don't work throw the can in the DIRECTION of the dog NOT AT him just towards him. It makes an horrible sound that dogs do not like.Muzzle's do not always work even thou they might help but that would be mean if the muzzle is left on all the time, muzzle's are made for dogs that bite .

Answer 6

I once had an elderly lady for a friend. She had a wonderful little dog. A mix of some sort. She had the dog trained well and it behaved very well. Learn here https://tr.im/nuwH0

She kept an uncovered candy dish on her coffee table with candy in it. The dog was forbidden to eat the candy. When she was in the room observing the dog he did not even appear to notice the candy. One day while she was in her dinning room she happened to look in a mirror and could see her dog in the living room. He did not know he was being watched. For several minutes he was sitting in front of the candy bowl staring at the candy. Finally he reached in and took one. He placed it on the table and stared at it, he woofed at it. He stared some more, licked his chops and PUT IT BACK in the bowl and walked away. Did he want the candy, oh yeah. Did he eat it? Nope. They can be trained that well but most, I'll admit, are not trained that well. When I was a young boy, maybe 5 years old. We had a german shepherd. He was very well trained also. My mom could leave food unattended on the table, no problem. She would open the oven door and set a pan roast beef or roast chicken on the door to cool. No problem. He would not touch it, watched or not. But butter? Whole other story. You leave a stick of butter anywhere he could reach and it was gone. He was a large shepherd so there were not many places he could not reach. Really, I think the number of dogs trained to the point they will leave food alone when not being supervised is very small indeed.
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Now if we are talking obedience training, not food grubbing, that is a different story. Way back when I was first learning obedience training one of the final exercises was to put our dogs in a down/stay and not only leave the room but leave the building for 15 minutes. The only person that stayed was our trainer, not the owners. Most of the dogs in my class did not break their stay, which would be an automatic fail. I'm happy to report my dog was one of the ones that passed.

Answer 7

Here is my concern...you mention, "I probably need to find them a good home...I don't hardly have anything to do with them but feed them and tell them "ENOUGH!" "

Dogs crave human companionship. They need a family to love, attention, and exercise.

Are you just frustrated because of the barking? Are you not a dog person? Are they chained outside?

Dogs bark out of habit, boredom, at certain triggers, and for attention. I have 3 dogs, 2 barkers, and one that rarely barks. I keep them in the house with me 90% of the time when I'm home. However, they are a neighborhood nuisance while I'm at work.

I also got an anti-bark "birdhouse" that emits an ultra-sonic whistle (humans can't hear it) every time the dogs bark. The lab rarely barks now, and the yorkie will yap, pause, yap, pause, yap...then give it up. Not perfect, but SO much better.

I don't advocate "getting rid" of animals, but no one seems happy in your household. Maybe find them a home that can work with them more?

Answer 8

Muzzle does not keep the dog from barking but it can keep the dog from biting people or any other thing. However, if the muzzle used is of the type where it keeps the dog's mouth shut, then to a certain extent it keeps the dog from barking but it is cruel to do that. How long can we use the muzzle on to achieve that?

Answer 9

I don't recommend muzzles unless you're there to monitor the dog. It can cause extensive stress, dehydration and the dog can have a hard time breathing with it on - especially for long periods of time.

I would recommend contacting a trainer that will come to your house and address YOUR specific needs. There may be another reason for the barking that you're not aware of.

Good Luck

Answer 10

Not really, it would need to be tight enough to prevent them from panting and drinking. In my opinion, muzzling would be MUCH crueler than debarking. At least after they are debarked they can bark as much as they want without bothering anyone.