Advice please re muzzles for small dogs

[haysi06]

I've got a lovely wee Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is really good natured and NEVER barks in the house but when I take her out walkies she barks at everyone. Her wee tail is always wagging and she'd never bite someone but she barks incessantly. I've tried keeping her on a short leash, give her heaps of praise when someone is approaching which sometimes keeps her quiet but 99% of the time she barks. shes only a wee thing but barks like a Rottweiler and sometimes it's quite comical to see the reactions of grown men jumping 6ft in the air when she barks. I'm considering getting a muzzle for her as it's been suggested to me by a friend that this will stop her barking but am not too sure.

[bednobs]

my small (ish) dog is muzzled when he goes out. It DOES NOT stop him barking in the slightlest!
He has a basket type muzzle (he can drink and pant through it too) however even when we used a soft muzzle he still managed to bark

[haysi06]

Och thanks for that bednobs, I was told it would stop her barking. I don't like the idea of the muzzle but if I thought it would work then I'd give it a go for her.

[carmalee]

sounds as though your dog needs to focus on you. try teaching her to sit for a reward and after she has thoroughly mastered this use this when you go out - it will take a while so go park yourself on a park bench and every time anyone comes near, get her to focus on you, sit and get her reward. then get friends to sit next to you etc and do the same. don't rush it - she sounds as though she's just so excited to be out - was she socialised properly as a pup?

[haysi06]

Hi carmalee, we have 3 dogs, already had one when I got her. She's been fine with some people, i.e. nieces, nephews, and takes a bit of time with others, she always barks at my neighbour who takes time to talk to her and then she calms down. I generally walk her with one of the other dogs so will try taking her out by herself and do as you suggest. She really is a loveable wee thing and once she gets 'to know' someone shes all snuggles etc it's just the constant barking that really needs addressed now.

[carmalee]

Good luck and just see what happens! maybe she's better on her own, maybe not - perhaps she's just a bit unsure of herself and of course being on a lead usually makes dogs less confident, they can't escape if they feel threatened.

[haysi06]

Yes, I take your point re the lead but unfortunately I wouldn't be able to walk her without one as there are a lot of dogs that roam around here off the leash. I'm going to go buy her some special wee treats and see how I get on. She's a lovely wee thing. Brushes her teeth every night too

[IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/2r3cupj.jpg[/IMG]

[haysi06]

oops that didn't work! Will try again another time, need to go. Thanks for the advice.

[babybop6379]

i have the sameish problem the dog we took on is a 9 mth old jack russell/chihuaua x hes never been socialised properly was brought up around boistrous children his previous owner never had a clue really!!! hes never confident around dogs and hes wary of people but most just come along and put thier hands in his face without asking which makes him jump and bark quite horribly at them!!! :( hes slowly getting better and i have done the sitting on a bench thing with him ive even stood at the park entrance so he could see different types of dog and people ive used treats as he is very well trained indoors with them but once we get him out hes in his own little world if we let him off hes away with whatever he can, around ppl at home hes fine, i know it will take a lot of hard work and dedication to him but fingers crossed ay!!! good luck with ur girl xxx

[wildwood]

Here's your picture hays.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2r3cupj.jpg

btw. please tell me that your avatar is a joke and that's not what you would subject your dog to.