I have the Tom Rose video on competition heeling.The video shows the dog taking food from the handlers mouth and another technique from the hand. I feel that the mouth method would be better. My question is whether or not there is a way to disinfect the muzzle without serious irritation to the dog. Similar concerns have been posted before in relation to children in the home with dogs on a natural diet.

Hi Bos, I understand your concern with this and I am far from an expert on the different bacteria you could possibly pick up, but let me just say that my dog is fed raw, and has licked me on more than one occasion... I am yet to get ill.

I have the tape you mention, but I am not using that method on my dog. He is MUCH more toy driven than food driven.

If your meat is kept well refridgerated and stored properly, the bacteria is minimal. Even in cases of E coli, it is particularly hard on the elderly and children... not particularly leathal on your average healthy adult.

Don't get me wrong food poisioning is not fun... I got it the day before I had to fly home last christmas with 2 dogs... I was one sick puppy...but I left the leftover thai food in the car overnight and thought it had stayed cold enough to be safe(December-Maine) I was wrong, boy was I wrong...

I am gathering your concern is not from the hotdogs itself, rather from what other bacteria might still be on his face. Really this is the very beginning when the dog is actually taking the food directly from your mouth... as things progress you can move to spitting(your back will thank you).

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If you are that concerned about contamination from your dogs muzzle, you need to re-think the food prep methods you are using. The easiest way to decontaminate your hands, the dogs paws, and muzzle would be a 5% bleach solution on a rag. This can however dry-out skin if used to frequently, and you wouldn't want to touch the dogs eyes or tear ducts with the rag. You also wouldn't want them to get much into their mouth or nose. Everytime I leave my lab, I wash my hands with this solution. By the end of the day moisturizer is needed.
You should never place raw poultry in your mouth. Other raw meat is also not a good idea, but since I eat sushi, raw oysters, and my steaks so rare that a skilled vet could probably bring it back to life, I would feel hypocritical saying never to these. As far as hot dogs are concerned, although they are fully cooked the packaging method allows for the risk of Listeria contamination. Boil the hot dogs before use if you are concerned.