Hello, I saw your post about muzzle training and I was curious since I know very little about it. My 6 year old American Eskimo is super nervous and very skittish with serious separation anxiety but loves meeting new people and dogs. Would he benefit from muzzle training? He did not take to crate training at all and is very upset when he's in it. Do you have any tips for nervous, anxious dog owners?
faereginacosplay said:
My 6 year old American Eskimo is super nervous and very skittish, but he loves people and other dogs! Will it benefit his nervous disposition?
I added your comment on the post, to answer that here as well :)
I’m going to break your ask down so I don’t babble too much and steer too far off topic.
Hello, I saw your post about muzzle training and I was curious since I know very little about it.
Hi there! There’s so much about muzzle training and importance, I don’t know where to start! I guess the first thing is, it can be a life saver in many ways. For dogs with a bite history, who want to eat everything, are competing in sports, being introduced, and so much more. I view it as something just as important as recall, because if it’s used in the most stressful of times and the dog is trained to wear it, it helps things go smoother than if it weren’t.
Since I can’t cover every aspect, here are a few links that will have various reasons for why folks muzzle, training, styles, and so on: #muzzle training on my blog, Muzzle Up! Project, #muzzlemonday on Instagram (where my interest sparked years ago), and a video of Canon and I showing how to muzzle train.
My 6 year old American Eskimo is super nervous and very skittish with serious separation anxiety but loves meeting new people and dogs.
For his serious separation anxiety, I’d contact a trainer who has experience in behavior modification. Also, which I’m sure you’ve done many times like I have with my nervous dog, make sure there’s no illness or injury that could be contributing to his stress.
Would he benefit from muzzle training? / Will it benefit his nervous disposition?
He would benefit from muzzle training in the long run, yes - should a situation stress him out and put him or others in possible danger. However I (personally, and anyone with more knowledge/experience please correct me) do not think a muzzle will help his anxiety overall.
He did not take to crate training at all and is very upset when he’s in it.
If crating is something you want for him, but want him to enjoy, try implementing games with it, have him eat in it, make it a positive place. I had a dog who hated crates for a long time, so I feel your pain. I know a lot of people suggest reintroducing the crate, start from square one just as one would with a dog who has never been crate trained before.
Finding a crate that is safe for him and he’s also comfortable in will make a huge difference in anxiety. My nervous dog finds refuge in his crate and doghouse when he’s experiencing higher than normal anxiety.
Do you have any tips for nervous, anxious dog owners?
“Patience is key” holds truth. The dog runs the show, and if an anxious dog is pushed too far too fast, it can set back weeks, months, maybe even years of work (I’m speaking from personal experience). One of the hardest parts for myself in living with a nervous dog is recognizing when to stop. When to stop pushing him, stop obsessing over what other’s dogs can do and what he can’t, stop wanting him to be something he isn’t.
Some days the dog will not want to do anything, and just like with people, that’s ok. Finding what the dog enjoys versus what you want it to enjoy will make a world of a difference - it did for me anyways. I wanted Rooney to be an advanced trick and an agility dog, but his anxiety said “no way.” Some dogs can (and do) overcome those challenges, so there is hope, but not all do and that’s perfectly fine.
My advice and tips for folks with nervous dogs isn’t that great, because I too am still learning - even after eight years of coexisting with one. But the most sound advice I ever received wasn’t on training or management, but accepting the dog in front of me and understanding it’s capabilities and working with those.
If this didn’t help, I’m sorry. If it did, yay! I wish you and your boy the best, and that he has many positive days ahead ♡
