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Are muzzles good for dogs? Muzzles can help curb lousy behavior including barking, biting, chewing and nipping. In this article, we’ll help you address your dog’s issue and help the two of you have a closer relationship.
What type of muzzle does your dog need? We’ll discuss dog muzzle reviews for your dog’s specific behavioral issue and help you decide if you need a basket dog muzzle or mesh dog muzzle.
Article Overview
Best Muzzle For:
5 Steps to Get a Dog Accustomed to a Muzzle
I had to use a muzzle on my dog for walks because she had a habit of barking obsessively and lunging at other dogs we passed on the trail. Before I took her on a walk wearing the muzzle, my husband got her used to the muzzle by doing the following.
- Let the dog sniff the muzzle to show her that it’s not bad. Give a treat (like Zuke’s training treats). Repeat this a handful of times.
- Touch her nose to the muzzle and treat her. Continue to do this until she is showing a positive interest in the muzzle.
- Hold the muzzle in front of her face with one hand and with your other hand hold a treat, so she has to put her nose inside to eat the treat. Repeat this until it is easy for her to do.
- Slide the muzzle onto her nose and treat her. Remove the muzzle and repeat this a few times.
- Place the muzzle on her and fasten it. Treat her and remove the muzzle. Repeat a handful of times as you slowly build up the time you wait to remove the muzzle.
How Long Can a Dog Wear a Muzzle?
Cesar Millan says muzzles shouldn’t be worn for longer than 20 minutes, depending on the temperature and how active the dog is at the time he’s wearing it. Honestly, we’re not sure we agree with this.
Muzzles are often used for training and walking, which can both take longer than 20 minutes at a time. We’re not saying you should buy a muzzle then put it on your dog for an hour the first time. It’s definitely something you want to build up to. But limiting it to 20 minutes doesn’t give you much leeway for activity.
Personally, my walks with my dogs last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes (depending on the weather). When we have also gone to training classes with her wearing a muzzle and they are typically longer than two hours. If I had to limit myself to just 20 minutes, we’d have to decrease our walks and training sessions.
While we don’t agree with Cesar’s Way, we also don’t think it’s right to leave the muzzle on for too long. We suggest only having the muzzle on for potentially stressful situations, like going to the vet, taking a walk or meeting someone new.
Best Dog Muzzle for Barking: Leather, Adjustable Muzzle Review
If your dog tends to bark while you’re walking him, a no bark muzzle may help quiet him. Your dog will still be able to breathe freely and pant his heart out. The muzzle will keep your dog from biting or eating items he shouldn’t.
The muzzle is lightweight and durable and is available in small, medium, large and extra-large. You can also purchase it in brown or black leather. If you need a dog muzzle to stop barking, this is the item for you.
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Best Dog Muzzle for Biting: Baskerville Ultra Muzzle Review
The best dog muzzle for biting is this Baskerville rubber basket muzzle. It is one of those dog muzzles that allows drinking, eating and panting while preventing the dog from biting. This is an excellent muzzle to use while socializing your dog safely.
It is incredibly durable and can be heated and shaped to fit your dog’s snout perfectly. The muzzle has an attachment loop to slip your dog’s regular collar through as an extra precaution.
Some buyers have complained that the muzzle runs a little small. So, if your dog is between sizes, purchase the size up. Also, customers have stated this is an excellent dog muzzle for pit bulls.
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Best Dog Muzzle for Grooming: Ewinever Review
This set of dog muzzles includes five different sizes to cover puppy muzzle to small dog muzzle to large dog muzzle. It is perfect for those of you with multiple dogs or with young dogs that might outgrow a muzzle. This set is also a great option for groomers that groom all sizes of dogs.
These soft dog muzzles are made of lightweight breathable nylon. These muzzles prevent your dog from eating things he shouldn’t. They also stop barking and biting.
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- 5 Pieces:
$9.50
Best Dog Muzzle for Walking: Gentle Leader Review
The Gentle Leader is easy to use on walks because you have full control of your dog’s head and where his attention is. Instead of walking ahead of you (like many dogs do), this head harness (which is designed like a muzzle) keeps your dog at your side.
The Gentle Leader No-Pull Headcollar stops your dog from pulling, lunging, jumping and barking. It is easy to adjust and allows your dog to pant comfortably. I use this on my dog, Sally, and it has helped lessen her barking/whining when we pass another dog on our walk.
We’d like to note that PetSafe states that this is not a muzzle, however, we think it’s close enough, and it works great for helping your dog behave better on walks.
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Read our Full Review of the Gentle Leader
How Do You Put a Muzzle on an Aggressive Dog?
If your dog is aggressive, it’s important to know how to properly put a muzzle on him. You don’t want to get yourself bitten when attempting to prevent him from biting others.
The video below shows how to fit a muzzle on a dog who is aggressive. In the video, he is using a Baskerville muzzle which is a brand we reviewed above.
Does Your Dog Have Aggressive Behavior?
Sometimes a muzzle doesn’t fix every issue. You may need to try some other things to help stop your dog’s aggressive tendencies. Check out these aggressive dog training tips if you need more help with an aggressive dog.
How do you think a muzzle will help your dog?
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