Meet the dogs struggling to find homes as charity says muzzle trained pets spend longer in kennels
Meet Mac and Maggie, two beautiful dogs who are among the longest serving residents at a North East shelter having spent several months waiting for a loving forever home.
This adorable duo reguarly feature in ChronicleLive's dog rehoming appeals in the hope that someday soon they will be adopted by people who can give them the happy future they deserve. But their similarities don't end there, and it's feared this one reason could be contributing to their lengthy stint in kennels.
Mac and Maggie are among a number of dogs at Dogs Trust in Darlington who are muzzle trained. Sadly, the charity has found that muzzled dogs can spend longer in their care before finding forever homes, which is something the charity would like to see change.
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And now Dogs Trust Darlington have shared the real reasons why many dogs are trained to wear a muzzle as the charity asks the public to consider adopting one of their muzzled dogs. The team hopes by explaining the varied reasons for muzzling dogs, it might change the negative stigma around why some dogs wear them and encourage people to adopt one.
There are many reasons why a dog might wear a muzzle including:
For safety when a dog is frightened, ill or injured. Fear, pain or illness can affect the way a dog feels and behaves. If your dog is already muzzle trained, a vet can provide care quickly and safely in an emergency.
To prevent dogs eating things that could be harmful. For dogs on strict diets, or those who try to eat everything, a muzzle could be a life saver.
To keep dogs, and those around them, safe. A muzzle can be essential for dogs who have been known to behave aggressively in certain situations, or dogs who have learnt to chase and catch.
Alex Hennessey, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Darlington said: All different breeds of dog in our care wear muzzles with our staff putting lots of work into ensuring muzzle training is positive and fun for the dogs.
"Dogs are muzzled for a range of reasons; prevention, social skills, to stop them from eating things on their walks, for the vets, grooming and lots more. For some dogs, wearing a muzzle means they can safely enjoy more enriching activities such as making friends and playing with other dogs at the centre.
"It can be useful for all dogs to be comfortable wearing a muzzle as you never know when it might come in handy. Dogs can learn to happily wear a muzzle in the same way that they learn to wear a collar. They can still enjoy their walks, pant freely, drink water and have treats. I hope by highlighting some of our fabulous current residents who wear a muzzle, we can help people understand that wearing one is normal for many dogs and isn’t anything to be concerned about."
Meet some of the muzzle trained dogs currently waiting for their forever families at Dogs Trust Darlington:
Mac – Six-year-old crossbreed Mac is a beautiful boy inside and out. His wonderful character shines through the more you get to know him. Mac wears a muzzle when out on his walks and this enables him to enjoy walks with his doggie friends, especially his girlfriends who he likes to play with.
Maggie – Three-year-old Maggie is a long-legged and loyal Lurcher who is playful and energetic. Maggie spent her formative years in kennels so can lack in confidence when meeting new people. Maggie wears a muzzle on walks as she can be worried by other dogs. She has an affectionate nature and would love a home with a secure garden area in which to play.
Pixie - Is an affectionate and intelligent three-year-old crossbreed. She’s a working breed so has a very high drive therefore wears a muzzle when out and about. Pixie loves walking adventures so requires active adopters who can give her plenty of exercise, so that she is both physically and mentally stimulated.
Zena – Is a three-year-old bulldog cross who is very clever and loves to learn. Having a game of tug and exploring with her nose are some of her favourite pastimes. Zena can be reactive and unsure around other dogs so wearing a muzzle keeps all dogs safe. Zena is a very happy girl when walked in quiet areas away from other dogs so she can concentrate on the important job of exploring!
If you are no longer puzzled by dogs that wear muzzles and are interested in adopting a dog from Dogs Trust Darlington, you can view current residents here. For more information on how to train your dog to wear a muzzle check out the Dogs Trust website here.