Well, sadly I've had to decide to muzzle Takara :(

Not because she's aggressive, because she's a gannet! She will steal anything she can while we're in the park and even steals fishermen's bait as we walk past.

I've had to do this because of the amount of picnic and barbeque rubbish that's left behind, it's become a danger to her health and she has become sick after eating something.
Once I've seen that there's not rubbish left all over the place, she will be unmuzzled again as it's a shame that people will see her in a muzzle because she's so friendly!

Which muzzles are best for stopping them stealing but allowing them to pant?

Go for the fabric ones Lotti, they let them pant and are not uncomfortable.
This is the one I use.........

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=119&pf_id=3121

Pets at home also sell them

Thanks Lindsey,

I saw some in Jollyes today that were like those mikki ones and looked comfortable but they were a bit pricey so I decided to leave it until I had a recommendation!

I think the reason why Takara needs to be muzzled is slightly funny. I shouldn't laugh, but its lovely to know she needs to be muzzled for such an innocent reason.
I think the people who leave the litter around are to blame. Doesn't it annoy you when people take it into their hands to spoil the countryside and endager our animal's health? Such a those things that come on beer cans - I've seen a few hedgehogs tangled in those. I even saw a grass snake tangled in one once. It makes me so angry to think that people don't take into account what their litter dropping is doing to our environment.
:mad:
Ok.. I won't be angry anymore :hihi:
lol

I would reccomend the "baskerville" muzzles they are plastic and rigid allowing the dog to both pant and drink. They are very commonly used in vets and grooming parlours and with trainers. ^-^

I would reccomend the "baskerville" muzzles they are plastic and rigid allowing the dog to both pant and drink. They are very commonly used in vets and grooming parlours and with trainers. ^-^


These are used to prevent biting specifically & training, not really for what Lotti needs

Baskervilles are actuall excellent for preventing chewing and I don't really see how a dog could scavenge wearing a baskerville but obviously it's personal choice and what suits the dog and the situation best.
My main concern would be that Mikkis can impede panting and are not reccomended for use during strenuous exercise so it depends how much your dog charges around :)

Oh she charges around all right!

Lea - I know, it is ridiculous! She is such a scavenger! But I agree, its completely down to those who litter the place up. She has been ill because of cooked chicken bones being left around, pizzas that people don't want just left there, etc.
At this time of year it's terrible as people use the park for their picnics and barbeques (although it's better now the students have gone) but it bugs me because we use the park all year round and have to keep our dogs on short leads to prevent them harming themselves on other people's rubbish when it comes to summer.

As for the muzzles - I looked at some today and I wasn't really sure how the mikki would allow for drinking and panting but not eating because of the way they're designed (please feel free to explain!) but they did look a lot more comfortable than the baskervilles.
My main worry is she hates head collars so I know she won't like a muzzle so have to get one that's as comfortable as possible.

The baskervilles did look as though they'd be able to drink and pant but not pick anything up.

My other question is, if she's charging around, wouldn't it be safer for her to have a mikki which isn't rigid in case she falls on her face? If she falls on a baskerville surely that could cause damage?

Sorry - am totally useless at choosing products!!

Note: If anybody wants to argue, they can do it via PM thank you

Ah, Lottie - our dog Fergus has always been the same - such a scavenging tea leaf :roll:

His past misdemeanors include:
Going into tents whilst camping and stealing knickers (ok, I don't mind chasing him 'till I'm cream crackered to get them back, but then you have to go shame faced to the owner, soggy knickers in hand :blush: blush:

Then there was trhe time on holiday when on one single afternoon at the beach he:
Stole a tea towel from someone's picnic, stole a lads crab fishing bait, knocked over bucket and got crab attached to chops (shook chops violently 'till crab flew off, and went on to find and eat half a dead bat. This was his utmost joy - we couldn't catch him at all. Every time we got anywhere close he would sit there looking at us, chewing. The bats wing would flap up then down with each chew :hihi:
Even now we can't take him on the Endcliffe Park to Forge Dam walk because of the ponds - there are always people feeding the ducks. He loves bread. His most favourite thing in the world. And off he goes.

Then there was the time he stole someone's sandwich in Hyde Park ....

I could go on ....:roll:


Good luck :)

Draggle

.... I could go on ....:roll:....You didn't mention the time he stole your lunch, and you were forced to share DT :gag: :hihi:

PS - The Strixes can vouch for Fergus's obsession with bread :D :hihi: As can several children who aren't taller than a spaniel on his hind legs :clap:

lol thanks Draggle,

Takara's been into tents (though it's the campers own fault as you're not allowed to camp in the local park!) and stolen all sorts of food,
she's actually managed to distract one woman enough to fuss her while she stole her sandwiches from her bag without her noticing.
She's stolen a sausage from a man about to make a sausage sandwich, we only just managed to stop her eating the foil
She's stolen cooked chicken bones,
Pizza
Bread
human poo :gag: there were some scuzzy drunks in our park
a dying rabbit - i think the reason she gulped and crunched the thing down so fast was because I was chasing after her arms flailing screaming 'drop it Takara NOW!!!!!!'
I had to retrieve a fishing line from the stupid one the other day which thankfully had no hook on it as she had swallowed it down enough for me to have to pull it back up her throat
maggots from the fishermen
boiled sweets from a family having a day out at the park
a scotch egg from a couple having a picnic and I thought she was playing with a ball but it turned out she had stolen their scotch egg!

Lots and lots more, I have decided if I muzzle her I've got more chance of teaching her that begging doesn't pay. At the moment she's being rewarded with food every time she steals!

You didn't mention the time he stole your lunch, and you were forced to share DT :gag: :hihi:


Of course http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15942
:hihi:

Lottie, we bought Fergus a muzzle last time we camped - it stayed on him for all of three minutes - the first one inch of his tongue kept sort of poking desperately through, Hannibal Lectar style :gag: and he looked so forlorn :(

Maybe we bought the wrong sort - it was just a tiny pet shop in Devon with little choice.

Have you thought about the training/detterant collars? We are having good results with one on Fergus at present re. unwanted barking at the postman etc (wakes baby Draggle up)

Oh and Lottie by the way - Takara sounds even naughtier than Fergus :roll: :D

Gosh, she sounds like a right nightmare for summer walks Lotti :shocked:
(and I can believe it - having the teeth marks in my fingers to prove it, after she tried to swallow Brude's sausages, plastic bag included :rolleyes: )

Is that a remote control collar you havbe DT, or an anti-bark one?

Is that a remote control collar you havbe DT, or an anti-bark one?

It's a remote one Strix. A bit expensive, but we bought a cheap anti-bark one from ebay and it just went off all the time :roll:

This is the one we have now and it's getting us results.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MULTIVET-SPRAY-COMMANDER_W0QQitemZ7766680209QQihZ018QQcategoryZ43 426QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

When we have him trained up for barking, we're going to try it to stop him jumping up and stuff.

She is a complete nightmare! She's just SO food orientated!

thanks for the advice re the collar, I'm about to have a look :thumbsup:

Have you thought about a "Canny collar" Lot?.
They are also good training aids. I have one for our Sally.

Hi Viking,

Takara had a canny collar but hated it with a passion and she actually used to walk down the road on two legs with her front paws on her nose.

It's only for heeling though isn't it, you're supposed to take the muzzle strap off before letting them free.

If she's on a lead, she'll leave on command but when she's offlead she's got fantastic recall until she sees food. Then you may as well be saying 'Takara go as far away as possible'.

Hi Viking,

Takara had a canny collar but hated it with a passion and she actually used to walk down the road on two legs with her front paws on her nose.

Our "Sal" Hates her's too, we only use it if She will not behave on a normal lead.

Our "Sal" Hates her's too, we only use it if She will not behave on a normal lead.

You might want to look at this: www.walkezee.com

I bought one of these after Takara wouldn't wear a canny and it's fantastic! The only thing I've found (after different types of harnesses) to stop her pulling she is a lot calmer on this (I think she feels safer due to being in a secure harness) and will walk like an angel. If she does pull, she can't pull much and it's very comfortable and easy to fit.

I swear by mine, Takara loves it and will put her feet between the straps when I say 'paws in'.

If Sal is the right size, you are very welcome to try Takara's on her before you pay out for one :thumbsup:

If Sal is the right size, you are very welcome to try Takara's on her before you pay out for one :thumbsup:
Most of the time she is ok on a normal lead. The canny collar acts as a threat but thanks anyway Lot. :thumbsup:

The Canny Collar and the Walk-Eazy look very similar to the Halti Head Collar (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.crosskeysbooks.com/images/halti_prod.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.crosskeysbooks.com/product_info.php%3Fproducts_id%3D278&h=292&w=245&sz=10&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=k5qLcDejwjrvcM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhalti%2Bcolor%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den% 26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN) that Fergus has. He hates it though, growls when he see's it and runs away, but wants his walk at the same time. Such conflict :roll:
He rubs his face against my leg to try and get it off :(

Hi - I use a halti for Tia, I got it from Pets at Home for about £8. She pulls me like mad so that was the main reason we got it but she now cannot scavenge scraps off the floor! I live on a road with a few takeaways on it and people always seem to be throwing their scraps on the floor this was heaven for Tia, she used to eat squashed chips, manky pizza, chicken bits etc etc etc! She would literally pull my arm off to get to them then put them in her mouth quickly, I bet people thought I was crazy knelt down at the side of the road with my hand shoved in my dogs mouth trying poke out whatever she had picked up. She is no problem now!! Saying that we took her to the pub last week and we were sat outside (minus the halti) and she was very quiet sat by my feet, I looked down and she was gnawing away at the paving slabs trying to get at some dirty, trodden in chewing gum!
We try not to take her out without it now as we are terrified of her getting worms or something equally as horrid. Hope this helps.

Daisy.x

For some very bizarre reason my parents dog when younger would if given half a chance grab a mouthful of cowpat.
This made him ill several times if we didn't spot it in time, and we all became adept at grabbing him and using our hands to empty his cheeks (where he would hide it when shouted at to stop).

Fortunately he's grown up a little and doesn't do it anymore.

Hi have you tried a "Halti" its a material kind of lead looking item initially designed to stop your dog from pulling,as it fits around the snout.Not over it as a muzzle would but around it .Where it gives you control over the dogs head to get the dog to refrain from pulling , i thought it would be an ideal solution for you and a little less cruel/agressive looking than a muzzle.hope that helps :)

For some very bizarre reason my parents dog when younger would if given half a chance grab a mouthful of cowpat.
This made him ill several times if we didn't spot it in time, and we all became adept at grabbing him and using our hands to empty his cheeks (where he would hide it when shouted at to stop).

Fortunately he's grown up a little and doesn't do it anymore.

Horse manure - a particular fovourite of one of my Mum's greyhounds.

They have to be watched like hawks because they too will scavenge anything - which usually results in them not getting fed for a day or so!

I'm not looking for a headcollar guys because we've been unsuccesful in the past with them but thanks very much. While she's on the lead, she's a star - she won't steal things and if she goes to get it she leaves it as soon as I say to.

DT it's really unpleasant when they are so miserable and I really recommend the walkezee if you have trouble with pulling. They can be used as training aids rather than just a solution or for those who don't want to carry on trying in vain to get the dog to heel, they can be used as a solution.
They are not at all painful and Takara loves hers! I'm so glad I bought it, much more worth it than the haltis and canny headcollars we tried.

oh yes and Takara loves horse manure too lol

Horse manure - a particular fovourite of one of my Mum's greyhounds...
Now you see, this is one of the reasons why I prefer cats. My two sniff suspiciously at a plate of the finest tuna before condescending to nibble at it, so I doubt I'd ever have to prevent them from deliberately ingesting cow pats or horse manure :gag: .

Now you see, this is one of the reasons why I prefer cats. My two sniff suspiciously at a plate of the finest tuna before condescending to nibble at it, so I doubt I'd ever have to prevent them from deliberately ingesting cow pats or horse manure :gag:
But dogs don't bring cowpats into your kitchen :confused:
Dead mice where you prepare food? :gag:

Brude's snack of choice is sheep poo though :rolleyes:
Although pre-empting him seems to be paying off, and he's leaving it alone most of the time now :)