Muzzles may seem like some sort of cruel and unusual punishment, but they are incredibly helpful with untrained dogs and serial killer cannibals who enjoy fava beans as a side dish. Some dogs will inevitably bark and bite, and muzzles will prevent that from happening. If your dog is prone to getting over-excited with every little poodle that comes down the block, you may want to invest in a muzzle to prevent any unfortunate mishaps. Muzzles are also a great use in training dogs to be less aggressive, so hopefully you'll be able to walk your pooch in the future without a problem.
Picking a Muzzle for Your Breed
Depending on the breed of dog and the kind of snout they have, you are going to want to look at different styles of muzzles. From small dogs to large breeds, there are muzzles for all.
* Large dogs are clearly going to need a far large muzzle than tinier dogs for comfort. You don't ever want a muzzle to fit too tightly, but just tight enough to keep the dog from pushing it off.
* Pug nosed muzzles are perfect for Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Boxers and other pug nosed breeds. These muzzles are smaller around the nose instead of being too large and spacious.
* For other snouts, you are going to need measurements to make sure you get the right fit. You want to measure the length from the dogs eyes to tip of the nose, and the width at the widest part just below the dogs eyes.
* Muzzles often come in styles for specific breeds that are commonly trained because of aggression issues, like German Shepards, Pitbulls, and Dobermans.
Muzzle Materials
There are a few different materials and styles you can pick for your dog and each serves well for different scenarios.
* '''Wire Baskets''': These muzzles have excellent air flow so they are great for dogs who breathe particularly heavily, or if you are taking them out in hot weather so they can get enough circulation.
* '''Fabric Muzzles''': These are easily portable as they can be folded, but aren't recommended for long term use since it restricts a dog's ability to pant, which keeps them from cooling off their bodies.
* '''Plastic Basket''': These are fairly common for every day walking, or taking your dog to the vet. They are fairly inexpensive.
* '''Leather Muzzles''': These are made of genuine leather which is thicker, leaving less room for the dog to nip through (which can happen with regular fabric muzzles).
Cat Muzzles
There is such thing as a cat muzzle, though there is only one design which covers not only the mouth but the entire face. Covering the eyes works as a calming mechanism. If you have an especially unruly feline, this will work for taking them to the vet or giving them a bath.