Dog Muzzles, Oh My

At times, the KOAHS (and presumably HC) and I will trek to Leipzig and back on some weekends. A fact I never worried about until yesterday, when I realized what my DH said was true - there, in Saxony, a dog has to wear a muzzle on the city trains and outside. It must hark back to the DDR or something, I dunno.

I find this a little disturbing, especially since I've lived in very large cities here (as well as small) and the KOAHS was admired and allowed to walk around freely (on leash!) wherever he wanted. I guess it just smacks a little too much of the US and lack of dog freedom for my liking.

Now, on the regional and over-state-line trains, you have to *carry* a muzzle with you (and only have to put it on if you're on an Eastern-bound train OR a train using Eastern personnel-for some reason, the majority don't dig dogs), and I'm okay with that. Carrying it around. But to actually put one on? They are discommodious and fugly to boot. Plus imagine trying to explain to KOAHS exactly why he needs the equivalent to a hand around his muzzle whenever we're walking around. Uncool.

This muzzle thing of course doesn't count the "dangerous" dogs that were outed in the "Dangerous Dogs" act some years back. Dogs such as the Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Dobes, Rotts, etc...they all (unfortunately) have to wear a muzzle all the time. I'd never have a dog of these types just because I'd never want to subject my dog to this shizz. But it sounds like in the East it'll be like that, even for my innocent skinny (well, he's getting there) Azawakh.

I've got to figure out some muzzle idea *before* we have this problem staring us in the face. Ugh. Time for internet research!