Ideas needed please - Roy Sparks.

[Roy Sparks]

I've been asked to help a university studying caracal ( lynx ) to assist with their project. They need my hounds to tree cats for them to dart to get collars on them. This must be past by an ethics comittee !!

They need to know the cats wont be physically harmed -are there muzzles which have been successfully used for similar reasons on research programes in the US ?

Can hounds still trail with a specially designed muzzle ?

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks - Roy.

[Unreal_tk]

My buddy has a tree fighter he runs with a muzzle. But be aware if its hot... he can't pant for heat exhuastion. But no other problems here. The chance if u lose the dog though he can't fend for himself.
He uses metal ones from nitelite.

[pegleg]

I run a wire basket muzzle on a finished hound when training pups. this ensures she keeps the game busy enough it won't get away and she doesn't get a hold on it and let things get out of hand. I've tried a lot of things to really get young hounds fixed on the right game and this works best for me. I can control just about the whole training session. I put down the right species, in my chosen area, age the track, this is a big confidence booster on bad tracks. the muzzle doesn't affect the hound much after a while the main thing is they have to learn a time or two not to barrel in and grab the cat. this is something they have to learn over a little after any long breaks with out the muzzle. some cats figure out they aren't being hurt real fast. the basket type muzzle i use doesn't restrict panting or anything else except biting.

[Roy Sparks]

Thank you both gentlemen for your wise advice. I believe the wire basket may be the correct direction for me to go.

Much appreciated - Roy.