Muzzles can help curb lousy behavior, including barking, biting, chewing, and nipping. But there are various types of muzzles depending on your needs, your dog’s breed, specific behavioral issues, and other factors. Table Of Contents
There are various kinds of muzzles you can use depending on your need. We’ve broken them out into categories with our top picks for each so you can find the best fit for your pup.
Don’t use a Muzzle to Stop Barking
This article will relate to our other article discussing when and when not to use these grooming/textil muzzles. Still, this time we are approaching from a different angle.
Muzzling is a topic that will need a lot more education until they are used appropriately in our society. I am not surprised that an average dog owner doesn’t know much about muzzles before needing one for the first time because it is not easy to find good educational articles on the topic. I am amazed, though, that pet store employees and companies selling muzzles continue spreading dangerous misinformation making it even harder for a new dog owner to understand how they should be used.
Most of the muzzles we see have so much random information on their product site and the packaging. I can imagine this making sense from the SEO perspective since putting every relevant keyword in the description makes the product pop up in every search around muzzles, but if you stop to think about them, they don’t make sense. To focus on one example, this product below promises to allow panting, but it also promises to stop barking. How? One doesn’t need to be an expert in dogs to figure out that if a dog can open their mouth, they can also bark.
This is nothing unusual; if you do a quick Google search, you will find many articles recommending no-bark muzzles while also quickly adding that dogs can still freely pant in these muzzles. While a muzzle allowing a half pant might make barking less comfortable, it will not change the behavior.
The answer is straightforward: if you want to use a muzzle to stop barking, you need to shut the dog’s mouth tightly with the muzzle. The problem here is that dogs need to pant to cool down, which is not possible with a closed mouth. They can also start vomiting and suffocate with their mouth closed. They can also not drink and can get stuck on something and strangle themself if you leave them unattended with a muzzle on. These are the main reasons why using a tight muzzle is not recommended for longer than a few minutes.
If you want your dog to be comfortable and safe in the muzzle, it needs to provide pant room which leads us back to a dog barking while wearing a muzzle.
I know we all would love to find easy solutions for our problems, but buying a muzzle will not stop barking. We recommend reaching out to a good trainer in your area to explore the reasons behind barking and address the cause of the problem instead of working around the symptoms.
There are a lot of stop-barking devices available on the market. The most commonly known are bark collars that deliver an electric shock, high-pitched squeal, or stinging spray of citronella mist whenever a pet dog barks. Other devices include ultrasonic emitters that are placed in a room and activated by barking and muzzles that keep the dog’s jaws held shut.
These devices may offer a short-term fix, but they do nothing to address the underlying cause of your dog’s barking. Eventually, the problem may surface through other behavioral problems, as your dog continues to try to communicate his need or problem to you. A dog prevented from barking caused by separation anxiety may instead take to destroying furniture or urinating indoors when his owner is away.
Training can be a lengthy process, but in the end you will improve your relationship with your dog and be better able to make sure his needs are met.
But keep in mind that your dog is trying to tell you something by barking. Before you quiet him down, you will first need to figure out what hes trying to say.
The devices also can be inhumane. Any dog’s bark can set off a bark collar or ultrasonic device, meaning your dog may end up receiving punishment for another dog’s behavior. Also, a muzzle will keep a dog from being able to eat, drink, and cool off through panting.
Best Dog “Muzzle” For Walking: PetSafe Gentle Leader Review
The PetSafe 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 allowing your dog to walk ahead of you (which many dogs do on a regular leash), this head harness (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’s easy to adjust and allows your dog to pant comfortably.
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trains against barking, lunging and pulling | Doesn’t stop dogs from biting or barking |
| Easy to put on and off | |
| Dogs can eat, drink, and pant when fitted properly |
FAQ
Do muzzles teach dogs not to bark?
Are anti bark devices humane?