Considering a Muzzle? Read This First.

Muzzles for your dog get a bad rep, but the truth is, you can use a muzzle to protect your four-legged friend in a loving, humane way. Those images you may have seen in movies of mean, hurt, and/or howling dogs in muzzles aren’t representative of a new muzzle-positive movement taking place that seeks to protect dogs from themselves. If you’ve been thinking about getting a muzzle for your pup, here are a few things to consider.

Why Should You Use a Muzzle?

According to the Animal Humane Society, muzzles are an effective tool to protect dogs from engaging in dangerous behavior, including biting, eating non-food items, and eating the droppings of other animals. Muzzles can also help your dog get through stressful situations safely — like veterinarian visits! — and are safe for any dog, even non-aggressive ones. In fact, muzzles could even save your dog’s life, as many states require pet owners to put their dog down if they bite someone, and wearing a muzzle will reduce their ability to bite.

Muzzles can give your dog more freedom, letting them go out in public spaces without fear of them hurting themselves or others, according to The Muzzle Movement, an organization that advocates for the safe use of muzzles.

In a recent Instagram post, the organization wrote, “The stigma around muzzles often stems from fear or misunderstanding. People assume a muzzled dog is ‘dangerous,’ but the truth is, muzzles are no different from seatbelts or helmets… they’re protective, practical, and sometimes essential.”

Consider a Muzzle for These Situations

All dogs should be trained on how to use a muzzle because there are certain situations they might need them. The American Kennel Club recommends dog owners use a muzzle during an emergency, when your dog is injured or threatened; when your dog has a history of biting or is aggressive; and during situations that might stress out your dog like vet visits or grooming sessions.

BTW, if you see a dog in a muzzle, don’t assume that it means they are aggressive or biters. It could just be a training tool for an upcoming appointment or a way to prevent any potential biting even if they’ve never done it before.

Muzzles are not recommended as a tool to help with behavioral problems like barking and chewing and should not be used for long periods of time. Muzzles should never be used as a punishment, and they should never hurt your dog.

Baskets Are Better

There are two types of muzzles available, baskets muzzles and soft muzzles. Basket muzzles go around your dog’s nose and mouth, but don’t keep your dog’s mouth shut. The leather, wire, plastic, or rubber bars allow dogs to still pant, drink, and even eat treats. Pretty cool, right?

Soft muzzles, on the other hand, are made from nylon or mesh fabric and wrap around your dog’s mouth to hold it closed. They prevent your dog from barking, drinking, or eating and should only be used for very short periods of time (if used at all) as they are more limiting. The Animal Humane Society recommends basket muzzles over soft muzzles, unless absolutely necessary during vet exams and/or grooming.

Fit Matters

Although each muzzle brand will have different guidelines for measuring your dog’s muzzle, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind about the fit of your canine’s muzzle. The muzzle should be snug, not tight, allow the dog to open their mouth, and be adjustable.

According to The Muzzle Movement, the best way to measure your dog’s jaw is by using a tape measure on the dog’s open mouth when they are panting. This is to ensure that your dog will still be able to pant while muzzled (this is critical, as this is how they cool down!). Start measuring at about 1.5 cm in front of the eyes where the muzzle will rest, so it doesn’t push back and hurt your dog’s eyes. Then, bring the tape measure straight down (not curved!) to the lowest point of the jowl.

You will also need to measure how wide your dog’s cheeks are to make sure the muzzle isn’t too big that it wiggles on your dog or too small that it pinches your dog’s cheeks. Standing in front of their eyes, measure the distance between the widest part of each cheek to get this measurement.

Once you’ve written down your dog’s dimensions, you can plug those into the store where you are shopping for muzzles to find the corresponding size. The Muzzle Movement has a helpful quiz to assist you in finding the right sizes and measurements for their products, which are all given different names instead of size numbers to make it easier. Other companies will have different measurement guidelines, so be sure to check with those before purchasing. Many plastic muzzles can also be boiled and slightly remodeled to fit your dog if need be.

A Muzzle for Every Dog!

There are many different places to buy muzzles for your dog, depending on their size or breed.

At the Dog Muzzles Store, you can search by specific breeds to find the right muzzle for your dog. The Baskerville Ultra Muzzle is designed for comfort, with a tough malleable thermal plastic rubber and comes in several different sizes. At the The Muzzle Movement, you can get muzzles designed with strong plastic and soft waterproof strapping, with extra adjustable straps to help it fit just right.

While you can get metal/wire or leather muzzles, the nonprofit organization the Muzzle Up! Project recommends using one with a soft plastic, as wire muzzles are typically heavier and the metal can become unbearably hot or cold depending on the climate, and leather muzzles can make eating food and drinking water much more challenging.

Introduce Your Dog to a Muzzle

Don’t wait to put your dog into a muzzle until they need it (for example, right before their vet appointment), as this can cause anxiety for your dog. Studies have shown that using an appropriately sized muzzle and training using positive reinforcement techniques can prevent negative outcomes of using a muzzle. (The muzzle is supposed to lower your dog’s stress, not increase it!)

Ease into their muzzle training by starting with short, 1-2 minute sessions at a time. VCA Animal Hospitals recommend showing your dog their new muzzle, and then giving treats to reward their curiosity.

When you’re ready to move on, put a treat inside the muzzle to encourage your dog to move toward the basket muzzle. Repeat this, gradually waiting longer to insert the treat into the basket. Once they are comfortable, you can practice putting the muzzle on at different angles, while walking, and more, rewarding with treats or lick-able snacks like peanut butter or squeeze cheese.

The first time you secure the strap, give your dog a treat, wait just 1-2 seconds, and remove it. Eventually, keep it on for 10 seconds and gradually build up the time they can be in it.

You can move slower or quicker with muzzle training depending on your dog’s willingness and if they have had a previous traumatic experience with a muzzle or not. It’s always a good idea to check with a vet or a dog trainer if you’re not sure how to proceed!

Keep in mind: dogs in muzzles are still good dogs! They are just dogs whose owners want to protect them from biting, eating harmful things, or getting stressed out in public situations. Muzzles don’t have to be mean or painful; the best ones are shortly used in a positive way after plenty of training.