Muzzles for dogs: types and sizes

When you start a dog, you need to purchase all the necessary ammunition for it. These four-legs need not only a leash and a collar. No matter how kind, sociable and calm the dog may be, for it you still need to pick up a muzzle. This thing should be chosen very carefully so that it fits the pet perfectly, does not harm it and does not cause discomfort.

Muzzle - this is the right product that is used for various purposes.

• For training. The first thing the four-legged is taught to wear a muzzle. In this case, the animal is taught not to resist wearing this thing. The dog should wear a muzzle calmly, without irritation. This item is one of the main in the general training course.
• Formal appointment. To calmly and as safely as possible lead a pet through a crowd of people, for walking along large and busy streets or traveling in public transport, a muzzle is simply necessary. According to the rules of keeping, dogs in the listed environments cannot be carried out without the described product. The size and age of the animal does not play any role here.
• To prevent bites. If a pet is waiting for any unpleasant or painful operations / procedures or a large, aggressive dog is waiting for a haircut, then such an accessory will prevent possible animal bites. If a pet is nervous or angry at something, and you need to go for a walk, you can’t do without a muzzle.
• To prevent eating objects from the ground. Often dogs begin to "vacuum" when they are on the street. They pick up any leftover products, inedible and even dangerous items.This behavior is characteristic of both puppies and adult dogs, especially if they used to be stray dogs.
• For daily walks. These are universal products that do not allow the dog to bite a person or an extraneous pet on the street. At the same time, nothing prevents the four-legged from breathing in the muzzle.

Today the assortment of dog muzzles is wider than ever. Finding the perfect solution can be difficult due to the huge choice buyers face. Consider the main varieties of these products and their properties.

This is a kind of leather “box”, it has holes through which air enters. Such a muzzle will not allow the dog to bark or simply open its mouth. In a deaf leather model, an animal can only “grunt” quietly. As the main material, high-strength and dense skin of high quality is usually used. She can’t just be torn apart by sharp and powerful dog claws. These products are often used not only to prevent aggression of animals, but also for visits of large dogs to a veterinarian, groomer or other specialist. Through a large crowd of people, an aggressive and strong pet is also best carried out in such ammunition.

Muzzles of this type are allowed to be used for a limited time period. All day the animal cannot be kept in such a model, since the air intake in it leaves much to be desired. Dogs are allowed to wear a deaf leather muzzle for no more than a few tens of minutes. These things are not suitable for walking - in them the pet will not be able to breathe normally, will suffer from a lack of oxygen, it may receive heat stroke, as it will not be able to open its mouth. Animals with shortened faces should not be bought these models, because even in cool weather they can get hypoxia or heat stroke, as there will be respiratory failure.

These models are a mesh design consisting of sturdy leather straps. In this product, the animal can open its mouth, stick out its tongue, breathe easily and unhindered, drink water. Mesh muzzles are suitable even for cases when a pet needs to be encouraged by a treat. These muzzles are designed for daily walking, transportation and training of animals. Unfortunately, many models of this type in no way prevent a dog from picking up different debris and food debris from the ground. To prevent the pet from “vacuuming” on the street, you will need to choose options with a blank or bottom and a large gap between the side straps. These models can be selected for representatives of any breed.

In such a muzzle, an animal can easily drink, receive goodies, breathe freely with an open mouth and even lick oneself. But such designs are heavy. They can only be worn on mature pets, whose head has formed to the end. An aggressive dog in such a muzzle will be able to bite if she manages to get as close to a person or another animal as possible. Models made in the form of baskets interfere with the selection of various objects from the ground, as well as their licking.

When there is a cold winter season in the yard, such a muzzle should not be worn on the pet - this can provoke frostbite of the animal's face, lead to general frostbite of its body. Since metal baskets weigh a lot, they are allowed to be worn only by large and strong breeds. Shepherd dogs, bulldogs, large terriers, medium and large molosses - these are the types of dogs that will be comfortable in metal baskets.

A plastic muzzle is an alternative to metal options, but it weighs a lot less.In it, the animal can breathe seamlessly and even lick, but it will not work to pick up something from the ground or make a bite. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the "baskets" of plastic are more frequent than their metal counterparts. If it is hot outside, a dog in a plastic muzzle will not be very comfortable walking, and in the cold, cheap and low-quality plastic can even crack. Despite these drawbacks, such muzzles are still considered a very good choice. Buyers have the opportunity to choose the most successful and suitable option for a pet of any breed and any size. It can be either a very large shaggy big man or a miniature doggie.

The woven muzzle is the simplest design, made in the form of a bandage on a dog's face. Such a product will not interfere with the selection of unnecessary things from the ground. The dog will be able to breathe, lick, open its mouth and even bite without interference. The main function of a woven muzzle is to maintain formalities. In this thing with an animal, you can go for walks in a busy street environment, transport your pet in transport. Often, nylon muzzles are used to accustom the animal to such accessories.

In general, a soft nylon muzzle is an inexpensive and useful item. It can be worn on puppies of any breed with the aim of accustoming them to similar items of ammunition. An animal can be long-mouthed (dachshunds, greyhounds, hounds, many types of shepherd dogs), but short-muzzle nylon muzzles do not fit that well. Brachycephals should not buy these options.

Currently, such products have become very popular. The bridle is a special design responsible for the functions of both the muzzle and the collar or harness. A leash is attached very firmly and securely to it. The bridle is unlikely to protect the animal from eating food from the floor or bites, but for mechanical adjustments to poor behavior during training, this thing will be very useful.

The current rich assortment of dog muzzles offers not only restrained monophonic models of strict design, but also more original, funny and funny specimens. If the owner wants the look of his beloved pet to be unusual and interesting, he can choose for him a designer muzzle of a certain subject. On sale you can find products of the following design:

• “Evil” closed muzzle with grinning huge teeth stained with blood (often such scary models are bought for fighting breed pets so that outsiders have even less desire to approach them with an obsessive desire to touch);
• cool woven patterns with different patterns, for example, with a tongue, falling on its side;
• models made in the form of a duck beak (most often these are silicone muzzles intended for small or medium animals);
• creepy skull-shaped options;
• in the form of a dragon's face or a dinosaur.

In stores you can meet a great many different design options for dog muzzles.

It doesn't matter if you choose a good muzzle for a puppy or an adult dog. In any case, you need to consider how comfortable it is for the animal to wear purchased ammunition. The muzzle chosen by you should not interfere with the pet or cause discomfort. In order not to encounter such problems, all necessary measures should be taken before purchasing. You will need to find out such important indicators as:

• accurately and correctly measure the pet's face in length (implies the distance from the eyes to the nose and from the occipital to the eyes);
• determine the girth of the dog’s muzzle (when measuring this parameter, the tape will need to be shifted slightly below the dog’s eye line);
• find out the width of the muzzle.

Together with the muzzle for the dog you need to buy such a thing as a clicker. The latter is a plastic keychain with a special metal tongue. At the time of compression, a clicking sound emanates from it. It is he who will serve as a signal for the pet to complete the required action. First of all, you will need to teach the animal to catch this click when receiving treats.

To accustom a pet to a clicker, you first need to hook it on a leash, and attach its other end to any fixed object. Next, you need to take a clicker, squeeze the treat for the dog in the palm of your hand. As soon as the animal stops all attempts to receive treats from your hands, you just need to click the clicker once and open the palm in which the treats are located. After that, you need to hold another piece of the treat in your second hand and start your homework. At the same time, all attempts by the dog to attract attention should be ignored. This usually takes about 5 minutes.

After that, you need to click the clicker and offer a treat to the dog. Often, breeders use different tricks instead of a distinctive click. These can be certain words spoken during the educational process in the corresponding intonation. When you introduce a four-legged friend to a muzzle, you should keep the ammunition in one hand, and in the other - clicker and goodies. At these moments, the animal should sit or stand calmly in front of the owner.

Next, you need to stretch the muzzle towards the four-legged and let him sniff the thing. As soon as the pet sniffs the muzzle offered to him, you should issue a click with a clicker and give the dog a treat. If the animal does not want to sniff the muzzle, then it can be rubbed with a prepared treat, and then re-bring it to the nose of the pet. The repetition of these actions is carried out until the moment the dog begins to raise his nose to the ammunition confidently.

Next, you should teach your pet to stick its nose into the muzzle. When the animal touches the muzzle of the thing shown to him, the accessory should be deployed so that its nose is partially immersed in the inside of the product. To fix the result, always click the clicker and give your favorite treats. The number of repetitions and the absolute development of this skill usually does not take a lot of time. Much here depends on the age of the pet, as well as on its propensity to learn and master new teams.

Under the conditions of the follow-up training activities, the owner should make clicks with a clicker at the moment of holding the muzzle strap behind the dog’s ears, and later - when fastening the ammunition. As soon as the straps of the protective accessory are fastened, you should immediately issue a click. You can cordon off the belts and allow the pet to pull the muzzle out of the structure so that he can eat the delicacy prepared for him. Experts argue that quick addiction to the muzzle can be achieved by resorting to frequent games and walks, during which the animal will be distracted from a new accessory for him.

The muzzle is an important accessory for a dog of any breed. It is important to choose it correctly, and then correctly accustom the pet to a new thing. It is worth considering some useful tips and tricks on these issues.

• Despite the softness and lightness of nylon muzzles, which are terribly popular and affordable today, you should not buy them if your pet is too aggressive, nervous, and hard to obey. Such dogs tear woven patterns in one second, if they need it.
• Keep in mind how many mounts your muzzle has. If the dog is calm, with a balanced psyche, then only one fastener located behind the ears will be enough for him. If the pet is problematic and easily removes woven or leather “masks”, then it is better to choose a more reliable and sturdy solution with a sufficient number of mounts.
• At the moment of training a dog to a muzzle, one should not forget about praise in the form of treats. If the accessory has open sides, then treats can be served to the pet through them, without removing the muzzle.
• For a young dog, muzzles will have to be bought periodically depending on its growth rate and physical changes. Measurements in such cases need to be taken many times.
• Deaf muzzles, especially those made of thick leather, are reliable and durable protective equipment, but in no case put them on the dog for a long time. In addition, pugs, staffordshire terriers, boxers and bulldogs, such models are not at all suitable.
• Try to teach your pet a muzzle while it’s still small. The older the animal, the more difficult it will be to adapt to this accessory.
• When choosing a muzzle, you must definitely look at the quality of its performance. It should be made “in good conscience” - there should be no sticking threads or loose parts in it.
• If you cannot independently choose the right muzzle for your pet, it is better to contact specialists who will tell you which model to take and which one is better to refuse.
• When wearing, the muzzle should not exert excessive pressure on the dog's nose and the area around its eyes. Keep track of this.
• It is important to ensure that the pet can breathe in the muzzle calmly and without unnecessary interference. This is especially important if walking with animals is carried out in hot weather.
• Accustoming a dog to such ammunition, one should not yell at it and resort to physical methods of punishment if the pet does not understand you right away. Be tolerant.

About what types of muzzles for dogs exist, see the next video.