This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links, at no extra cost to you.
Muzzles are one of the most misunderstood dog training tools. They are often considered to be an accessory for aggressive dogs. Naturally, a dog wearing one is often perceived as aggressive or reactive. In reality, muzzles have a plethora of benefits and are great training as well as safety aids. A good muzzle not only helps manage an anxious dog’s behavioral issues but also makes them feel comfortable while wearing it.
Having used all kinds of muzzles as a professional trainer, my favorite one to recommend is the Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle. Not only is this muzzle made of premium quality materials, but is sturdy enough to prevent bites and attacks, it is spacious enough for the dog to open their mouth and carry out essential behaviors like panting, heavy breathing, and barking. It ensures ample ventilation while allowing pet parents to effectively observe the facial expressions of the dog as and when needed.
Top 5 Best Muzzles for Huskies
1. Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle
The Baskerville Ultra dog muzzle is one of the bestselling muzzles on Amazon with over 29,000 reviews. I personally love this muzzle because of the plethora of benefits it offers such as ample breathing space for the dog, space to insert treats during training, allows the dog to pant and bark, and most of all, it lets me observe the dog’s facial expressions better, which is of utmost importance while training reactive and aggressive dogs.
It is tough and durable but lightweight at the same time, so it does not weigh the dog’s face down.
Pros:
The Baskerville Ultra dog muzzle is made out of a combination of hard plastic and rubber, which makes it super durable. It can easily withstand a good amount of wear and tear even from the most aggressive of dogs
It is ergonomically designed to safely strap around the dog’s snout and face and ensure that it will remain that way until removed
The Neoprene padded lining makes it comfortable for the dog to wear and the straps on the head and neck make the muzzle fully adjustable
It is a humane option to prevent biting, licking, chewing etc. without making the whole experience stressful for the dog
Cons:
If fitted too tightly, the hard material may cause friction on the dog’s snout and the straps may leave marks on the face
It may appear to be intimidating for an outsider even if the dog wearing it may not be aggressive
2. Mayerzon Mesh Covered Muzzle
Unlike several other mesh muzzles that strap on top of the dog’s snout in a way that shuts their mouth close, the Mayerzon mesh muzzle provides ample space for the dog to open their mouth, breathe, and bark. The mesh material is soft on the dog’s mouth and does not weigh their face down.
This muzzle can be used for several purposes such as bite prevention, grooming, vet visits, preventing the dog from trash surfing, as a safety precaution for reactive dogs, etc.
Pros:
Created out of mesh fabric and fully closable, this muzzle has foldable sides but is absolutely durable and can resist a good amount of wear and tear that the dog may subject it to
The softness of the muzzle will prevent any friction or chafing on the dog’s nose
Because of the fabric material of the muzzle, it is easily storable and can conveniently fit into pockets
The full-covered mesh panel makes it easy for the dog to open their mouth and breathe which makes it safe for the muzzle to be used for high-intensity walks, runs, and other outdoor activities
Since the muzzle is entirely covered, it prevents the dog from scavenging and picking up harmful substances from the ground
Cons:
It may not be the best option for red-zone dogs and dogs who bite with all their force. The mesh fabric may or not be able to hold up to extreme abrasion and tear
It may not be the best option to use while implementing reward-based training as there is no space to insert any treats through the muzzle
3. MiDog Leather Muzzle
Our dogs wanting to scavenge every tiny bit of scrap off the face of the earth is one of the biggest problems faced by pet parents. How cool would it be if our dogs could sniff and explore everything and not consume anything at the same time?
The MiDog Leather muzzle limits biting, chewing, and scavenging all while letting the dog breathe and pant effectively. This is a great muzzle for longer walks, veterinary visits, grooming, etc.
Pros:
Made of soft quality leather, the MiDog muzzle is super comfortable when put on and does not leave marks on the dog’s skin
The muzzle is highly adjustable and can take the shape of the dog’s mouth due to its multiple clips and locking mechanisms. Furthermore, the adjustable loop connecting the collar helps keep the muzzle snug and secure in place
It is designed to fit a variety of shapes and sizes of dog snouts
The muzzle also has reflective stripes, thereby improving safety in dimly lit areas.
With plenty of holes, this muzzle is highly breathable
Cons:
The style of the muzzle may make dogs look intimidating, especially for kids
4. Crazy Felix Nylon Dog Muzzle
Nylon dog muzzles, as opposed to hard plastic or metal muzzles, feel softer and lighter on the dog’s snout. The closed part under the chin of the Crazy Felix nylon dog muzzle prevents the dog from scavenging, biting, licking, chewing, etc., thereby giving the dog all-around protection while letting them explore all they want.
Unlike traditional muzzles, they are shaped differently and barely take 10 seconds to put on. This muzzle is designed to cover the dog’s head in a way that makes it difficult for them to tear it off.
Pros:
The stable mouth cover is convenient for dogs, highly adjustable, and easy to strap on
The right-sized muzzle will remain snug, will securely lock on, and not slip off
The Crazy Felix nylon muzzle is ergonomically designed for dogs with a longer snout like Huskies
The open front panel allows dogs to pant, drink, and receive treats
The quality of the mesh muzzle is breathable and lightweight
It prevents undesirable behaviors like scavenging and biting
It lets dogs pant, bark, and express discomfort
Cons:
The muzzle does not prevent barking
5. BRONZEDOG Wire Dog Muzzle
The Bronzedog wire dog muzzle provides exceptional breathability. It prevents unwanted behaviors like biting and scavenging and allows essential behaviors such as panting and expression of discomfort. One of the reasons why I love using this muzzle while training is that it lets me clearly observe the dog’s facial expressions and ensures safety by keeping dog bites at bay.
Being able to observe facial expressions clearly is extremely helpful and essential during training and behavior modification programs as it enables us to recognize and respect a dog’s threshold and boundaries.
Pros:
Provides great visibility of the dog’s face and ensures ample breathability
It prevents biting, chewing, and scavenging but allows panting and barking
It has enough space to feed treats to your dog as and when necessary
It is highly durable and is designed to resist some amount of wear and tear
It comes when an adjustable strap, which ensures a great fit
Wired basket muzzles work great for dogs like Huskies who have a longer snout
It acts as a strong physical barrier and does not let the dog bite or injure other dogs or people
Cons:
It may be heavier on the snout as compared to mesh muzzles
It does not prevent barking in any way
The Least Recommended Muzzle for Huskies
Having used a variety of muzzles for training and behavioral purposes, I can safely recommend some great muzzles that work like magic and also some not-so-great ones. In my opinion, a muzzle should help prevent undesirable behaviors like biting, chewing, and scavenging. However, it must fully enable the dog to open their mouth, pant, and bark if necessary.
For this reason alone, the Lepark Nylon Muzzle is one that I don’t recommend buying. This muzzle looks more like a head halter that goes across the dog’s snout and tightens in a way that prevents them from opening their mouth. It is not recommended to use this muzzle for intense cardio activities or even longer walks as it doesn’t let the dog pant or even open their mouth. This can lead to severe health issues, especially if your husky lives in hot weather.
Furthermore, it works only when it is fitted correctly. If not, the dog may easily be able to open their mouth and carry on behaviors like biting and scavenging, thereby defeating the primary purpose of the muzzle.
Guide to Buying the Best Muzzle for Huskies
How to Choose the Right Muzzle for Your Husky
A muzzle can be highly advantageous in several situations such as training aggressive and reactive dogs, grooming touch-sensitive dogs, preventing excessive barking in certain situations, preventing scavenging, etc.
Knowing the use case of the muzzle is the most important step before buying one because different types of muzzles have their own set of strengths and weaknesses and must be used for intended purposes only. Furthermore, regardless of the type of muzzle, it should not be used beyond 20 minutes at a time.
Let’s look at some of the things to remember before buying a muzzle:
Size, Type, and Fit
A muzzle that fits well is the most basic requirement. Make sure to measure your dog’s snout correctly and match it with the manufacturer’s guide of the muzzle. There are several types of muzzles available in the market such as mesh, basket, wire, leather, etc. Each muzzle has its own set of pros and cons that must be weighed before buying one.
Consult a Professional
Depending on your intended usage of the muzzle, your veterinarian, dog groomer, canine trainer, or dog behaviorist can guide you on the best muzzle for huskies and the best type to tackle the issue at hand. Their valuable insights can help you pick the right product and use it in the best possible way.
Ease of Putting it on
The muzzle may be a matter of discomfort for any dog to begin with as it goes right on their face and interferes with basic behaviors such as barking, biting, chewing, etc. The least we can do is make sure that there is a negligible amount of struggle while putting it on.
It is crucial to spend time desensitizing your Husky towards their muzzle and build comfort from the get-go, especially if you are dealing with an aggressive dog. Make sure to maneuver with utmost care. Use the best training treats for huskies and do not exceed 15-20 minutes of muzzle time at any given point in time. Using the muzzle for joyous activities like playing in the initial phase of training can help build positive associations.
Assess your and your Dog’s Needs
Determining the reason for the muzzle is the primary step of muzzle-shopping. If you are dealing with an aggressive Husky, bite prevention must be your number one priority. A basket muzzle or a wire muzzle would be the best option in this case as their sturdiness would ensure maximum safety.
However, while dealing with barking issues, it is ideal to go for a mesh muzzle that snugly fits around the chin and the dog’s snout. While using a muzzle that shuts a dog’s mouth close, it is important to not use this kind of muzzle beyond a few minutes as these kinds of muzzles do not even allow the dog to pant, thereby leading to potential health issues.
Comfort and Convenience
Your dog’s comfort comes first under any circumstance, be it trying on a new product, training your husky, or grooming your husky. Any product that interferes with a dog’s basic and essential activities like panting and breathing should not be forced on them.
Look for muzzles that have sufficient padding and are made of durable materials to prevent chafing and other injuries. If the muzzle is leaving marks around your Husky’s snout, it may be too tight and uncomfortable for them.
Recommendation
It is important to note that while muzzles are highly useful tools, they must not be used as long-term solutions to behavioral problems. They are only tools to prevent certain behaviors from either happening or causing harm to those involved.
Picking the best muzzle for Siberian Huskies is half the battle won. For the remaining half, make sure to consult a professional to understand the best possible way to deal with the behavioral issue at hand.
Overall I recommend the Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle.
What muzzles have you tried?
Share your experience in the comments below.
Further reading:
FAQ about Dog Muzzles
What are the best muzzles for huskies?
The best muzzles for huskies can vary depending on your specific needs and preferences. We recommend the Baskerville Ultra Muzzle for most use cases.
What is a dog muzzle?
A dog muzzle is a protective device that is designed to cover a dog’s snout and prevent them from biting, barking excessively, or eating things they shouldn’t. It is commonly used for training purposes or to keep a dog and others safe in certain situations.
Are there different types of muzzles?
Yes, there are different types of muzzles available on the market. Some common types include mesh, basket, wire, and leather muzzles. Each type is designed with different features and purposes in mind.
How do I choose the right muzzle for my husky?
When choosing a muzzle for your husky, it’s important to consider their size and the intended use of the muzzle. Ensure that the muzzle is the right size and provides a secure and comfortable fit for your furry friend.
Can my husky still drink water and pant while wearing a muzzle?
Yes, many muzzles on the market are designed to allow your dog to drink, pant, and even eat treats while wearing them. Look for muzzles that have built-in features to accommodate these needs.
How do I introduce the muzzle to my husky?
Introducing a muzzle to your husky should be done gradually and positively. Start by letting them sniff and become familiar with the muzzle before slowly putting it on for short periods of time while providing treats and praise.
Are there any breed-specific considerations for muzzles?
Yes, certain dog breeds may have specific needs when it comes to muzzles. For example, dogs with short snouts may require a muzzle specifically designed for their facial structure. Obviously huskies have longer snouts so make sure you consider the length of their snout when choosing a muzzle. Most muzzle brands have a size guide that you can follow.
Can I use a muzzle on my small dog or puppy?
Yes, muzzles can be used on small dogs and puppies. However, it’s important to choose a muzzle that is appropriately sized and comfortable for their smaller snout. Consider consulting a professional dog trainer for guidance.
How long can I leave a muzzle on my husky?
Muzzles are typically used for short periods of time, such as during walks or visits to the vet. It’s important to give your husky breaks from wearing the muzzle to ensure their comfort and well-being.
What materials are muzzles made of?
Muzzles can be made from various materials, including genuine leather, nylon, and silicone. Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks, so consider your dog’s comfort and your specific needs when choosing a muzzle.
