While a dog should only wear the muzzle for short periods of time, the length of time really depends on each unique situation. There are different types of dog muzzles and each type will dictate how long it can be worn. For instance, a basket dog muzzle allows your dogs to pant freely, breathe easily, and drink water. In this case, the basket muzzle can be worn for extended periods of time, but not too long.
If your dog is wearing the mesh dog muzzle or any form of occlusion muzzle, then it should only be worn for short periods of time. Wearing a mesh dog muzzle does not allow a dog to pant freely or drink water easily. Thus, the mesh dog muzzle is usually worn during dog grooming procedures or brief veterinary visits.
When your canine is wearing the dog muzzle, always monitor him at all times. If you noticed your canine showing any sign of discomfort, remove the muzzle immediately. For instance, if he is beginning to get agitated or is starting to overheat, remove the dog muzzle from his snout immediately.
We recommend muzzle training your furry friend when he is a puppy. The earlier you start muzzle training him, the better. Muzzle training at an early age allows your pup to easily and quickly adapt to the dog muzzle. The goal of muzzle training is to teach your dog to tolerate wearing it.
When you are muzzle training, try using the shaping method. Shaping is a training method in which you reward your dog’s successful behavior with treats or by using a clicker. The shaping method helps to create positive associations with wearing a dog muzzle.
Make sure to have a lot of small treats ready when muzzle training your pup. Small treats should be able to fit right through the basket dog muzzle. If you want to free your hands from holding too many treats while muzzle training, it may help to get a training treat pouch. Alternatively, you can also use a clicker.
Make sure you know how to measure a dog for a muzzle before getting him one. It’s important to get a comfortable muzzle that fits securely on his snout. Additionally, make sure the dog muzzle is suitable for what your dog needs. For example, if you have a pug or a bulldog, you’ll want to get a short snout muzzle.
While he’s wearing the dog muzzle during training, offer a lot of encouragement. If this is a new experience for your furry friend, don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries before he feels comfortable with it. After a short period of time, be sure to take the dog muzzle off. You can start with a shorter duration of time and gradually work towards a longer duration, but keep in mind that dog muzzles should still be worn for short periods of time only.
A great dog muzzle we recommend is the basket dog muzzle. Not only will your furry friend feel comfortable wearing it, but he will also be able to pant freely, breathe easily, drink water, and eat small treats. You’ll have the peace of mind that both your dog and those around him will be safe. Below, we’ve reviewed the basket dog muzzle.
Additionally, treats are crucial so we are happy to provide reviews of the treat, the training treat pouch, and the clicker as well.
The Soft Basket Dog Muzzle for Barking is made of flexible non-smell silicone. It is durable, yet soft on your dog’s snout. Preferred by many dog owners, the basket muzzle features an all-around protection design to prevent your dogs from barking as well as biting, eating, and chewing inedible objects around them.
The lightweight, quick-fitting Barkless dog muzzle has a ventilation design to allow your furry friends to breathe, pant, drink, and eat small treats.
Best of all, the soft basket dog muzzle for barking includes padded cotton safety straps to ensure a secure, comfortable, and safe fit. There are two points of secure attachment. The first is the secure loop that attaches to your dog’s collar. The second is the forehead or overhead strap that connects directly to the rear strap for an extra secure fit. You won’t have to worry about the soft basket dog muzzle falling off when visiting the veterinarian or at the dog park. The reflective stripes on the straps provide safety during night walks.
Make sure to measure your dog’s snout twice before buying to find the best and right fit.
Soft Basket Dog Muzzle for Barking Key Features:
- Prevents: Barking, Biting, Eating Unclean Objects, Chewing
- Allows: Unrestricted breathing, panting, drinking water, eating small treats
- Materials: Made of flexible silicone basket muzzle so it is durable yet lightweight and soft on your dog’s skin
- Available in 6 snout sizes
- 1 (Snout 7-8″), 2 (Snout 7.5-9.5″), 3 (Snout 10-12″), 4 (Snout 12-13.5″), 5 (Snout 13.5-14.5″), and 6 (Snout 15-17″)
- Available in 2 colors: Black and Red
- All-around protection coverage of the dog’s snout
- Soft basket dog muzzle has padded cotton safety strappings for a comfortable and secure fit
- Safety straps feature 2 additional points of secure attachment
Price: Range from $12 to $22 depending on your dog’s snout size
What customers are saying:
Pros
- Many Pit Bull owners commented that this is one of the best dog muzzles for barking they’ve used. While out walking, their Pit Bulls have a tendency to bark at strangers. At the vet, they will bark. Wearing the soft basket muzzle prevents their Pit Bulls from barking.
- Some Pit Bull owners noticed their Pit Bulls trying to take the soft basket muzzle off but to no avail. The dog muzzle for barking is sturdy with the help of the safety straps.
- Dog owners love their furry friends can still drink, pant, and eat small treats with the no-bark muzzle on.
- A few dog owners have rescued dogs. They noted that this basket muzzle gave the rescued dogs a chance at a good life in the new home. Wearing this basket dog muzzle allows their pups to roam freely in the house without the owner worrying about chew up furniture or barking at family members.
Cons
- A few customers mentioned that the sizing chart is a bit off. It seems to run a bit too large. If you have questions about sizing, the manufacturer encourages you to contact them and they can work with you to help pick an ideal size for your dog.
- Make sure to read the instruction on how to put it on correctly. Every purchase includes an 8-page guidebook.
The Zuke’s Mini Naturals dog treats are soft and small, which makes them great for puppy training. Each bite is wholesome and tender and your puppy will want more of it. The small treat size allows your dog to focus on the training instead of focusing on chewing her food. Thus, the treat is not distracting her from the training. Each treat is less than 3 calories so the reward is guilt-free. No matter which flavor you choose for your puppy or dog, each of them is made of real ingredients with whole food berries.
Zuke’s Mini Naturals Key Features:
- Comes in various flavors: Chicken, Peanut Butter, Duck, Peanut Butter & Oats, Pork, Rabbit and Salmon
- Comes in 3 different sizes: 5 oz, 6 oz, and 16 oz pouch
- Made of real ingredients and whole food berries
- Less than 3 calories per treat
- Wholesome, small, and tender bites
Zukes Dog Treats Reviews:
Pros
- Many owners said their dogs loved all the flavors of Zuke’s Mini Naturals and were happy with the small size of the treat during training.
- Owners noted that these treats are great for dog training and teaching their puppies tricks.
- The majority of the customers’ dogs love and are crazy about these treats. The owners recall every time they hand out the treats, their dogs and puppy get very excited.
- Almost every positive review said they love how these quality training treats are made of natural ingredients and that there are no artificial colors or flavors.
Cons
- While some customers noted how strong the treats smell, they did point out that this powerful scent makes them a strong food lure during training and a rewarding, healthy treat for their dogs.
- A few customers pointed out that if you leave the treats out on a table for a while, the treats will easily dry out. If you aren’t careful and the treat bag isn’t sealed properly, the entire bag can dry out in days.
The PetSafe Treat Pouch provides pet owners with the convenience of storing dog treats during training sessions or out for a walk. The dog treat bag comes with multiple dividers to separate multiple treats and offers dog owners an easy way to grab treats and reward their dogs. There’s also a front pocket where owners can put in their keys and phones. A detachable belt and belt clip are included with the pouch.
PetSafe Treat Pouch Key Highlights:
- The pouch comes with multiple clips and loops to attach whistles or poop bags.
- Versatile pouch with a front pocket for keys and phone
- The pouch is waterproof, machine washable, and stain-resistant
- Ability to store multiple different treats with the help of divided inner pockets
- The hinged opening provides convenience. The opening stays open and closes with a touch
What customers are saying:
Pros
- One customer who is raising future Service Dog puppies for Service Dog organizations praised the pouch for bringing convenience to her everyday training sessions.
- Many owners said the hinge and closing features are great. It eliminates dogs that nose dive into the treats and the hinge is long-lasting.
- Owners love that the pouch has large pockets with dividers, which allows them to separate the low and high-value treats. The pouch size is also perfect for them.
- A lot of the owners love the front pocket feature that allows them to put their phone and keys inside.
Cons
- A few customers said it was a bit difficult for them to get the treat without having to fumble or look for the correct pocket, but that they will get used to it.
If you’re looking for a positive form of training with your dog, implementing clicker training is very useful. The Downtown Pet Supply Dog Clicker with Wrist Band ensures that you only hold the clicker when needed. When your dog accomplishes the commands, you can reach for the treats and drop the clicker and it will hang beautifully on your wrist. When you’ve finished training, you can wear the clicker on your wrist and not worry about losing it. The big button provides you easy clicking and the loud sound is great for training your dog.
Downtown Pet Supply Dog Clicker with Wrist Band Key Features:
- Comes in different bright colors: Red, pink, blue, black, and green
- Sturdy clickers come with a wrist strap
- Clicker fits in the palm of your hand and is comfortable
- Big button provides easy clicking
- Loud sound for training
- Comes in 4 Pack, 5 Pack, 12 Pack, and 25 Pack
What customers are saying:
Pros
- Many owners love how the button is very easy to click and the sound is just right – not too loud and not too soft. The sound does not startle other pets in the house.
- Some happy owners noted that they would use the clicker whenever their dogs are distracted. Once their dogs hear the click, they immediately stop what they were doing and paid attention to the owners.
- Owners mentioned that the clicker works beautifully and gave them immediate positive results.
- The majority of the owners said they were happy with the clicker’s functionality as well as the bright colors.
Cons
- Some customers said the clicker wasn’t as loud as they had expected.
With over five years of specialized experience as an animal writer, my expertise lies in dog nutrition, health, behavior, grooming, and training. I am dedicated to delivering helpful and informative content that caters to the well-being of our furry friends. My primary goal is to empower pet owners with knowledge and ensure our canine companions thrive in health and happiness. In my free time, I love volunteering at local dog rescue centers.
