As you see in the photo below, this is a little too long, but it is also taller in return. After discussing with them, we went with the slightly bigger one. With the DT Freedom Winter Muzzle, Mia was between two sizes. Instead, I send over the real closed month measurements and receive a muzzle based on the company’s sizing guide or what their customer support team recommends to show what fit you can expect based on their recommendations. When reviewing muzzles, I don’t want to “outsmart the system” and give modified measurements to companies. This resulted in a fair amount of backlash in the online communities.ĭean and Tyler openly speaks up against full-pant muzzles because their experience is that it compromises the safety of the muzzle, which is their primary responsibility, while upsizing is not necessarily more comfortable for the dogs either. Many vets and trainers recommend smaller muzzles because in the case of a plastic muzzle (that most people use), a smaller size is safer since dogs have less room to fully open their mount and fold it in to bite through.ĭean and Tyler, whose muzzle is in the photo below, asks buyers to not measure the dog with a ball in their mouth for sizing the muzzle which is commonly used to estimate the full-pant measurement. A smaller muzzle is easier to secure on the dog safely, which is especially useful if you have to remove it and put it back quickly to, e.g., allow the vet to check their mouth. While letting them pant in a stressful situation is essential, having a free-pant instead of a full-pant is fine in these cases. This is not a big deal if all the muzzle stays on the dog for a longer time, but it can get frustrating if you take off/ put on the muzzle multiple times during the walk or if you need to be able to quickly put the muzzle on safely.įor some dogs, the muzzle is only used for short periods, like a vet visit, nail trimming, or other specific situations.

Adding an extra carabiner to the bottom can also prevent it from banging around on their face and obstructing their vision when they run. The only thing to keep in mind with full-pant muzzles is that they usually need to be secured with additional carabiners and/or a collar to ensure that the dog cannot get it off in a fight or when rubbing it against something. In this case, having a comfortable muzzle that doesn’t limit panting is a good choice. Some dogs need to be muzzled over more extended periods because they eat up things that make them sick or are in training, and it’s safer for everyone involved if they are muzzled. Pros and Cons of the Different SizesĪllowing dogs to pant is crucial, especially for active dogs and especially during the warm months. On the other hand, full-pant means that the dog’s mouth is not touching the bottom of the muzzle even when they heavily pant after exercising. Panting freely means that the dog can open their mouth, take treats, and have a half-pant while wearing the muzzle. What’s the Difference between a Free-Pant and a Full-Pant Muzzle? The side effect of this belief is that every other sizing is labeled irresponsible, and the owner gets bullied without knowing how, when, and why that muzzle is on the dog.

This is a great progress because for the longest time, no one was concerned about the risks of the dog’s inability to pant while wearing these muzzles.Īt the same time, it feels that somehow we immediately ended up on the other end of the spectrum, with muzzles bigger than the dog’s head being the ONLY acceptable sizing approach. Finally, our society moves away from muzzles that keep the dog’s mouth closed.

Dog muzzles to prevent eating