NEW RULES FOR DOGS ON FERRY(tipsonmuzzling) |
Effective 1 June 2026 |
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đ„ Trending
TL:DRWith the new ferry rules meaning some dogs may need to be muzzled or crated, the kindest thing you can do is start preparing early and go very slowly.
Dogs cope far better when muzzles and crates are introduced calmly at home, rather than suddenly during stressful moments like ferry trips or vet visits. Let them explore at their own pace, reward curiosity, and build positive associations over time.
The goal isnât compliance through force. Itâs helping your dog feel safe, calm and emotionally secure during change.
And yes⊠expect at least a few dramatically betrayed dog faces along the way.
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đŸđNEW RULES FOR DOGS ON FERRYđŸđ
Effective 1 June 2026
Nobody Wants to Muzzle Their Dog⊠But Waiting Until Ferry Day Could Make It Much Harder
**similar rules apply to the barge** Please see Amity Trader for details.
Iâve worked with an international dog training school, Nordic Dog Trainer, as Community Manager for several years now, and I'm concerned for the pooches (and their humans) who havenât used muzzles and donât want to. While I understand completely, living on Coochie means that itâs possibly unavoidable your dog may have to be muzzled or crated at some point.
Thinking ahead, rather than waiting for the last minute and trying to jam on a muzzleâwhich I know nobody wants to doâis probably the gentlest and least stressful way to approach this.
Here are some suggestions on how to go about it. I know this may feel to some like weâre teaching you to suck eggs, while others may find this information genuinely useful and perhaps a bit of a guiding light in adapting to the situation.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with muzzles is introducing them only during stressful moments. Dogs are incredibly sensitive to emotional association. If the muzzle suddenly appears right before a noisy ferry trip, a vet visit or some other upsetting experience, many dogs will quickly decide the muzzle itself is the problem.
The goal instead is to help the dog see the muzzle as something neutral, calm and safe.
Start slowly. Much more slowly than most people think. Nordic Dog Trainer coined a term that has stuck with me: 'slow like syrup,' which is way slower than my version of 'slow'. I wonder if it's yours, too?
Leave the muzzle somewhere around the house where your dog can see it and investigate it without pressure. Donât immediately try to put it on them. Let it simply exist in the environment for a while, like a lead hanging near the door or a pair of shoes left beside the couch.
When your dog calmly looks at it or sniffs it, respond positively. Calm praise, reassurance and, if your dog enjoys food rewards, a few favourite treats can help build a more relaxed emotional association.
The important thing is that the dog doesnât feel forced.
Once your dog seems comfortable around the muzzle, you can begin encouraging them to voluntarily place their nose inside for a second or two at a time. Smearing a little peanut butter or cream cheese just inside the front can help encourage curiosity without pressure.
That word voluntarily matters.
Thereâs a huge emotional difference between a dog choosing to engage with something and a dog feeling restrained or trapped by it.
At first, keep sessions incredibly short. Nose in. Calm praise. Remove the muzzle. Finished.
The aim is to build trust, not endurance.
Over time, you can gradually increase how long the muzzle stays on while continuing to keep the experience calm and predictable. A few seconds becomes a short wander around the yard. Then perhaps a small walk. Slow and steady is almost always the faster path in the long run.
If your dog starts pawing frantically at the muzzle, freezing, shutting down or becoming highly distressed, thatâs usually a sign the process is moving too quickly. Slowing down isnât failure. Itâs listening.
The same gentle approach applies to crates and carriers too. Ideally, the first experience of a crate shouldnât happen five minutes before boarding the ferry. Let the dog explore it at home first. Leave the door open. Toss treats inside occasionally. Feed meals nearby. Help it feel familiar and safe rather than something theyâre suddenly trapped inside.
And if you are purchasing a muzzle, many trainers recommend a basket-style muzzle over the older fabric wrap styles, particularly in Queensland weather. Dogs need to pant to regulate temperature and manage stress, especially after a walk to the ferry or while travelling on warm days.
One of the biggest lessons Iâve learned through Nordic Dog Trainer is that dogs generally cope with change far better when the humans around them remain calm, patient and emotionally predictable.
Most dogs arenât sitting around angry about policy changes. Theyâre simply responding to how safe or unsafe the moment feels (much like most humans, actually).
So while these new ferry rules may feel confronting right now, thereâs probably a gentler path through this transition than leaving it until the final moment and hoping for the best.
A little preparation now may save a whole lot of stress later.
And yes⊠there will almost certainly still be a few deeply offended dog expressions along the way. Some things are universal.
ps/while the words in this article have been sequenced into easily wordable digestion for you by my AI buddy, the theme, pitch and overall intent of the article come from me, a real human with real fingers typing on a real keyboard, and endorsed by our esteemed leader of Nordic Dog Trainer.
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