Controlling dog aggression by using a dog muzzle

Which Type of Muzzle is best for my situation?

Jump to:

• Aggression
• Veterinary visits
• Protection Training
• Barking

Although there are many variations on the market you generally see either:

• Wire or plastic basket muzzles.
• Softer variations are usually made of some kind of fabric such as nylon.
• Leather muzzles that cover a large part of the dog’s face.
• Novelty muzzles shapes as duck beaks, etc.

Muzzles for Aggression

Short Answer: Basket Muzzles are best for aggression

For the average dog owner who wants to exercise caution while training their dogs not to be aggressive or out for walks, the basket muzzle is the most humane choice recommended by veterinary behaviorists.  Basket Muzzles allow your dog to pant and open its mouth. You need a good quality muzzle that will withstand potential fighting and will not rip, bend, or otherwise fail. Ideally, you need to be able to give treats through (food tubes are good for this).

More on Basket Muzzles

• USES: Bite prevention during longer-term use such as training or going on walks

Potential considerations with basket muzzles

• Some plastic muzzles tend to be cheaper, but they don’t tend to let in as much airflow so you need to consider what activity you are doing with your dog.
• Some dogs can get their lower jaw out and get teeth stuck with certain kinds of muzzles.
• Dogs may be able to bite through a soft or cheap plastic muzzle.
• Straps, fastenings, and muzzle itself should be checked regularly for damage
• Muzzle should be cleaned reguarly

The airflow is best with wire basket muzzles. The ability to give your dog a treat through the muzzle is a little easier, too. However, the wire muzzles tend to be a little heavier and dogs can still hurt others by hitting them with the muzzle.

Recommended Basket Muzzles

Baskerville Ultra Muzzles

Baskerville is also another trusted brand that has been around for years.

Baskerville Ultra Muzzles (#commissionearned)  (look for the size that fits your dog – the default option is a size 5) also scored well for dogs with larger heads such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Pitbulls, etc.

---

Muzzles for Grooming or Vet Visits

Short answer: Basket Muzzles are best, Occulsion muzzles or Cute/Funny muzzles can still be used for certain situations.

Basket muzzles are the most humane, but for temporary uses, occlusion muzzles are acceptable and because they are relatively easy to put on may be a good choice. However, they may cause your dog some stress since they can’t pant or open their mouths easily.

More on Occlusion Muzzles

• USES: Use occlusion muzzles for short-term use only for vet visits or grooming

Dangers and considerations associated with occlusion muzzles

• Because dogs cool themselves when they are panting, these muzzles can pose a threat to the dogs wearing them. Avoid using Occlusion muzzles when especially warm or when they are stressed and need to pant. Panting is the only way a dog can cool down, so if worn too long in warmer weather, it can cause heat stroke resulting in serious harm or even death.
• Dogs can find occlusion muzzles extremely frustrating

More on “Cute” or “Funny” Muzzles

Duck muzzle (#commissionearned) The idea is great, but sadly, they are only good for short-term situations where the dog is unlikely to pant which rules out using them for aggressive dogs when out for a walk or when you have visitors. Like the occlusion muzzles, they may be fine for temporary use such as at the vet or grooming. The advantage is that it may make others around them feel less threatened by the fact they are wearing a muzzle.

Cute or Funny muzzles may be useful in veterinary situations when you need to wait in a waiting room with other people and you don’t want other people acting fearful of your dog and contributing to your dog’s stress. Ensure these muzzles are well made.

Back to Table of Contents

---

Muzzles For Protection Training

Short answer: Leather Police Style or Agitation Muzzles are best for protection training.

These dog muzzles are usually used for police or protection training where the dog is encouraged to bark and bite. They are usually made of leather, although plastic variations exist. The leather variations allow the handler or target of the aggression to experience less damage if they are hit hard with them. While leather agitation muzzles are considered the safest from a bite perspective, they are also the most expensive. Your trainer will likely have recommendations for your dog.

More on Police style or “Agitation” dog muzzles

• USES: teaching dogs to bite for police or protection training

Dangers and considerations associated with Agitation muzzles

• Ventilation is still a concern with these muzzles. Examine how well-ventilated the muzzle is that you are looking at.
• Getting the right fit is also important since it is more difficult to see how well the dog fits inside of it.

If you decide on one of these muzzles for a dog you are working with to NOT be aggressive an important consideration is how easily you can feed treats through. Using a muzzle with behavior modification or training, the ability to give a treat to your dog is essential. Some muzzles will allow you to put a popsicle stick with peanut butter, spreadable cheese, or puréed meat, and as with some plastic or rubber basket muzzles, some muzzles can be cut through to make giving treats easier.

Back to Table of Contents

Muzzles for Barking

Muzzles are generally not recommended as a primary solution for barking for several reasons:

1. Stress and Anxiety: Using a muzzle to prevent barking can increase a dog’s stress and anxiety. If a dog is barking out of fear, stress, or anxiety, putting a muzzle on them may exacerbate these feelings. They may stop the behavior while the muzzle is on, but once it is removed, the dog is likely to resume barking potentially to a greater degree.
2. Risk of Misuse: Muzzles need to be used correctly and for appropriate situations. Misuse can lead to physical discomfort or injury particularly while under stress. Muzzles should not be used for extended periods, and dogs should always be supervised while wearing them.
3. Communication and Expression: Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate. By muzzling a dog to stop barking, you might be preventing them from expressing themselves, which can lead to frustration and other behavioral issues.
4. Training and Behavior Modification: It is more effective to address the root cause of barking through training and behavior modification. Techniques such as positive reinforcement, desensitization, and counterconditioning can help reduce barking by addressing the underlying issues.

If a dog’s barking is problematic, it’s essential to identify why the dog is barking and work with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the root cause of the behavior.

Back to Table of Contents

When to use a dog muzzle

Vet visits

Vet visits can be stressful to dogs for a number of reasons and bites are more likely to happen. Most vets appreciate that you have thought to muzzle your dog if there are any concerns. However, check with your vet about whether they think muzzling your dog is a good idea during the visit. If your dog is aggressive towards other animals, it might be possible to keep your dog in your vehicle until the vet is ready to see your dog.

Neighbourhood or park walks

If your dog has the potential to bite, safety should always come first. The first step it to prevent your dog from becoming anxious by avoiding the things that set them off. But surprises and accidents happen so make sure your dog can’t bite by using a muzzle. It is a good idea to reinforce the link between muzzles and enjoyable walks

During training or behaviour modification

You should avoid the things that trigger your dog’s aggression except when doing behavior modification. However, do not trigger the aggression by getting too close – see the importance of getting your dog’s attention at the first sign of arousal. Use a dog muzzle only as a safety precaution only.

To help encourage people to keep their distance

Muzzles encourage people to keep their distance! If you are interested in keeping people at a distance check out our article on other things that can help keep people and or dogs at a distance.

To regain your confidence

If you have experienced an aggressive conflict you may be feeling anxious yourself. Dogs can pick up on that and become more anxious in response. Knowing that your dog can’t bite might help you feel calmer.

When NOT to put a muzzle on your dog

• When leaving your dog unsupervised
• If your dog is required to wear one for an extended period of time
• As an attempt to prevent barking
• As an attempt to prevent your dog from grabbing something

Back to Table of Contents

In conclusion

Regardless of whether your dog is aggressive, we often put our dog into situations where they cannot escape and/or don’t feel safe. Dogs have few tools at their disposal to ward off threats if their warning systems, (such as barking, growling, or lunging) fail. So training your dog to wear a muzzle is a good idea. They can also be useful for situations where your dog might be experiencing pain or fearful situations and may be an excellent idea any time children are around.

A muzzle won’t prevent an aggressive dog from getting worse, and exposing them to situations that cause their anxiety to increase can make the situation worse. Whenever possible a treatment program that includes behavior modification, as well as other measures will be more humane for your dog in the long run.

Learn more about creating a dog aggression treatment plan in the ebook The Dog Aggression System Every Dog Owner Needs.

---