Dog Muzzles
Despite their education, some dogs remain aggressive or unpredictable, and can put their owner or those around them at risk which can only be avoided by wearing a dog muzzle. Others, like dogs categorized 1 and 2, simply suffer from a bad reputation and are forced by law to wear a muzzle in public spaces.
For the owners of these extraordinary dogs, the choice of a good muzzle is particularly important to minimize the discomfort of their companion and to avoid any emotional and physical distress.
Today, we therefore offer you some tips for choosing the correct muzzle for your dog and learning to make him accept this accessory gently.
By the way: Your four-legged friend can be so lovely and harmless: In some everyday situations, he can feel threatened and seem to bite for no reason. If you have a fighting dog, it must always carry a muzzle in public. You can only escape this if you conduct a behavior test with your dog and it passes it. The fighting dogs, which generally have a muzzle requirement, include the dog breeds Pit Bull, Bull Terrier and Rottweiler. All companion and guide dogs are exempt from the obligation to wear a muzzle.
As a dog owner, you should take the muzzle requirement as seriously as the leash obligation. You will have insured your four-legged friend, but once he has injured another person, you will certainly make serious reproaches. So don’t let it get that far and read what you should look out for when buying a muzzle.
Muzzle advice
In the specialized trade there is an almost inexhaustible variety of bite baskets for different dog breeds: In addition to the muzzle for small dogs, such as the muzzle Chihuahua or the muzzle French Bulldog, there are of course also models in large. When buying, make sure that the basket you prefer is available in several sizes and can even be adjusted at best. Be sure to measure your dog’s muzzle exactly before buying. I will explain later how you can do this best.
One of the most important criteria when choosing your new muzzle is the material used. Models made of nylon or plastic are the inexpensive variant; the leather muzzle is a little more expensive. Biothane is one of the materials that can be unconditionally recommended. This is not only breathable, but also hygienic, dimensionally stable and robust. For a bite basket made of Biothane, however, you have to expect around 100 euros. You should consider that the muzzle is a one-time purchase that can be useful for you and your dog in many situations. Imagine you and your dog have to go to an unknown veterinarian. Out of fear, it can happen that even your favorite dog snaps shut. You can prevent this with a muzzle.
Under no circumstances should the muzzle scare your four-legged friend. If possible, get him used to carrying such a basket as early as puppy age. When buying, you should make sure that the muzzle is made of a material that is as comfortable as possible and is even slightly padded if possible. The lighter the model, the better you like it. Also make sure that the material is easy to maintain and clean. For yourself as a dog owner, it is advantageous if the basket is easy to put on and take off again. Most commercially available muzzles are equipped with a snap lock. This is much more robust than a Velcro fastener and should therefore be your first choice. Panting and drinking should be possible without any problems even with the muzzle in place.
In addition to the pure muzzles, so-called guide muzzles are also available in the trade. These serve you as a dog owner to keep control over the running and head direction of your dog. These muzzles do not restrict the dog at all, but they are also less robust and, in the worst case, do not prevent biting.
No matter which of the presented muzzles you choose: It is best to start getting used to your dog’s muzzle as early as puppy age. You can always get into a situation in which you have to put such a basket on your four-legged friend.
And for situations where no muzzle is needed, a collar or harness is always advisable. We have a guide for each of the collars and the harness .
In the following I would like to introduce you to five recommended muzzles:
1. Baskerville Ultra Muzzle muzzle
The Baskerville muzzle is a multiple award-winning model that is offered in various sizes. Size 6, for example, with a length of 13 centimeters and a nose circumference of 41 centimeters, is suitable for Labradors and German Shepherds. It is a classic basket that is very hard-wearing. The special feature: The basket is designed so that the dog can pant and eat easily. The soft and flexible material is provided with a neoprene padding, so that the basket is quite comfortable for the dog. The plastic muzzle is flexible and light, so that it hardly disturbs the four-legged friend. We also like that the muzzle is equipped with two seat belts so that it stays securely in place. There is also a loop at the rear end so that you can connect the basket with a leash. All in all, it is a very safe muzzle, which is not without reason the comparison winner in the test. Safety and comfort are combined in this model; moreover, the price is simply unbeatable.
Here is a summary of all the highlights of the Baskerville muzzle:
- enables panting and drinking
- ergonomic fit
- soft padding
- with loop for threading on the collar
- robust and flexible
2. BUMAS muzzle
With a purchase price of more than 100 euros, the muzzle from BUMAS is one of the more expensive models in the test. This muzzle, which was specially developed for the German Shepherd Dog, is available in five friendly colors so that the dog doesn’t look that dangerous anymore. Of course, the BUMAS muzzle is also available in 13 other sizes for numerous other dog breeds. A special feature is certainly the innovative material without any sharp edges. Your four-legged friend will quickly get used to his new muzzle. This material, called BioThane, not only remains flexible even in the cold, you can even stow it in your pocket to save space when not in use. This material is roughly comparable to organic leather, but much easier to care for. If the muzzle is very dirty, it can even be cleaned in the dishwasher. We like the click closure, thanks to which the basket is quickly attached. This muzzle was even rated as very good by an independent specialist animal welfare center.
That’s why you can safely decide to buy the muzzle from BUMAS:
- custom made by hand
- ergonomic fit
- patented flexible material
- five cheerful color combinations
- temperature resistant and flexible
- antibacterial and hygienic
- equipped with rustproof rivets
This popular basket is handcrafted by a well-known Austrian muzzle manufacturer, which of course justifies the rather impressive purchase price. It goes without saying that it is a species-appropriate bite basket with which the animal can pant and drink freely.
Bumas is a manufacturer that is known for its individual and mostly very colorful products. All bite baskets as well as the collars and leashes are made by hand and made from the innovative material Biothane. Since they all have a smooth surface, they are not only easy to clean, but also prevent chafing or hair breakage. The BUMAS bite basket was developed in collaboration with animal psychologists and a dog trainer and therefore responds individually to the needs of humans and animals. With the purchase of a BUMAS bite guard you definitely do not make a mistake.
3. RockPet muzzle
The RockPet bite basket is an appealing model made of nylon, which is not only available in three appealing colors, but also in six different sizes. In terms of price, I like this variant best, because for the medium-sized model, you only pay 10.99 euros at the shopping giant Amazon. On Amazon you will also find a graphic illustration of how you can best determine the size of the bite guard.
The material nylon has the advantage that it is not only comfortable to wear, but also extremely hard-wearing. If it is lightly soiled, you can simply wipe it off with a damp cloth. The bite guard itself is very easy to put on: you simply put the front part over your dog’s nose; the buckle is placed around the neck. Basically, you should only use this basket with a collar, as intelligent dogs can easily get rid of it. Drinking and eating is no problem with this muzzle; So it’s really just a bite guard.
Here is everything you need to know about the RockPet bite guard in brief:
- robust quality made of nylon
- available in three different colors
- six sizes are available
- Size can also be set individually
- best price performance ratio
All in all a model that I can unconditionally recommend and that is also well accepted by dogs.
4. CRAZYBOY silicone basket dog muzzle
The CRAZYBOY bite protection available in black and red is available in five different sizes, so that you can also find the right product for your dog. With this model, too, the fair purchase price, which depends on the size of the basket, is impressive. For the largest variant, you only pay 21.99 euros. The peculiarity of this muzzle is that it is made of silicone. In fact, it reminds me a little of the silicone baking molds that can now be bought everywhere. It goes without saying that the dog can pant, drink and eat through the muzzle, too. It is best to use the basket in conjunction with a leash. If you only put it on like this, it can happen that the dog gets it easily.
That is why the model from CRAZYBOY makes it into my personal leaderboard:
- different sizes and two colors to choose from
- robust and durable quality
- comfortable silicone
As always, Amazon offers the muzzle at a particularly fair price. Here you can also get inspiration from the customer reviews of previous buyers. You can also find a good drawing on Amazon, with the help of which you can determine the correct size of the muzzle for your dog. With the CRAZYBOY bite protection you succeed in preventing the dog from biting and barking as well as from eating the spoiled or poisoned. Maybe your four-legged friend also suffers from destruction rage when he is alone and bored? With the CRAZYBOY muzzle, your furniture will be safe in the future!
5. Cesar Millan’s muzzle
The Cesar Millan bite guard stands out from its competitors in the test. The reason for this is its attractive appearance: The manufacturer himself describes the model as a “funny muzzle”. The basket made of yellow nylon is placed completely over the mouth of the dog. The highlight: A red tongue is sewn on at the front, so that it actually looks as if the dog is sticking out your tongue. Of course, it is not one of the muzzles in the traditional sense; he can already prevent biting.
That’s why I like the Cesar Millan bite protection so well:
- particularly unusual look
- available in four sizes
- made of durable nylon
- Hand wash possible
Many of the commercially available muzzles do not look very appealing and make the dog look even more aggressive. Not so the Cesar Millan bite basket: With this, all people will turn around after your four-legged friend and can not help smiling.
Muzzle buying guide
Surely you want to give your four-legged friend as much freedom as possible and save them having to wear a bite guard. However, this not only serves your safety, but also the safety of the dog. After all, when walking the dog, he can prevent the dog from eating poisoned bait. A muzzle should be part of the basic equipment of every dog owner. There are a few basic things to consider when buying.
The most important purchase criterion is the optimal fit. Make absolutely sure that your animal is not restricted too much and that the dog can still pant freely. If this is not possible, he cannot regulate his body temperature and in the worst case even a circulatory collapse is imminent. Bite baskets should not become torture for your four-legged friend.
At best, your new bite guard is sufficiently padded and made of a pleasant material. When buying, make sure that it is adjustable and breathable if possible. As diverse as the individual dog noses are, the shapes of the bite baskets that are commercially available are also different. To find the perfect size for your dog’s muzzle, you should do the following:
First measure the length of the nose, starting two centimeters under the eyes. Add 0.6 centimeters to this value so that the basket does not press against your dog’s nose. You should also add 1.3 centimeters to the circumference so that the basket is not too narrow.
Just as varied as the different shapes are the different materials from which bite baskets are made. Baskets made of metal, plastic and leather are the variants that you encounter most often. All of these materials have their advantages and disadvantages: Metal, for example, is a particularly stable material, which your four-legged friend will initially be suspicious of. It is not very pleasant for the dog to wear a metal muzzle.
The baskets made of leather are much more convenient, although more expensive to buy. If you want to do something really good for your dog, choose a muzzle made from the new material Biothane. A good example of such a bite guard is the BUMAS basket described above. This antibacterial material is not only flexible, but also temperature-resistant, hygienic and robust. Most bite baskets – no matter what material – are simply attached to the dog’s head with the help of adjustable loops. Some models even offer the option of connecting them to the dog leash.
But there are also so-called mouth loops; I strongly advise against buying such a model! These muzzles are inexpensive, but must be tied around the animal’s mouth so tightly that the dog can no longer pant. These models may only be used for a short time as they can extremely damage the health of the animal! Some models even offer the option of connecting them to the dog leash. But there are also so-called mouth loops; I strongly advise against buying such a model! These muzzles are inexpensive, but must be tied around the animal’s mouth so tightly that the dog can no longer pant.
These models may only be used for a short time as they can extremely damage the health of the animal! Some models even offer the option of connecting them to the dog leash. But there are also so-called mouth loops; I strongly advise against buying such a model! These muzzles are inexpensive, but must be tied around the animal’s mouth so tightly that the dog can no longer pant. These models may only be used for a short time as they can extremely damage the health of the animal!
Related Tags:
Muzzle, Mouth guard, Dog, Leash, Pit bull, Dogs, Domesticated animals, Collar for animal, Animals, Human activities, Animals and humans, French bulldog, Bulldog, Bull, Dogs as pets, Manufactured goods, Nylon, Bull terrier, Rottweiler, Silicone, Plastic, Leather, Equipment, Terrier, Color, Thermoregulation, Aggression
