If you’ve ever tried muzzle training your dog, you’ve likely dealt with muzzles that don’t fit or don’t hold or those that are overly uncomfortable for your dog. We understand, and that’s why we tracked down and created reviews of five of the best dog muzzles out there.
We also developed a comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know. Not every muzzle experience needs to be a negative one, and with any of these muzzles, you can be well on your way to putting those bad experiences behind you!
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A Glance at Our Favorites in 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle |
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Best Value | CollarDirect Adjustable Nylon Dog Muzzle |
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Premium Choice | CollarDirect Leather Dog Muzzle for Staffordshire & Terrier |
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Best for Puppies | Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Comfort Dog Muzzle |
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Guardian Gear Fabric Mesh Dog Muzzle |
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The 5 Best Dog Muzzles
1. Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle — Best Overall
Size: | 1 to 6 |
Construction Material: | Rubber |
Color: | Black or brown |
If you’re looking for the best overall dog muzzle, look no further than the Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle. It’s a traditional-style dog muzzle that uses extremely durable materials and includes a padded neoprene lining that makes it more comfortable for your pup.
It has a snug yet breathable fitment that still enables your dog to eat and drink water, all while preventing them from biting. There are six different size options to choose from, all in traditional sizing ranges, and it comes in two different color options.
Not only can you get the perfect fit for your pup with an outstanding muzzle, but you can also make it a little more stylish. The main drawback to this muzzle is that it’s slightly expensive, but you’re getting a high-quality product, so it’s well worth every penny.
- Durable construction
- Multiple size options
- Two color options
- Includes neoprene-padded lining
- Breathable yet snug fitment
- Slightly expensive
2. CollarDirect Adjustable Nylon Dog Muzzle — Best Value
Size: | Three sizes, equivalent to 1–5 |
Construction Material: | Nylon |
Color: | Black |
If you’re hunting for value, the CollarDirect Adjustable Nylon Dog Muzzle is the way to go. Not only is it an extremely affordable option, but it’s also incredibly soft and comfortable for your dog. No matter the size of your dog, CollarDirect has an adjustable nylon dog muzzle that will fit them — it comes in three different sizes that are the equivalent of a traditional range of 1 to 5.
It’s easy to put on your dog, which is a big deal when you need to put it on and take it off frequently. However, it is still a budget dog muzzle, which shows itself in two main ways. First, no matter what size option you get, it’s hard to get a real snug fit.
Second, if you have a large dog, they can use their strength to pry the muzzle open if they’re really worked up.
This typically isn’t a problem with small dogs, but if you have a pup with a more muscular build and a great deal of tenacity, it can come into play.
- Affordable
- Multiple size options
- Soft and comfortable design
- Easy to put on
- Not the snuggest fit
- Large dogs can pry it open
3. CollarDirect Leather Dog Muzzle for Staffordshire & Terrier — Premium Choice
Size: | 13″ circumference and 3″ length |
Construction Material: | Leather |
Color: | Black, brown, or pink |
If you’re in the market for the best possible dog muzzle and you have a Staffordshire or a Terrier, you want the CollarDirect Leather Dog Muzzle. While it’s a bit expensive up front, it’s a breed-specific muzzle that will fit your pup perfectly, so it’s the last muzzle that you’ll ever need to buy.
Not only is it extremely durable, but it also gives your pup a snug fit, all while remaining extremely easy to put on your dog. Still, it is extremely breed-specific and only comes in one size, so if you don’t have a Staffordshire or a Terrier, you don’t want this muzzle.
It also has a high price tag. It’s high-quality and will last forever, but it’s far from the perfect choice for everyone.
- Snug fit
- Extremely durable design
- Breed-specific fit
- Easy to put on
- Only fits a few breed types
- Expensive
4. Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Comfort Dog Muzzle — Best for Puppies
Size: | Four adjustable sizes — 4.5- to 13-inch muzzle circumference |
Construction Material: | Mesh |
Color: | Black |
If you have a puppy that needs a muzzle, it can seem like it’s impossible to find a product that works for them. That’s where the Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Comfort Dog Muzzle comes in. It comes in a small enough size to fit a puppy with a 4.5-inch snout, which is suitable for most puppies.
It’s also extremely affordable, so you don’t have to worry about spending a ton of cash on a product that they’ll quickly outgrow. Still, since it has adjustable straps, you can maintain a perfect fit even as they get bigger, giving you more time to use this muzzle before you need to purchase a new one.
While you’ll appreciate all the extra size options, your puppy will appreciate the breathable design that keeps them cool. The only real drawback to this muzzle is that it’s not the strongest option out there, but for most puppies, that’s not a big deal.
- Adjustable straps for a perfect fit
- Comes in smaller size options
- Affordably priced
- Breathable design
- Not the strongest muzzle
5. Guardian Gear Fabric Mesh Dog Muzzle
Size: | Five sizes, 7- to 14.5-inch circumference |
Construction Material: | Nylon |
Color: | Red and black |
The Guardian Gear Fabric Mesh Dog Muzzle is an extremely affordable option for your dog. It also has a tear- and puncture-resistant design that helps ensure that it’ll last a long time.
More importantly for your pup, it comes in an extremely breathable fabric to keep them happy and comfortable. If you’re looking for a tight fitment, this muzzle comes in five different sizes, so you have no problem getting the perfect one for your dog.
Still, it’s not the strongest muzzle, so if you have an energetic dog or simply one that wants to get out of the muzzle, you’ll find that they can escape in no time.
- Affordable
- Comes in multiple size options
- Tear- and puncture-resistant design
- Breathable material
- Not the strongest muzzle
Buyer’s Guide – Finding The Best Dog Muzzle
If you’re still confused about what muzzle is right for your dog after reading through the reviews, you are not alone. That’s why we developed this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walking you through everything that you need to know to get the right muzzle the first time, as well as muzzle training — from how long it takes to how much they can wear it, we cover it all for you.
What to Look For in a Muzzle
Besides the proper fitment of a muzzle, there are a few other things that you should keep an eye out for before picking one out. First is the material of the muzzle. Not only should it be comfortable for your dog, but you also want something that’s going to last.
The muzzle itself can have almost any material, but the parts that rub against your pet’s face should have some kind of padding or be made of a soft material. Second, you need to look at how you put it on. Most muzzles attach behind your dog’s head with a strap, and you need to ensure that the strap is adjustable.
Finally, double-check that your dog can actually open their mouth to drink water and pant while wearing it. If they can’t, you should only put it on your dog for extremely short periods of time, and even then, you shouldn’t engage them in any kind of physical activity.
Instead, it’s always better to have a slightly larger muzzle, where your dog can still open their mouth to pant, drink water, and eat treats. This keeps them both happier and healthier, which is a win-win.
How Long Can a Dog Wear a Muzzle?
While there’s technically no reason that your dog can’t wear a muzzle indefinitely, you should only put it on them when absolutely necessary. We recommend keeping the muzzle on your pup for no more than 30 minutes at a time, but we also recognize that situations may arise where they need to wear it longer.
Just keep in mind that you should always reward your dog when the muzzle comes off, and you should do your best to keep them unmuzzled as much as possible. You should do this even though the right muzzle will not injure your dog no matter how long they wear it.
How to Tell If a Muzzle Fits
Once you get your new muzzle, one of the first things that you need to do is ensure that it fits properly. To do this, you need to check a few things.
First, make sure the muzzle isn’t impacting your pup’s eyes at all. Second, check that the strap behind the head isn’t too tight: You should be able to insert two fingers — and two fingers only — underneath the strap.
Finally, ensure that your dog can’t bite but otherwise has free access to drink water, pant, and perform other typical activities. If they can’t, then the muzzle is too tight, and you need to size it up before letting them wear it.
Is It Safe for a Dog to Wear a Muzzle All Night?
While it’s technically safe for a dog to wear a muzzle all night if they’re wearing a kind that lets them drink water, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Wearing a muzzle for an extended period of time can be distressing for your dog, especially if you’re not actively spending time with them.
We highly recommend removing the muzzle before bedtime. In fact, we recommend crating your dog at night with the muzzle off instead of letting them roam free with the muzzle on. It might seem counter-intuitive, but crating your dog at night is far more likely to keep them calmer and lead to less distress overall.
How Long Does Muzzle Training Take?
When you’re muzzle training your dog, you should start with sessions that are only 5 minutes long. As soon as the session is over, you should reward them with a treat. Increase the length of each session until they can wear the muzzle for about 30 minutes without panicking.
Once they reach 30 minutes, your dog is completely muzzle trained and good to go. While each dog is different, if you complete training sessions daily and keep things positive, you should be able to completely muzzle train most dogs in 1 to 2 months.
Do Dogs Like Muzzles?
While there’s a good chance that your dog won’t like their new muzzle the first time that you put it on them, the truth is that if you properly muzzle train your dog and get the right kind, your dog’s muzzle should never cause them any discomfort.
They should be able to pant, drink, and even eat treats when they’re wearing it. Once you’ve successfully muzzle trained your pup, they shouldn’t like or dislike their muzzle. It’s not something that they’ll look forward to wearing, but it shouldn’t be something that they dread either!
Of course, this all depends on you getting the right muzzle, so don’t get the wrong kind and make your pup uncomfortable. Instead, stick with a well-fitting muzzle, like the ones on our list, to keep your pup as happy as possible when they’re wearing it.
Our Selection Process For Dog Muzzles
To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog muzzles we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog muzzles. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog muzzles to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog muzzles. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.
Conclusion
If you still haven’t decided which muzzle is right for your dog after reading the reviews and buyer’s guide, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason that the Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle is our top choice, as it does everything that you could want in a muzzle and more.
Of course, if you’re on a tight budget and don’t have an overly strong dog, the CollarDirect Adjustable Nylon Dog Muzzle can get the job done at a fraction of the cost.
What’s important is to order a muzzle so you can start muzzle training your pup as soon as possible and be well on your way to putting all this behind you!
Featured Image Credit: Vasilii Aleksandrov, Shutterstock