Muzzles and the restricted breeds act

seamus

Gorgeous pups, you'll have your hands full, that's for sure.

Graces7

I am puzzled.

Reading various thread I gather GSDs are "restricted"?

We know one well that is at a cash and carry place. Huge dog. But as gentle as they come.

On the first visit there I was worried but was assured he was fine and he is a dote.

He runs loose there and there is no gate to the road and he certainly is not muzzled.

crotalus667

Graces7 wrote: »

I am puzzled.

Reading various thread I gather GSDs are "restricted"?

We know one well that is at a cash and carry place. Huge dog. But as gentle as they come.

On the first visit there I was worried but was assured he was fine and he is a dote.

He runs loose there and there is no gate to the road and he certainly is not muzzled.

From my experience most people don’t take much notice of the law regarding the restricted breeds list and the gaurds don’t seem to either unless some thing goes wrong , the real problem starts when something happens , for example say your un-muzzled restricted breed dog is set upon by a lab your dog will automatically be in the wrong

DBCyc

@FunkyMissMonkey - they are little stunners. Best of luck with them! My vet told me before that its quite hard to get muzzles to fit staffies properly and that he totally disagreed with them unless the dog was agressive. I tend to trust the experts rather than a dog warden when it comes to my pets well-being.

If you really feel you should use muzzles, go for a halti I reckon.

FunkyMissMonkey

seamus wrote: »

Gorgeous pups, you'll have your hands full, that's for sure.

I certainly do! Wouldn't be without them now though, the house would be strange and quiet!

As for the muzzles, we went with halti's in the end, as nothing else would fit properly. We were headed to the beach on a sunny weekend day, and the last thing we wanted was a fine or a telling off.

Lillie can also get a bit nippy if she gets over excited (new people saying hello, for example), which we're working hard to train out of her, but I was being overly cautious.

Trying to get them to ignore the halti is something else though. :rolleyes: Ruby stopped dead, and put her nose on the floor.

GalwayKiefer

Halti's are not meant for long-term use though, they're just a training aid. If either of your dogs does lunge (for whatever reason) then the Halti is going to snap their neck to the side which is going to hurt them quite a bit.

bl8ckh8art

lrushe wrote: »

Rightly or wrongly I absoluately refuse to muzzle my Rottie. I haven't spent years trying to find a reputable breeder and then months of my own blood, sweat and tears not to mention money training and socialising my dog and making her into a good dog citizen just to give into the Rottweiler sterotype and put a muzzle on her. She is better behaved and more obedient than 80% of dogs I see out and about and ironically often the most obedient dogs I do see are on the restricted breed list as owners feel the same as I do and feel like their dogs has to better behaved than other dogs just to be on par with them, its really frustrating!

Dude, I know what you mean. The ONLY reason I muzzle my 3 year old bitch is because the guards stopped me out walking her and gave me some line that I could blah blah blah if I didn't muzzle her. And yet they stopped me four more times since then and she was muzzled. It's harassment from the guards, plain and simple. :mad: Idiot dog=idiot owner. Don't blame the poor dog who acts aggressive and attacks people, blame the owner too lazy to train and control them.

bl8ckh8art

lrushe wrote: »

Rightly or wrongly I absoluately refuse to muzzle my Rottie. I haven't spent years trying to find a reputable breeder and then months of my own blood, sweat and tears not to mention money training and socialising my dog and making her into a good dog citizen just to give into the Rottweiler sterotype and put a muzzle on her. She is better behaved and more obedient than 80% of dogs I see out and about and ironically often the most obedient dogs I do see are on the restricted breed list as owners feel the same as I do and feel like their dogs has to better behaved than other dogs just to be on par with them, its really frustrating!

Dude, I know what you mean. The ONLY reason I muzzle my 3 year old bitch is because the guards stopped me out walking her and gave me some line that I could blah blah blah if I didn't muzzle her. And yet they stopped me four more times since then and she was muzzled. It's harassment from the guards, plain and simple. :mad: Idiot dog=idiot owner. Don't blame the poor dog who acts aggressive and attacks people, blame the owner too lazy to train and control them.

bl8ckh8art

The ONLY reason I muzzle my 3 year old rottweiler is because the guards stopped me out walking her and gave me some line that I could blah blah blah if I didn't muzzle her. And yet they stopped me four more times since then and she was muzzled. It's harassment from the guards, plain and simple. :mad: Idiot dog=idiot owner. Don't blame the poor dog who acts aggressive and attacks people, blame the owner too lazy to train and control them.

Gone With The W

This is my first time in 10 years of walking Staffordshire Bull Terriers that I have been asked to apply a muzzle. My question is this: if we are found again without a muzzle, what is the penalty? Can my dog be taken from me? Can I be arrested??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am finding it very difficult to ascertain the exact legal position.[/QUOTE]

About a month ago in my area there was a court case about a man walking his staffie without a muzzle and he got a 250 euro fine and a warning

bl8ckh8art

crotalus667 wrote: »

From my experience most people don’t take much notice of the law regarding the restricted breeds list and the gaurds don’t seem to either unless some thing goes wrong , the real problem starts when something happens , for example say your un-muzzled restricted breed dog is set upon by a lab your dog will automatically be in the wrong

You might want to rethink that idea. I've been stopped by the guarda:rolleyes: 4 times and my rottweiler has had a muzzle on her. The restricted dogs act is flawed. I think it should be revised that you have to have at least one brain cell to own any of the dogs on the restricted dogs list. Idiot owner=idiot dog. People who are too lazy to train dogs should not have them in the first place.

TaraR

I have 3 staffordshire bull terrier and a Pit Bull Terrier and at first i didnt muzzle them when out walking but i got stopped by the garda & they asked me to produce my dog licences for them ( at the time i didnt have them either so i rang the garda station & the woman on the phone told me not to bother) but i went out & bought them anyways,and muzzles.

i dont always put them on as we go to a field with them & they are harmless. But ive started to take my pitty to 'Bully Walks ' In the phoenix park and i do put it on then

FunkyMissMonkey

GalKiefer wrote: »

Halti's are not meant for long-term use though, they're just a training aid. If either of your dogs does lunge (for whatever reason) then the Halti is going to snap their neck to the side which is going to hurt them quite a bit.

I don't plan to use them long term. Simply until they grow into a regular muzzle.

It is a real shame that it's required, but the misguided law sadly is the law. Getting them ready for a walk sometimes feels like it takes longer than the walk itself once we're all kitted up!!

jjjade

FunkyMissMonkey wrote: »

We did!



This is Ruby.


and Lillie.

More on topic - we're really struggling to find suitable muzzles for them. As they're still fairly young, the ones designed for staffies (with the fairly narrow bands that go over the top) are far too big. With the smaller sizes however, the top nose band is too deep for their short muzzles, and basically covers their eyes.

Any advice?

congradulations on your staffys!!! they are fabulous!!!! my sister has two and my mother has one they are fantastic dogs great family dog!!! really loveable. my mother always had a staffy as a dog and never had a muzzle on them and my sisters two are the same. think the general public are ok with this and dont even notice but you always get one!!!

my brother had a male staffy and we brought it down to the park. the dog was one at the time and loved bouncing on anyone for attention. we were walking anyway and didnt my brother let go of the lead by accident and the dog ran a couple of meters to this couple and started jumping up on them for love. but can understand the size and build and not knowing the dog might make you freak out. the lady started screaming 'wolf' literally!!! i shouldn't be laughing but it is funny how does it look like a wolf!!!

imokyrok

I've been trying to get a rescue dog I've just gotten to use a Halti. He just shakes it of his muzzle every time. I've tried distracting him with treats etc but no joy. I'm keen to get him to accept the halti because many have said dog wardens etc are generally happy enough with it in place of a muzzle. He a rottie cross and a truly massive dog so I'm anxious not to draw adverse attention. If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful.

Also my cats are well freaked out by his addition to the stable. One in particular won't come near the house and he's my favourite. Always sleeps on my bed and is very loving. Have others found that the cats do come around after a period of time?

andreac

imokyrok wrote: »

I've been trying to get a rescue dog I've just gotten to use a Halti. He just shakes it of his muzzle every time. I've tried distracting him with treats etc but no joy. I'm keen to get him to accept the halti because many have said dog wardens etc are generally happy enough with it in place of a muzzle. He a rottie cross and a truly massive dog so I'm anxious not to draw adverse attention. If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful.

Also my cats are well freaked out by his addition to the stable. One in particular won't come near the house and he's my favourite. Always sleeps on my bed and is very loving. Have others found that the cats do come around after a period of time?

Trust me, it takes time. Ive a nearly 4 tear old rottie that still tries to get it off so he might never fully get used to it but tolerate it, lol.

Just try distracting him as much as possible. Use really tasty treats and when you put the halti on initially give him something nice so he assoc the halti with a treat.
It really just takes perseverance, time and being firm with them and correcting him when he tried to get it off. But it will take a few weeks to get sued to it but hang in there.

lrushe

I started using one on my Rottie when she was 9 months, she'll be 13 months tomorrow and she still hates it though she will begrudgingly wear it. For the first 5 mins or so of a walk she will throw her head and try to rub her face against my leg to try and get it off, it does make me feel guilty but its the lesser of two evils, she could be wearing a full muzzle. I generally try to walk at a fast pace in the way she has to concentrate on keeping up and not so much on what's on her face, it usually works and after 5 mins or so she is trotting along side me and has forgotten about the halti

belongtojazz

My Springer hates his halti and after 10 months he still tries to get it off. The funny thing though is that he is happy for me to put it on when we go for a walk :rolleyes:

morganafay

They're such pretty dogs

I'd say using a halti is fine, but if they do start to show any signs of aggression, like any dog, to use a proper basket muzzle, because a halti/head collar won't work properly. But if they're not aggressive and you don't get in trouble, then might aswell use a halti

LisaO

My boy (lab) is also not keen on his Halti & has been wearing it for a good while now. He does the face rubbing too! I try to start our walk with something fun, like fetching a ball, if possible, to take his attention away from it. Luckily, he is also easily distracted with edible goodies!

shambol123

Anyone looking to rescue a staffie- we have a lot of lovely dogs looking for a home, join us on www.facebook.com/savethestaffiesireland