Best Muzzles For Pitbulls
May 21, 2021 2021-06-07 2:00Best Muzzles For Pitbulls
Steffi Trott As an Amazon affiliate we earn a small commission. We only recommend products we have tested and use on our own dogs!
There are lots of reasons you might want a muzzle for your Pitbull. Maybe he, like my Australian Cattle Dog, puts everything he finds in his mouth, whether it’s edible or not.
Perhaps he hates going to the vet, and that anxiety makes him tetchy. Maybe he gets anxious when strangers approach him, and you need a muzzle to stop him snapping.
Whatever your needs, there are numerous muzzles available. When looking around for a muzzle for my cattle dog, I came across a range of muzzles for Pitbulls. The best of these allow the dog to pant, drink, and even eat while preventing him from biting or chewing.
I tested several out on Koala, my cattle dog, trying everything from metal masks, basket muzzles to soft nylon ones. I also tried a couple of cheaper options to see how well they stood up to rough treatment.
I’m confident I found the right muzzle for Koala, but every dog is different, and an ACD is not a Pitbull, so I’ve narrowed it down to a choice of 5 muzzles, all of which are suitable for Pitbulls in a variety of situations.
Our Top Choice for Pitbulls: Baskerville Ultra Muzzle
This lightweight muzzle allows your dog to drink and pant freely, making it ideal for long walks or horse rides. You can slip a treat in through the gaps in the rubber basket and, while it’s easy for me to get on and off, my dog can’t remove it no matter how much she rubs her head.
Initially, I attached the Baskerville Muzzle to Koala’s collar to stop her from pulling it off but now, a couple of months on, she’s become so used to it that I’ve been able to do away with the collar.
As my main concern was with Koala eating non-food items while out exercising, I tested the Baskerville muzzle by dropping treats on the ground for her. As she could still eat these with the muzzle on, I added a piece of gauze over the front of the basket for extra security. I can still slip a treat in through the side, but she can’t get her tongue out the basket to help herself.
This durable muzzle is made of malleable rubber, making it both lightweight and versatile.
If it does not fit perfectly, simply heat it, and it will become malleable enough that you can personalize it to improve the fit. As a result, you can use the Baskerville on any dog, including ones with short and broad noses.
It comes with a collar loop so you can attach it more securely. It also means you can remove the muzzle while out without the risk of losing it.
Regardless of what you need a muzzle for, the Baskerville fits the bill and:
- Can stop dogs with a high prey drive from biting and killing small animals;
- Reduce the potential dangers of socializing a new rescue dog;
- Prevent a dog from chewing its paws or your furniture;
- Give you the ability to manage reactivity training safely.
With its neoprene lining, the Baskerville muzzle is comfortable to wear, even for a short-haired dog like the Pitbull.
The Baskerville is comfortable and secure enough that you can leave it on all day if necessary. It also makes for a great training tool, especially for aggressive dogs, who seem to instinctively know that, when the muzzle on, they can’t attack and subsequently begin to calm down.
Lightweight, versatile, and affordable, the Baskerville is hands down the best muzzle for Pitbulls and most other breeds, although probably not chihuahuas!
If you are looking for a specialized muzzle, we have reviewed our top choices for aggressive Pitbulls, metal muzzles, soft muzzles and more below!
Table of Contents
Our Runner-Ups
Let’s have a look at our specialized muzzle choices:
Best Muzzle for Aggressive Pitbulls
This leather muzzle is specifically designed for Pitbulls and therefore provides a snugger fit than the roomier Baskerville. This makes it ideal for aggressive Pitbulls who, if determined enough, could manage to shift the basket muzzle enough to get his teeth into something, or someone.
With its soft leather straps, it won’t chafe as a basket muzzle sometimes will and is even more difficult for your dog to remove.
Designed primarily as a training muzzle, this muzzle's tighter fit does make it more difficult for your dog to both pant and drink while wearing it, so, isn’t ideal for an unsupervised animal.
Although the leather is soft, it's also durable, and the straps are easy to adjust if a little finicky to do up.
A little more expensive than the Baskerville, this leather muzzle from Collar Direct is nevertheless cost-effective and durable. It will also fit better as it was designed with Pitbulls in mind.
In addition, the different color options let you match this muzzle perfectly to your Pittie’s coat color!
Best Metal Mask Muzzle
A metal mask may look more intimidating than the plastic Baskerville version but it has some advantages, namely allowing for more airflow which makes panting easier. Your Pitbull can also lick his nose to heart’s content which he may not be able to do in a bulkier plastic muzzle.
As versatile as it is comfortable, this metal mask can be used for training, clipping nails without the risk of being bitten, visits to the vet, and stopping your dog from eating garbage while out exercising.
Made of stainless steel, it’s almost as durable as the Baskerville, while the leather straps make it hypoallergenic as well as adjustable. It also features a layer of foam padding under the nose strap so it won’t rub or slip up the nose and into his eyes.
It’s a couple of ounces heavier than the best muzzle for Pitbulls so, could be less comfortable for your dog to wear for long periods, but its shape is perfect for “short wide snout Pitbulls.”
While this metal mask costs a few dollars more than the Baskerville, it’s the perfect alternative for those who’ve found the plastic basket muzzle rubs their dogs or causes them discomfort.
Best Soft Muzzle For All-Day Wear
This soft, neoprene muzzle is a lot more effective than it initially appears and, if fitted correctly, gives your Pitbull the freedom to drink and pant while preventing him from biting, chewing, and barking.
It’s comfortably padded to prevent chafing and easy to adjust with its hook-and-loop fastener. It features an extra collar and connection strap to prevent your dog from pulling it off and is suitable for any breed.
Safe enough to leave on all day, it also makes a great training muzzle, enabling you to introduce your Pitbull to social settings without risk.
While this muzzle looks even more lightweight than the Baskerville, it actually weighs about the same, but a Pitbull is unlikely to be bothered by seven ounces of neoprene on his face.
While not as durable as the Baskerville or a metal mask, this gentle muzzle does its job without interfering with your dog’s comfort. It’s also more affordable than the Baskerville and easier to clean.
Best Muzzle for Grooming And Vet Visits
Many dog owners use this style of muzzle to control their Pitbulls while trimming their nails, for instance, as it makes it safer and, in many instances, calms the dog down.
As this muzzle is a little more constricting than the other products we’ve looked at, it will stop your Pitbull from nipping as well as biting, which is why it’s ideal for potentially stressful grooming sessions and vet visits. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it on for any longer than half an hour or so.
This high-quality muzzle is reasonably priced, costing a little less than the Baskerville, which is surprising given the caliber of leather used to make it.
6 Reasons Your Pitbull Needs a Muzzle
There are a lot of misconceptions about muzzles, with many people seeing them purely as something to stop a vicious or aggressive dog from biting. While this is one use for a muzzle, it is not the only one. Muzzles can be used for:
Safety
A muzzle that stops your dog from biting other dogs or humans gives you the freedom to take him into social situations without fear.
Scavenging
Dogs like Koala eat anything they find, putting them in danger of tummy upsets and potential poisoning. A good muzzle can stop your dog from eating the droppings of other animals and other unsavory items.
Control
Pitbulls have a high prey drive and can be prone to dashing off after squirrels, bunnies, and other small animals and even killing them if the opportunity arises. A muzzle won’t stop him from running away, but it will reduce the amount of damage he can cause.
Recovery
After sustaining an injury or going in for surgery, some dogs will fuss over the wound incessantly, preventing it from healing. A muzzle offers an alternative to the standard cone collar that won’t restrict his movement but will stop him from pulling out stitches or gnawing on a sore paw.
Prevent Chewing
Some muzzles are safe enough to leave on for long periods and can extend the life of your furniture and shoes as a result! A gentle neoprene muzzle is better for this than a basket muzzle as it won’t catch on things or chafe.
Stop Barking
As with the chewing problem, a neoprene muzzle may help reduce nuisance barking, especially when out on a walk. Using one as a permanent anti-barking device is not recommended, however. We recommend focus training as a better way to quieten a particularly noisy or reactive.
What You Shouldn’t Use a Pitbull Muzzle For
While a muzzle can be useful as a training aid, it should never be used to punish your dog for unwanted behavior. Similarly, if you’re thinking of using a muzzle to prevent your dog from snapping at other dogs or children, you should consider what’s causing that behavior and try to correct it rather than just reaching for a muzzle.
After all, it’s understandable that your Pitbull may dislike being pulled and prodded by children or strangers, and using positive reinforcement training is a more effective, and humane, way of changing that behavior.
What Type of Muzzle Is Best For Your Pitbull?
The best muzzle for your Pitbull is always going to be one that fits him correctly. What type you opt for depends on what behavior you’re trying to control or correct.
While metal masks and basket muzzles are the most versatile, they’re always not ideal for scavenging dogs. Although I use the Baskerville muzzle for this purpose, I also adapted it, adding a small piece of mesh over the opening in front of the dog’s mouth to make picking up droppings and other revolting items impossible.
For aggressive dogs that are liable to bite in certain situations, a loop muzzle, like the one from Dogs My Love is the least intrusive but may not be effective on powerful dogs like the Pitbull.
A soft, neoprene muzzle could be the answer if your problem is your dog chewing your shoes in a fit of separation anxiety, although, again, we would recommend training over gadgets.
How To Fit a Muzzle
Fitting a muzzle correctly is as important as fitting a collar, and care must be taken to ensure you’re doing as much as you can to prevent chafing and discomfort. You also need to train your Pitbull to accept the muzzle and wear it happily.
I used these clicker training tutorials to help get me started and, in less than a week, I had Koala happily accepting the muzzle and wearing it without trying to remove it at every opportunity.
This video tutorial gives step-by-step instructions on how to fit a Baskerville basket muzzle.
As with a collar, a correctly fitted muzzle should be loose enough that you can slide two fingers under the muzzle strap behind the head.
You also need to ensure that, once the muzzle is on, your Pitbull can’t bite or pick up food from the ground and that’s it’s not impinging on his eyes.
After fitting the muzzle and allowing your dog some time to get used to it, take it off again and check for signs of rubbing.
Conclusion
While some training is required to get your dog used to a basket muzzle, these are the most versatile and offer the best control for aggressive dogs and for those who, like Koala, eat everything they find, from poop to pesticide!
The Baskerville muzzle is one of the most popular and one of the easiest to fit. It’s also affordable and versatile, although you have to watch out for chafing, especially around the nose. While effective against biting, the closer fit of the Collar Direct Pitbull muzzle offers better security.
Leather muzzles, like the Collar Direct one, are also hypoallergenic and therefore more suited to dogs with sensitive skin or allergies.
The gentle muzzle guard from Good Boy has its own set of benefits and negatives. It can help curb his desire to chew everything in sight or bark incessantly. On the other hand, using a device like this is nowhere near as effective, nor as rewarding, as training away those unwanted behaviors.
Although the leather loop muzzle looks flimsy, it’s ideal for situations that require a little more control and safety. If your dog snaps when you’re grooming him or clipping his nails, for example, a leather loop muzzle can give you more security without causing your dog distress.
Muzzles should never be used to discipline your Pitbull but can help prevent him from injuring himself or others. They are suitable for a wide range of uses, from preventing a dog from irritating a wound to making socializing experiments safer.
If you’re too frightened to exercise your Pitbull for fear that he might hurt someone or something, invest in a muzzles for Pitbulls. He deserves his exercise and you deserve the peace of mind.
Author: Nicky Hoseck
Nicky lives on a small-holding on South Africa’s Wild Coast with a selection of animals, a husband, and five dogs. She spends all her waking hours with her Australian Cattle Dog, Koala, either walking, horse-riding, running, or just hanging out.
Originally from the UK, Nicky been living with dogs for over 40 years and is a passionate dog-owner.
With a Masters Degree from the University of London under her belt, Nicky has had a diverse career, training and riding horses, running safari lodges, and hosting volunteers. She’s now a full-time writer.
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