All about home pets

In this article we explain why our dogs need muzzles and what kinds of dog muzzles exist.

Perhaps, every dog owner has ever thought: to wear muzzle or not. Our attitude to the muzzle may be not very good. How can my sweety shepherd bite someone? Of course, no, it will never do, I know my dog from childhood!

The problem is that majority of dog owners thinks like that. But they are not telepathic and not always can understand body language of animals. How will the dog react to a foreign smell, sudden movement or sudden noise? I do not think that in different situations, the animal would behave the same calm and quiet.

So, what the dog needs a muzzle for?

There are two important functions:

1. Do not allow the dog pick up something bad from the ground.

2. Do not allow the dog to bite anybody.

Today the second reason is most important, because there are many cases of bites by domestic dogs. So you can save the others from injury, and yourselves - from a stress as a result of collisions with these others. Muzzles are needed for transportation of the animals, while visiting a veterinarian, in the presence of small children and strangers, in a large crowd of people, during training, and when the dog is let go without a lead.

But there is also other side. Often the owners cannot find the appropriate muzzle for their pet. And all sorts of inconvenience appear because of this. The dog is trying to tear off an unknown thing because it hurts.

How to choose a muzzle for the dog?

Muzzles can be divided into several types, but most popular are metal and leather muzzles.

Tight (or dense) muzzles are designed for aggressive dogs or for training. They are very heavy and very strong, made of leather, which does not bend. In such a muzzle the dogs have no chance to bite anyone. It is important the muzzle to not chafe under the eyes, not to press on the bridge and not to reach the nose of a dog. If your pet can open its jaws in it, so the muzzle is selected correctly. But the dog should not be in such a muzzle for a long time, dogs sweat by their tongue, but as there is no ventilation there is a possibility of heat stroke.

There are also leather sets, they are made of separate strips of leather, fastened with rivets. These muzzles are perfect for the quiet dogs. They provide good ventilation, so your pet can safely breathe and even drink water. But this kind of muzzle does not completely exclude the possibility that the dog would bite someone.

Wearing a metal muzzle, the dog has no chance to bite anybody, but it can safely breathe and drink water. But you must choose this muzzle very carefully. If it is uncomfortable your dog will not want to wear it again. If the dog hits somebody with such a muzzle, it may cause injury. Also it is not recommended to wear in winter, there are special metal nets with rubberized coating for cold season.

Wearing muzzle or not is for you to decide. But you should think not only about the comfort of your dog, but also about the safety of others. Because if the accident happens you will also have problems with the law.