One Leg Up Canine Co. - Dog Training & Daycare

When most people think about muzzle training, they think about aggression. In reality, there are countless reasons a dog might benefit from being comfortable wearing a muzzle. You'll often be most grateful for that training when you least expect it.

It is important to remember that all dogs are capable of using their teeth to create space. Even the friendliest dog may bite if they are injured, frightened, or experiencing significant stress. A dog who breaks their leg on a hike doesn't understand that you're just trying to help.

But bite prevention isn't the only reason a muzzle can be useful. Some dogs are enthusiastic scavengers and need help avoiding dangerous "treasures" on walks. Some vet staff just feel safer if a dog is muzzled during care. And sometimes, a muzzle serves as a clear signal to the public that a dog needs a little more space.

Needing space is not the same thing as being aggressive. A dog recovering from a surgery, coping with pain, or simply is uninterested in greeting strangers may benefit from that extra buffer.

Interested in muzzle training? Check out our private training options to see how we can help.

We had so many puppies graduate in the month of May! Congratulations to Nora, Ellie, Luke, Reese, Acer, Teddy, and Billie 👏🎓

These families were all so dedicated to building a training foundation on confidence, positivity, and trust. It was such a pleasure to see you and your puppies learn new skills and develop a close bond over the last six weeks.

👉 Do you want to get your puppy started on the right foot? Our puppy training program and puppy social drop-offs help kickstart your puppy's socialization process. Click the link in bio to learn more!

There's something exciting being built behind the scenes this week... while our chief assistant works hard at napping. 🤫💻🐾

It’s been a minute since we have launched a BRAND-NEW group class, but the final touches are being put on something incredibly special.

If you love the precision of Rally Obedience but want the creative freedom, joy, and pure connection of canine freestyle—all taught with 100% force-free, choice-based methods—you are going to want to clear your schedule.

Registration opens THIS WEEK, and class begins June 30th. Spots will be limited.

Drop a note in the comments if you want me to DM you the registration link the second this new course goes live!

Some excitement today at the Poodle Farm! 🐾✨

​Look at those smiles (and those ribbons)! Today Cowboy stepped into the ring for his very first Rally Obedience trial and absolutely crushed it. He placed in all three of his runs and officially earned his CRN title! This excitable boy showed me just how well he can focus, and his joy in the ring was the ultimate reward for all our training.

​Crumpet and I also had an absolute blast with our Excellent runs, bringing home another qualifying score toward our CRX title!

​Rally Obedience and positive reinforcement training are all about building a resilient, happy partnership where our dogs genuinely want to participate with us. Today was such a fun example of that.

​Thank you to The Poodle Farm and all the judges/organizers for a fantastic trial! Now, time for some well-deserved extra treats for my champions. 🍖🎉

Muzzles are one of the most misunderstood tools in the dog world. As a result, so many dogs and their guardians miss out on the benefits of the muzzle.

Muzzles still carry stigma. Most people see a muzzled dog and immediately think of aggression. But there are so many other circumstances a well-conditioned muzzle can be incredibly useful.

Some dogs need support safely navigating veterinary care. Some dogs get overly mouthy when they're excited in play. Some dogs eat things that they shouldn't. Some dogs think it's really fun to nip at children's ankles. And some dogs might feel threatened in certain situations, and escalate to using their mouths to request space.

There are countless reasons why muzzle training can benefit a dog. Even if your dog doesn't fit into the scenarios described above, one day they might! Handling procedures and medical care might be a breeze for your dog, but if they're injured or in pain, they may be less tolerant.

Just like harnesses, crates, or nail trims, muzzle training works best when introduced thoughtfully, positively, and long before it’s urgently needed. Keep your eyes peeled for more muzzle content over the next couple of weeks! We’ll be sharing more about muzzle myths, training tips, and why we believe muzzle destigmatization matters for all dogs. 🧡

Muzzles are a great tool for a lot of reasons, but they aren't appropriate in every instance where mouthing/chewing is concerned.

One of the biggest misconceptions we see is the idea that a muzzle is a solution to a behaviour problem. In reality, a muzzle is a form of management. It can help keep everyone safe while we work on the underlying issue, but it doesn't teach new skills, change emotions, or address why a behaviour is happening in the first place.

Whether we're talking about barking, chewing, puppy mouthing, separation anxiety, or even bite prevention, we want to understand what's driving the behaviour and to support the dog accordingly. The goal isn't to stop the behaviour by using a piece of equipment.

A properly fitted, positively conditioned muzzle can be an incredibly valuable part of a dog's management toolkit. But it shouldn't do all the heavy lifting for every mouthy behaviour.

Stay tuned as we continue our muzzle education series! 🐕

Let's bust some common myths about the muzzle! Smashing stigma around muzzles is an important step toward creating safer spaces for dogs, and safer communities in general.

We’d love to see a future where muzzled dogs (and their humans) are met with understanding instead of judgement, and where muzzle training is viewed as just another life skill.

Did you have biases you didn't realize about muzzles? Which of these surprised you most? ⬇️