Why Nice Dogs Need Muzzles Too

When we make the suggestion to muzzle train a dog, we’re often met with the face that says, “you must be joking — why on earth would I ever need a muzzle? My dog is nice!” Sometimes, it’s a tough argument to make. That sweet, wiggly Lab puppy would NEVER need to be muzzled, right? Not necessarily. Here’s why.

Dogs are Dogs

Dogs have a natural fight or flight response. That means if they are stressed on any level, be it mental or physical, they will try to run and if they can’t run, they may be forced to try to defend themselves.

These days the role of dogs often gets skewed. They are family members and it’s hard to even fathom that they may one day become uncharacteristically aggressive. Even for those of us who work with dogs on a scientific basis, like trainers or vets, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in how much we love our 4-legged family members. We anthropomorphize like the rest of the world, and that’s fine when things in life are smooth and simple. It’s not until you encounter a stressful situation with your dog that you may have to think differently as all creatures will revert to the instincts of their species — and for dogs, that is fight or flight.