The adventures of Marie, June, and Rooney. Marie is a cattle dog mix who was adopted 9/30/2016 and is about 8 years old. June is a purebred Labrador Retriever born 5/1/17. Rooney is a purebred Labrador Retriever born 8/18/23.
Finally made a decision that I've been avoiding for 5 ½ years. June is completely dog- and people-friendly, but I have struggled for years with her eating inappropriate items on walks, particularly poop. I constantly needed to be hyper-vigilant and had basically memorized where dog poop had been left in my neighborhood. The breaking point for me was moving to Colorado for all the outdoor recreation opportunities but finding myself avoiding hiking with my dogs because there was so much poop left along the trails that bringing June was miserable.
June now wears a muzzle on walks and hikes. Her muzzle allows her to drink, pant, and take treats without being able to consume non-food items. Most importantly, it allows June and me to have a more enjoyable time together, without constant worry and corrections.
If you have more questions about using a muzzle or think it might be right for your pup, check out The Muzzle Up! Project for additional resources: