Muzzle recommendations

KnockKnock

We have 4 greyhounds and when we take them out for a run our girl greyhound has fanged/bitten one of our dogs twice in almost 3 wks, and tackled one other dog that wasn't ours.  When we take them out running we are also have to watch her going after small animals like birds & ground hogs. I have a muzzle from when we adopted our first greyhound. When they use those sometime is scratches the top of there nose. I rather deal with that then her bitting or eating a small animal. I was looking at the soft fabric muzzle that have an opening at the end for the dog's nose. I've read the reviews and looked them up on a few sites. Sorry if this is a stupid question. My question is can she still pant with the soft muzzle? I know she can with the hard plastic basket muzzle. We're just planing on using it for when we take them out running so she'll need room to pant. 

LinZem

You can't use a different type of muzzle because they can't pant. Whether they are wearing a muzzle or not it is not safe to have them off leash based on what you are describing. I think having them on leash might solve your problem and it is really the safest solution.

KnockKnock

The hard plastic muzzle I have is from the kennel. Same when they raced, she can run and pant in that. I was just looking at other muzzle to see if there was anything more comfortable. The other 3 dogs over the years haven't had any problems with bitting.  Most of the time when we go out they're the only dogs out there. If there are other dogs they tent to stay on opposites sides of the field. This side of her just came out within the last 1 or so. The Vet said it might be because she's getting older. IDK, she might have to be a on the lead only dog, I'm hoping not. 

RedheadBaker

KnockKnock:

The hard plastic muzzle I have is from the kennel. Same when they raced, she can run and pant in that. I was just looking at other muzzle to see if there was anything more comfortable. The other 3 dogs over the years haven't had any problems with bitting.  Most of the time when we go out they're the only dogs out there. If there are other dogs they tent to stay on opposites sides of the field. This side of her just came out within the last 1 or so. The Vet said it might be because she's getting older. IDK, she might have to be a on the lead only dog, I'm hoping not. 

Are you letting her off-leash is a designated off-leash area? If you're not, and she bites another dog, you are in for a world of trouble.  

Mryan209

RedheadBaker:

KnockKnock:

The hard plastic muzzle I have is from the kennel. Same when they raced, she can run and pant in that. I was just looking at other muzzle to see if there was anything more comfortable. The other 3 dogs over the years haven't had any problems with bitting.  Most of the time when we go out they're the only dogs out there. If there are other dogs they tent to stay on opposites sides of the field. This side of her just came out within the last 1 or so. The Vet said it might be because she's getting older. IDK, she might have to be a on the lead only dog, I'm hoping not. 

Are you letting her off-leash is a designated off-leash area? If you're not, and she bites another dog, you are in for a world of trouble.  

This times 100.  I can't tell you how pissed I would be if an off-leash dog went after my dog, particularly in a non-designated area.  And I would absolutely take legal action.  I'm not even in the "dogs should always be leashed" camp because I can understand that some people and dogs are exceptionally responsible and well-trained, but if you can't control your dog from going after another, it has no business being off leash.  You need a leash, not a muzzle.   

KnockKnock

I know if she bites someone's dog it would be a nightmare. We take them to a fenced in area of a school that's well know for dogs to run around in. But not a designated dog park, unfortunately.  It's a big enough area for  several dogs to play with out getting in each others way, but that doesn't make it a dog park.The time she tackled a dog, that dog ran up to her and wanted to run with our guys and she tackled him/her.  I'm already upset that she's done this to ours, but if she did that to someone else's dog I'd feel and it would be horrible.   It's a recent thing which makes me wonder what's going on. She wasn't having problems before with our dogs or any other dogs. She's wearing a muzzle now when we take them out. 

AmeliaPond

You let your greyhounds off leash in an unfenced area? Am I reading that right? I was under the impression that their recall can't be depended on & it's certainly true for my grey. He'd be off into the forest and long gone at the first sight of something interesting.

KnockKnock

It's fenced. I  def couldn't let them out in open unfenced area. Oh man my girl got me all upset. It's a new behavior problem, and it's a bad one. 

Please don't think that I'm okay in anyway with what's going on. If someone else's dog attacked my dog then I would be ticked. Like the dog she tackled, came up to her and our guy and she didn't like it. Before and a while after that she never acted rough with any dogs.  In years past she's been fine with other dogs too. Even if they approached her. I'm not sure why she's behaving this way.

mainerocks

If it were me, I think I would just take the 3 to that area and limit her to on leash walks instead. Maybe she's not enjoying it anymore do to her older age? Maybe she's in pain when she runs and becomes irritable?

Mrs.Hizzo

That sucks. Obviously you're taking this very seriously. If it were me, I'd probably take her to the vet and make sure she's doing OK, physically, first and foremost. If that checks out, I'd probably keep her on leash and only let her off to run if I was sure there were no other dogs around. That might even be bad advice, because you never know when another dog is going to show up, but I can only imagine how much a greyhound loves to run. It would be sad to deprive her of that, but you can't put other dogs' safety at risk.

KatelynS07

I definitely agree that she should have a full check-up at the vet. If everything checks out fine, then I would make sure she is on leash or a long lead. She may not enjoy it, or may be stressed more than when she was younger.