>> I am very nervous when loose dogs approach and wish other dog owners would keep a closer eye on their pets, << - cazbah


if loose dogs are in the area, U have 2 clear choices:
* call to the other handler IMMEDIATELY to please recall their dog, or keep
their dog close and AWAY from Urs. if their dog does not return to them
when called, or they Refuse to recall their dog, or the dog continues to
approach, make an emergency U-turn and get outta Dodge.
there is no point in staying there and tempting Fate.

* do not bother to address the other handler -
turn-about and quick-march in another direction immediately.

putting a rope on a special ball and making it into a tug-toy ONLY for interactive-play (not left with the dog to chew, not to be carried about as a trophy, not accessible to the dog at any time save thru U at times U choose) can make it a terrific tool for re-directing the dogs attn.

build their mania for this toy by playing with it with someone ELSE - like the other dog, another person, etc - while he is Not Able to get into the game. yes, frustrate him!
playing with the ball-on-a-rope ALONE will work, if U can get in touch with Ur inner-actress, LOL.

***** muzzling *******

the only muzzles that are SAFE are box-muzzles, not grooming, tube or elastic muzzles! tube-type muzzles do not allow adequate airway and panting, as they restrict the mouth from opening, and dogs overheat rapidly when stressed.

the general rule is that if ONE dog is muzzled, *everybody is*.
this protects the defenseless dog from being bullied or assaulted, also avoids having the muzzled dog be traumatized by being weaponless + approached by other dogs - which will only worsen the reactive dogs emotional response to other dogs.

-------------------------------

i would muzzle the dog only for situations where he MUST be in close contact with other dogs, and may re-direct aggro to a human - like the vets office.
AND before i shoved a muzzle onto his face, i would TEACH him to put it on himself, and to wear it happily, stress-free.
if U can make a muzzle such a GOOD thing that he will come running to it when U call him and he sees it in Ur hands, then the dog is going to wear the muzzle with no fuss and no upset. to see how it i done, go to ABRIonline (google) and play the video of Donaldson getting her Chow to wear a headcollar - it is the same process!
:--)

but i would not turn him loose to play with another dog WEARING a muzzle, unless the other dog(s) were also muzzled, for his own safety.
* Click to Calm
* Control Unleashed
are full of great training tips - the library should be able to borrow a copy if they do not have their own, via Interlibrary loan.

cheers,
--- terry

terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF