Muzzling him while we're away

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Hi everyone, it's me again.

I'm posting here again to ask for your advice (which has already been so helpful for other problems). My German Shepherd is turning one this Saturday; he's lovely and very easy-going, except when I'm out. He gets into a bit of mischief—not much, but some of it is actually dangerous for him. To give you some examples, when we first started going out, we used to leave him inside with our other dogs. But then he started stealing things that aren't good for him (the cats' dry food, for instance), then he raided the bin to eat everything he could find inside (from bones to just plain tissues), then he decided to go upstairs but he doesn't know how to get back down and nearly slips from the top because he charges around the landing so much, and so on. At first, we found solutions for every issue (putting the cat food up high, putting a full bag of dry food on the bin lid to stop him opening it, installing a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs, etc.), but these were only temporary fixes because he's grown so much and now clears every obstacle. So, we've secured the garden and have been leaving him out there for the last few weeks when we're away. It’s all going well, and he’s got a few toys to keep him occupied. The only problem—and it's a big one—is bees and wasps. He hunts them and has already been stung in the throat twice; we had to rush him to the emergency vet for an injection. But he hasn't learnt his lesson and keeps doing it every time. To make matters worse, my neighbour has hives, so we unfortunately get a lot of them in our garden. The only solution left seems to be a muzzle. He's already used to wearing one, though as a punishment, but he's taken to it really well and waits patiently for us to take it off. It breaks my heart a bit, but I'd prefer that to a crate. Obviously, I'm thinking of a muzzle that would allow him to drink and pant. What do you think of this as a solution? Do you have any muzzle models to recommend?

Thanks in advance.

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  • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, because I step in and tell him 'no' or get in the way if he’s being too pushy, but I reckon if I didn’t intervene, he’d just go through with it.

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    Docline
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    My dog will happily gulp down a wasp even when I'm right there, does yours not do that?
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, it’s absolutely not about making him wear a muzzle 24/7 for six months. It’s only for up to 3 hours a day, four days a week (just while we’re out).
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    Docline
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    Anyway, you've got to find a solution; you can't exactly have him wearing a muzzle 24/7 for six months of the year!

    (Hiami gives me a real fright with flying insects too...)

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, he isn't bored at all; he has everything he needs to keep him occupied (standard toys, treat dispensers, chews, other dogs for company, etc.). Nothing seems to work; I think we’ve tried everything. He isn't left on his own for very long. We all work different hours and, since I’m still living with my parents, there are four of us taking turns to keep an eye on him. Sometimes he’s not left alone at all during the day, and at most, he’s on his own for 3 hours (that’s the absolute maximum). He goes out for one or two walks a day, depending on my schedule, but they’re always long walks (between 1 and 3 hours). The rest of the time, he has free access to the garden to let off steam. He doesn't do any formal dog sports because things didn't go well at the local club and it’s the only one near me. I’ve hired a private trainer for his training instead, and that’s going much better. It’s hard to find other activities for him as he’s a very large German Shepherd, so agility is out of the question for the sake of his joints. I’m going to start taking him running with me once he’s over a year old to make sure it doesn’t affect his growth, but for now, he’s got a heart scan booked for the 17th of April to check everything’s alright, as he pants a lot. @Misanthrope, you’re being very firm about this. Why do you think the muzzle option isn't possible?
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    Kikaah
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    Maybe he’s bored? How many walks does he get a day and for how long? Do you do any activities with him? How long is he left on his own?

    Rather than a muzzle, a crate, or other restraints, it would be better to give him something to do so he isn't just chasing flies (and bees!!) and getting bored.

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks anyway for your message; the muzzle you recommended looks really good actually.

    I think a muzzle is always a better solution than a crate, especially if the other dogs around him are free to move about. We’re going to try and work with him so that the muzzle becomes a positive thing, and find a different alternative for discipline. I hope he’ll settle down as he gets older because I’d really like this to be a temporary measure.

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    A muzzle is just not an option. With the help of everyone on here, I’m sure we’ll find another way!
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    Kikaah
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    Maybe he’s just bored? How often and for how long does he go out each day? Do you do any activities together? How long is he left on his own for?

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    Gsd_lover
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    I hope it’ll be possible, I completely understand how important it is and that there aren't really any other options available... It’s a bit of a tough spot to be in. I can’t really offer much more advice, but I wish you all the best and hope everything gets sorted out.
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