Dog Health Questions: How long should a dog be muzzled for?

My dog bites.. alot. She's been to professional dog training, and what they have me doing doesn't work. She bites when she doesn't get what she wants, she bites when she's playing. the person that had her before us encouraged biting during play. now we have a monster. so we bought a muzzle. we don't want her to be always muzzled, but she bites all day long... so how often should she have the muzzle on?

Dog Training Fundamentals

Recommended Answer:
If this is a basket muzzle, it can be left on for long periods of time because the dog can drink and pant while wearing it. If it's a solid muzzle that keeps the mouth closed, then no longer then 10 minutes as panting is what cools the dog. Putting a solid muzzle on a dog during hot weather is a death sentence. Heat stroke in dogs is not pretty.

Dog Training - How NOT To Train Your Dog

• You should purchase a basket muzzle for long term usage.
  A cloth muzzle can cause a dog to overheat as it disrupts their ability to pant.
  Good luck


• When ever she needs it, It does not hurt them.


• That is so sad and it is one of the reasons good dogs are killed in shelters all over this country everyday. Rotten owners who do not train their dog properly are the cause of the problem.
  
  You are very kind to have taken her in and for working with her. The best dog trainer I have EVER seen is the gal on the TV show "It's Me or the Dog". She trains using positive methods only and if you take the time and follow what she says to do - I Guarantee - that your dog will become much much better. She gets the dog re directed when it is about to do something wrong by getting the dog to focus on you instead of biting. She does this using fantastic smelly divine meaty human food (cut up very small )treats. She gives the treats frequently whenever the dog listens to you rather than making a choice of his own. Probably you would start by getting the dog to sit. Follow her advice it works. From there move on teaching the dog other positive behaviors. If she tries to bite you will be able to tell her to sit and give her that treat and lots of love and her focus is redirected. This is the basis of all the training.
  I can tell you that this did work for me with an 8 year old Schnauzer who was used to rough play. When the owner was deployed overseas the wife and kids could not handle the dog and needed another home. I got the call, it has now been 2 years but after the first 6 months she no longer tried to bite. She does have to be tranquilized to get her hair cut, mainly the face and feet. She is extremely stinky without a bath and a cut and the smell comes only from the facial hair - it's amazing! But she is safe around everyone now and I no longer have to worry about her behavior.