[garule]

Hi,

When my malamute puppy was young, he often went off-leash when we were walking in the woods/fields. Then when he got older he started attacking cats, attacked a sheep once, and ate some poison (all in one walk). So now he's always leashed. I take him jogging and bikejoring, but I still feel bad he can't run around. So I've come up with a solution - a muzzle.

I haven't tried it yet, I'm afraid it might be somehow dangerous (he gets in a fight with another dog and can't defend himself), or he tries to attack a cow and the cow kicks him - I doubt he'll understand having a muzzle on means he won't be able to defend himself. Or he can't breathe properly. Also, I've never seen any dog wear a muzzle around here, so he'll look "dangerous" and people might get a wrong idea (he's never been aggressive to people, it's just that he's got a hunting instinct).

I don't mean letting him roam free while I stay at home, but rather going for a walk in the fields and letting him run free for a while. (We don't usually encounter any livestock either).

Have any of you let a dog with a muzzle off-leash? Do you think it's a good idea? Or do you think it's stupid and he should just stay leashed?

[LadySam]

If you can't trust him not to attack things when off leash, then keep him on a leash.
I'm sure your neighbors with sheep and cats would appreciate it.
If your dog causes injury to someone's livestock or pet you are responsible.
I know it's a hunting instinct, but it also a liability when he acts on it.
If you are in the US you need to look up up your local rabies laws, even with proper vaccination if your dog bites another animal or, heaven forbid, a person or is bitten by another animal, he is still subject to quarantine.
As far as a muzzle I don't know the terrain but I'm assuming some wooded or brushy areas also.
What if he gets the muzzle caught or entangled (not knowing what type of muzzle)
A frightened animal is apt to injure the person trying to rescue him.
Better safe than sorry.

[Lucky098]

Never exercise your dog with a confining, mesh muzzle. If he needs a muzzle, purchase a cage muzzle. They can pant, drink and vomit with a cage muzzle.

Your dog ruined his chances to run free. Bad dogs don't get to run off leash.

Take him someplace where he can run free far from other people and animals. Owning an aggressive dog means you have to do extra everything so your dog lives a happy life. Running free near neighbors and livestock is out of the question.