The best dog muzzles, according to a professional dog trainer and a veterinarian

Dog muzzles serve a variety of purposes, from preventing biting during training and grooming to discouraging your dog from scavenging on walks.
There are three major muzzle styles: the basket muzzle for outdoor activities, the soft muzzle for vet visits or grooming, and the short-snout muzzle for flat-faced dogs.
Durably constructed but comfortable enough for extended wear, The Company of Animals Baskerville Ultra Muzzle is our pick for the best dog muzzle overall.
Due to high demand related to the coronavirus pandemic, some retailers are facing shipping delays of 7 to 10 days. We’ve listed multiple purchase options wherever possible.

Not every dog that needs a muzzle is a snarling, chomping monster. There are a variety of reasons to muzzle a dog and only rarely is it due to aggressive behavior. Muzzles exist to provide an extra measure of security for dogs who become over-aroused in play or react fearfully in high-stress situations. Muzzles can even help prevent garbage guzzling dogs from eating something dangerous on walks.

We spoke with Dr. Katherine Houpt, VMD, professor emeritus of behavior medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, who explained that muzzles are intended to protect a dog while preventing them from displaying aggressive behavior toward unfamiliar people or other dogs. It’s also appropriate for dogs with a bite history to use a muzzle, she said.

Muzzles should not be used for preventing barking or curbing destruction, especially when left alone. A dog exhibiting these behaviors is likely experiencing discomfort or anxiety, and it’s best to consult a canine behaviorist to determine why.

When used correctly and introduced using gradual desensitization, muzzles are humane and effective tools to keep a dog, and those around it, safe.

There are three main types of dog muzzles:

Basket muzzle: A dog that requires a muzzle during outdoor activities like dog park socialization and walks should use a basket muzzle through which they can easily pant and drink water. The basket style is Houpt’s preference.
Soft sleeve muzzle: A soft muzzle works well for short-term needs, such as a vet or grooming visit.
Short-snout muzzle: Neither a basket or soft muzzle will fit most short-snouted dogs like pugs and French bulldogs. They require a short snout muzzle, which is a mask made of breathable mesh.

After consulting experts and doing extensive research, we narrowed down the best muzzles for different types of dogs and their needs.

Here are the best dog muzzles you can buy:

Best dog muzzle overall: Company of Animals Baskerville Rubber Ultra Muzzle
Best soft sleeve muzzle for dogs: Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Dog Muzzle
Best muzzle for short-faced dogs: Canine Friendly Short Snout Dog Muzzle
Best dog muzzle for a custom fit: Bumas Muzzle

Updated on 3/30/2020: Updated prices, formatting, and links. Replaced JYHY Short Snout Dog Muzzle with Canine Friendly Short Snout Dog Muzzle and Downtown Pet Supply Quick Fit Muzzle with Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Dog Muzzle.

The best dog muzzle overall

Designed for long-term comfort as well as security, The Company of Animals Baskerville Ultra Muzzle is ideal for protection, training, and grooming.

Basket muzzles are the most common muzzle style. The "basket," a rigid cage formed from plastic or metal, fits over a dog's nose and mouth and is secured with straps around the back of the head.

Though they may look harsh compared to soft dog muzzles, basket muzzles are actually more comfortable for most dogs, as long as they fit properly. Basket muzzles do not prevent a dog from opening its mouth or breathing normally, but they do prevent dogs from biting, which makes them useful for protection, training, and grooming - and the safest option for your dog.

Compared to many muzzles, which have a high-profile and bulky fit, the Baskerville Ultra Muzzle is the ideal combination of comfort and safety, specifically designed to confine a dog's jaw without restricting its ability to breathe, eat, drink, or pant.

The muzzle itself is made from high-quality rubber and comes in six sizes to ensure a snug and secure fit. According to Whole Dog Journal, the rubber can actually be heated and molded to fit the shape of your dog's snout better. A sturdy nylon strap wraps around the back of the head and secures with a plastic buckle while additional straps support the chin. These lower straps include a tab for connecting the muzzle to a collar for added security and to prevent sliding and chafing. A removable strap also runs from the top of the muzzle to the back of the head strap, vertically from your dog's nose up their snout and between their ears.

This muzzle was recommended by Houpt and a number of certified professionals on Whole Dog Journal. Jessica Miller of Go Pawsitive Dog Training told Whole Dog Journal that the Baskerville was a lifesaver when her home severely flooded. Her dog, Handel, was displaced for days and needed to be carried through the streets, handled by firefighters, and held at an evacuation center. He was very anxious, but the muzzle helped keep him, and those handling him, safe.

According to Houpt, the Baskerville is comfortable and safe enough for a dog to wear for hours, though like a collar, you should frequently check the fit to make sure that it isn't causing any discomfort. Although the Baskerville fits a variety of dogs of all sizes, it may not be ideal for giant breeds and dogs with very long snouts. -Francesca Rea, Shoshi Parks

Pros: Doesn't restrict dog's ability to eat, drink, or pant; made of heavy-duty, heat-moldable rubber; attaches to collar for security and to prevent sliding and chafing; removable over-the-forehead-strap for extra security; comes in 6 different sizes; works well for most breeds

Cons: Fit may not be as snug for dogs with very long snouts; large dogs who have not been properly desensitized to the muzzle may be able to break the straps

The best soft sleeve muzzle

Foto: Source: Chewy

The Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Muzzle will fit most dogs during brief visits to the vet or groomer.

Soft muzzles, or sleeve muzzles, are typically made from nylon or mesh and fit snugly around a dog's mouth and nose. Though a soft muzzle may seem more humane than a rigid basket muzzle, it is actually less comfortable because the material forces the mouth tightly closed, making it difficult to drink water, eat, or pant.

The inability to pant can be particularly dangerous because it's how a dog cools down when overheated. According to Houpt, sleeve muzzles should only be worn for short periods of time like during a visit to the vet's office. Muzzles of any kind, especially the sleeve muzzle, are not a tool to stop dogs from barking. If a dog can't bark, it can't pant.

For short visits to the vet or groomer, however, the sleeve muzzle can be helpful. We recommend the Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Dog Muzzle, which is made from durable nylon fabric and comes in nine sizes for dogs with snouts that are 3 inches to 13.5 inches in circumference.

The construction of the Best Fit Muzzle is simple. The sleeve slips over the snout and an adjustable nylon strap wraps around the back of the head and clips with a plastic buckle. The sleeve, itself, is made of breathable nylon mesh. The muzzle is lightweight (just 0.8 ounces) and inexpensive.

While we like Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Dog Muzzle for its simplicity, low cost, and breathability, it will not fit all dogs perfectly. With only one adjustable strap and no way to shrink or expand the sleeve, this muzzle may not fit very small dogs or very large dogs. Some users have also found that the sizing runs larger than expected. This soft muzzle is not an effective option for short-snouted dogs. -Shoshi Parks

Pros: Made from breathable mesh nylon, available in 9 sizes, adjustable strap for secure fit, inexpensive, lightweight at less than an ounce

Cons: Sizing may run a little large; muzzle restricts eating, drinking, and panting; not for long-term wear; may not fit very large or very small dogs; available only in black

The best short-snout muzzle

Foto: Source: Amazon

Designed specifically for short-faced dogs, the Canine Friendly Short Snout Dog Muzzle safely manages a dog's mouth without preventing them from breathing or panting.

Traditional basket and sleeve muzzles are designed to fit snugly around a dog's snout but brachycephalic (short-snouted) pups like pugs and bulldogs need a different solution. The most common short-snouted muzzle isn't a muzzle at all but a full face mask that prevents a dog from biting without overly compromising their ability to breathe, pant, or see.

The Canine Friendly Short Snout Dog Muzzle is a great option for use with flat-faced breeds. The mask-muzzle is made of durable nylon with a front panel made of breathable mesh. The mesh panel covers the entire face, including the eyes, and soft padding sewn into the top interior of the panel keeps it from rubbing against them. A hole at the nose makes it easier for the dog to breathe.

The muzzle is secured with a thick adjustable nylon strap with a plastic buckle. It pulls through an adjustable second strap that loops from the top of the mesh panel up between the dog's ears. When fitting the muzzle, this strap should be left slightly loose to give the dog enough space to open its mouth and pant. The dog should also be able to eat and drink through the nose hole.

The Canine Friendly Short Snout Dog Muzzle comes in four sizes, from small (9- to 12-inch head circumference) to extra-large (18- to 25-inch head circumference), and two colors (grey and orange). The muzzle will not hold up to a washing machine; it should be wiped cleaned with a damp cloth.

While this muzzle is more versatile than the sleeve muzzle, it shouldn't be used on hot days or during vigorous activity. Short-snouted dogs are already prone to breathing problems, especially when the temperature rises and the mesh mask can make it more challenging for them to cool themselves down by panting. Most brachycephalic dogs should do okay wearing the mask on walks in cool weather or at the vet or groomer, as long as the fit of the mask allows them to easily pant.

Because Houdini dogs may be able to easily escape the Short Snout Muzzle, it's important to desensitize any dog in need of a muzzle to the device before using so they will be comfortable when it's on. Some users also report that the mask size they expected to fit their pup was either too small or too large. -Shoshi Parks

Pros: Designed for short-faced dogs, made of durable nylon and breathable mesh materials, comes in four different sizes and two colors, has two adjustable straps to assure a proper fit

Cons: May make breathing and panting more challenging, especially on hot days; dog may be able to still scavenge through the nose hole; not for use during vigorous activity or in the heat; Houdini dogs can easily escape the mask; size may run small or large

The best custom-fit dog muzzle

Foto: Source: Bumas

Bumas Muzzles are made from high-tech biothane webbing and are tailored not just to a dog's snout size and shape but to their personality, as well.

Bumas Muzzles are fully customizable basket muzzles that can be made to fit your dog's snout and personality. The high-tech biothane muzzle is virtually indestructible and not only will it stay soft and pliable in below-freezing weather, the muzzle will maintain its shape in extreme heat. There are 13 standard sizes to choose from, or better yet, order a custom-made muzzle that's perfectly tailored to your dog's exact measurements.

Made in Austria, the Bumas muzzle's basket is formed of tightly woven biothane-coated straps for snouts from 5/8 inch to 5.5 inches in length. Additional straps can be added to the basket for dogs who need it. The same material is used in the strap that wraps around the back of the head, and the optional security strap that runs from the top of the muzzle and between the ears to connect with the main strap at the back. Metal rivets in the webbing hold the muzzle's construction together.

Additional choices for customizing the Bumas muzzle include a neoprene nose piece or nose-free option for dogs with sensitive snouts, and a simple click-clasp or a metal buckle fastener. The company has also made the colors of its straps fully customizable, in part to help decrease the stigma against muzzle-wearing dogs. The basket comes in 12 colors, ranging from neon yellow to black. So does the back-of-the-head strap (and you don't have to choose the same color for both). The optional forehead strap comes in eight colors. After you've made your selections, you can finalize your measurements at a local retailer or online.

Although Bumas muzzles are rather expensive, they are easily the most personalized muzzles on the market and have been recommended by many canine professionals who like the Bumas' customizability and the color combinations that make dogs look friendlier, according to Whole Dog Journal.

Because this muzzle is custom-made, it cannot be returned or exchanged. -Francesca Rea, Shoshi Parks

Pros: Truly customized fit with several behavioral safety options; fits a range of snouts from 5/8 inch to 5.5 inches long; fun colors help reduce stigma of muzzle-wearing dogs; does not restrict dog's ability to eat, drink, breathe, or pant

Cons: Very expensive, cannot return or exchange

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Foto: Source: EZYdog

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The best dog muzzles, according to a professional dog trainer and a veterinarian

There are three main types of dog muzzles: