For many people, seeing a dog in a muzzle instantly sparks assumptions.
Dangerous. Aggressive. Unpredictable.
But what if the reality is actually something very different?
In this latest episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, I sat down with Diane from Dogs in Focus Photography to talk about her beautiful and deeply compassionate book:
đź“– Muzzled and Misunderstood: A Love Letter to My Muzzled Dog
And honestly? It’s one of the most important conversations I think we’ve had on the podcast so far.
Meet DeeDee
Diane’s journey into muzzle advocacy started with her own dog, DeeDee – an energetic Irish Terrier with a “short fuse,” as Diane lovingly describes her.
Whilst DeeDee has never seriously bitten another dog, she found certain social interactions difficult and could become overwhelmed or reactive in particular situations.
Rather than restricting DeeDee’s freedom completely, Diane made the responsible decision to muzzle train her.
That decision changed everything.
The muzzle gave Diane peace of mind, allowed DeeDee more freedom off lead, and helped reduce stress for everyone involved – including other dog guardians.
And yet, despite being a thoughtful and responsible choice, Diane quickly realised just how much stigma still surrounds muzzle-trained dogs.
The Muzzle Project
Wanting to challenge public perceptions, Diane began photographing muzzle-trained dogs.
What started as a photography project slowly evolved into something much bigger.
She photographed dogs of all breeds, sizes, backgrounds, and personalities – from Greyhounds and Great Danes to Papillons, Labradors, rescue dogs and Bull Terriers.
Some dogs wore muzzles because:
- They scavenged or had pica
- They ate dangerous objects
- They were nervous or reactive
- They played too roughly
- They needed extra management support
- Or simply because their guardians wanted an added layer of safety
As Diane explained during our conversation:
“Muzzle dogs are not bad dogs and their guardians are doing the best they can.”
That sentence alone perfectly captures the heart of this project.
More Than Just Photographs
What makes Muzzled and Misunderstood so powerful isn’t just the photography – although the images are absolutely stunning.
It’s the stories.
Each dog in the book is accompanied by a heartfelt “love letter” written by their guardian.
These letters beautifully capture the emotional reality of living with and loving a challenging dog:
- The guilt
- The fear
- The judgement
- The exhaustion
- The love
- The hope
- And the unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for the dog
As pet professionals, these are stories many of us recognise instantly.
Why Muzzle Training Matters
One of the things Diane and I discussed was how muzzle training should actually be far more normalised than it currently is.
In my own puppy classes, I used to introduce muzzle training as a life skill – just like cooperative care or handling exercises.
A dog may need to wear a muzzle:
- At the vets
- At the groomers
- During recovery from injury
- Due to scavenging
- Because of pain
- Or as part of behavioural management
And when done properly, a well-fitted muzzle should still allow a dog to:
âś… Pant
âś… Drink
âś… Take treats
âś… Play
âś… Enjoy walks
A muzzle isn’t a punishment.
It’s simply a tool.
A Passion Project with Purpose
Diane also shared what it was like balancing such an emotional passion project alongside running her photography business.
Whilst photographing the dogs was incredibly rewarding, producing the book itself was a huge undertaking involving sponsorships, publishing, editing, reviews, applications and coordination.
But her belief in the project kept her going.
And the final result is genuinely beautiful.
Final Thoughts
This episode is such an important reminder that behind every “challenging” dog is usually a human trying their absolute best.
And often, the kindest thing we can do is lead with curiosity and compassion rather than judgement.
Because responsible guardianship deserves support – not stigma.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform.
👇 Diane’s Links:
👇 Nathan’s Links:
Free Facebook group: The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle
