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May 2018
6:39pm, 30 May 2018
13,344 posts
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Sharkie
Aw! Poor Wanda looks like she has her nose stuck in a small plastic shopping bag.
But if she tolerates it better then the previous four then that can only be a good thing. She is such a sweetie pie I continue to feel indignant she has to wear one at all. ... But parkrun again will be fun.
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May 2018
6:47pm, 30 May 2018
7,220 posts
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BaronessBL
We have just got to the stage where we have decided that at least in our village she will wear it all the time, and in certain other places where we think it would be sensible. However this morning we went for a walk with a friend and her Miniature Schnauzer at a local 'beach' on the estuary that was surprisingly quiet given it was half term and there was nobody about so no need to muzzle. It's to protect Wanda rather than to protect people from Wanda.
And also on our walk around the village this evening two little girls came up to me and asked to stroke Wanda. They felt sorry for her in the muzzle too. Unmuzzled I wouldn't have risked it in case she got excited and jumpy which can be mis-interpreted as 'about to rip their heads off' (and they probably wouldn't have asked) but I asked them to only stroke her one at a time and she was as good as gold. Engaging her with more kids to prove that she is not a devil dog will also be a good thing.
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May 2018
6:52pm, 30 May 2018
13,345 posts
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Sharkie
I do know what you mean, of course. And am most sympathetic.
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May 2018
6:55pm, 30 May 2018
13,346 posts
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Sharkie
Woops - pressed send!
It's very tricky with small - and even not so small - children. So many kids naturally love dogs, which is great, and want to pet and stroke them but they often 'dab' at the dog and all but the most placid can get a bit jumpy.
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May 2018
7:31pm, 30 May 2018
21,997 posts
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Dave A
Baroness, are any other muzzles you could try? Apologies for my ignorance about what you’ve tried already, I keep dipping in and out of here and blogs so don’t follow all the updates, my reason for asking is just because of the shape of the one you have and the shape of Wandas face. She doesn’t look happy in that pic, although I can only see a frame not the circs in which the picture was taken. Because the muzzle is designed for lurched/greyhound faces it might not be the most comfortable for her. It if she is fine, or as fine as she can be, with it there shouldn’t be an issue.
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May 2018
7:46pm, 30 May 2018
22,681 posts
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LazyDaisy
Wanda is very good to put up with the muzzle.
Children and dogs - I may have mentioned that a rescue Beagle now runs with my Thursday morning group. This is his third home - the first fell through for (I think) owner ill-health, but the second sent him back because 'he didn't understand how nine-year-olds play' which sounds to me like the adults in the family didn't teach the children how to play with the dog  Anyway, like Wanda, he is happily settled with his new family. He's the perfect dog for them as both husband and wife love nothing better than running off road, which suits him down to the ground (that and snoozing on the sofa afterwards ;-))
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May 2018
7:50pm, 30 May 2018
3,479 posts
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Cyclops
*unlurks*
I don't come in here much now I am dogless but have been reading the comments about the Gold award and reminiscing. Leah, of course, temperamental GSD that she was, famously bit the judge at her Gold test.
Leah's finest hour was a 'Down' from very long way off as a schnauzer rushed up to her barking and launched itself at her. The immediate down completely discombobulated the dog and its owner who had been about to launch into the 'you shouldn't have such a dangerous dog off the lead in the park' speech that I often got when my dog was attacked by others for no reason at all.
We started the long distance down by dropping treats in the grass so that when she did lie down there was a reward waiting. Of course, remembering which dandelion you dropped it next to so you could shout 'down' at exactly the right moment was quite challenging...
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May 2018
8:10pm, 30 May 2018
7,221 posts
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BaronessBL
Dave - we have tried pretty much everything on the market as far as I am aware. The Baskerville Ultra rubbed her nose raw, even with padding (I think we tried two different sizes with that but neither was better than the other). Then we bought a leather one specific to Staffies, which she tolerated better but still needed padding to stop her nose getting sore - but she can't pant very well in it - I tried cutting some of the leather out to make the holes bigger but without much success. We have one of those loop muzzles but they are only for very short term use (eg a jab at the vets) as I am sure you know and she doesn't need muzzling for things like that anyway and this was the last resort (other than a Buma muzzle which is fearfully expensive and I think from the look of them might also rub her nose.)
Our issue is that Wanda has a small area of pink skin which is very sensitive just before her nose and most muzzles are designed to sit in exactly that spot, which is where it gets very sore. This one - because it is designed for a longer snouted dog - doesn't rest on that spot but further back on the snout where she has fur.
This one is longer than is ideal but she can open her mouth wide in it - she can yawn for example (which I know is a sign of stress) and pant properly and the holes are big enough to get fairly substantial lumps of cheese through. She has had so many muzzles that have ended up hurting her/making her miserable and this was on for the first time when I took the picture so she is bound to be wary of it and look sad but our walk was a much greater success in it and she was still able to sniff things and poke her head in bushes etc with it on (obviously with care!) I hope in time she will feel confident enough to drink while wearing it too (although getting her to drink unmuzzled is difficult enough!) The lady at Lurcher Link which supplied it took lots of measurements for her too when we ordered it and has supplied them to Staff Xs previously.
If it doesn't make her sore then I think she will be OK in it. It is also much lighter than all the rest she has had, which I think she finds more comfortable. We will still endeavour to go to as many places as possible where she won't wear it but unfortunately they need to be really isolated, which isn't always possible.
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May 2018
8:11pm, 30 May 2018
7,222 posts
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BaronessBL
Great stories there about Leah Cyclops - many happy memories 
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May 2018
8:16pm, 30 May 2018
7,223 posts
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BaronessBL
Looking at the picture again though Dave I can see what you mean about the shape of her head - in the picture it appears to be tight in the 'cheek' area but it isn't as tight as it looks. There is an under the chin strap which if you are confident the dog is not going to take the thing off over its head, can be removed. I'll perhaps see how that goes - previous muzzles have been removed so we'll wait and see on that one.
All comments/suggestions to help Wanda welcome though - thank you
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