How important do you think it is for a dog beginning in muzzle work to be able to bark while wearing the muzzle?

I have read that the "bark reflex" allows the dog to release stress/pressure when not being able to bite.

I have also read that the pressure should be focused into the fight and not the threat display.

What say you good folks that have done it already?

Hi Max
depends on what you use the muzzle work for, i do kind of increasing the bark with the muzzle because of the kind of frustration the dog gets into . A bit hard to explain but the dogs nature already gets kind of a satisfaction by doing already that kind of behaviour which will get him his result.
F.i. the running as movement already gives the hunting dog a "rewardmood" in expectation ,the catching and "eating" of the prey is the second one.That s within a reason why we can eat the duck we shot instead of our dog does <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
A little bit like this shows the dog acting after getting in drive and after the bite holding the sleeve calm.I hope you understand what i am trying to explain.
With the muzzle you kinda "block" a chainreaction in the dogs drive,like bark with the muzzle ,bark,bark and the helper acts like giving the dog his reward BUT the dog cant bite,close his mouth around a prey ....and gets mad/frustrated but in a positive way for the idea we have behind this.
Same game possible with increasing toydrive.
The ability to bark for increasing the intensivity of the attack with the muzzle on a helper with a bitesuit should be to my opinion considered to the nature of the special dog which is worked in this. To some it maybe a need to some not.
But in general the muzzle should nt be that close around the dogs muzzle that he cant open his mouth at least a bit for breathing.
Bye Jutta

How important do you think it is for a dog beginning in muzzle work to be able to bark while wearing the muzzle?

The dog must be able to bark, and attempt to bite in the muzzle.
Now, I'm not sure what you are using the muzzle for but ANY muzzle in which the dog is so restricted they cannot bark freely is too restrictive. They have to breath easily.
Muzzle work can get as detailed as bite development in theory. A bit long to go into but Ed did a nice tape (a lot of me geting thundered by police dogs) on the subject.

Thank you for the replies.

We are having difficulty finding muzzles for the bulldogs in our program. Most the muzzles fit the herders well, but are too narrow for the bulldogs.

Any suggestions?