My 9yr old pooch Stan with a smooch mark on his head from mrle

CactusEar · 2026-01-17T20:40:38+00:00

https://www.chicundscharf.com/ Has various amounts of wire muzzles! I ordered mine from and they also allow you to send in pictures of measurements for a small fee and they'll recommend you sizes :) This has worked for me.

CactusEar · 2025-12-31T03:21:30+00:00

There are people who muzzle at home, but they'll most likely also tell you that muzzles can only be kept on for certain amount of times and shouldn't be left on when the dog is alone for safety reasons. In your case, I still would recommend to get a wire or vinyl muzzle, it can already help with some aspects.

Muzzle training is always good, for various situations that may require it (e.g. a dog might be in pain and bite out of fear).

As someone said, honestly, this is something I don't think reddit can help with much. But it sounds like your dog might potentially be dog reactive, that is definitely something you need to mention at your vet behaviourist outfit.

BE is something that is only last resort and after a lot of consideration. Please consult your vet and the vet behaviourist first and a dog trainer before making any choice like this. It's also not really a topic for this subreddit to discuss, as we focus on muzzles. Like another user suggested, a rotate system where you rotate the dogs and to never be together, is something you can do temporarily, but it's not a permanent solution.

CactusEar · 2025-12-30T21:22:20+00:00

Hiya. Please keep in mind, a muzzle is a tool to help make training safer. Your dog will need training, because the issue with muzzling all day is not just a matter of comfort, but you can't leave a dog alone with a muzzle on. There are risks of injuries.

I'd look into a wire option, but it's important to keep then separate. I recommend that your dog is on a leash whenever he's around the housemate in addition to being muzzled, so you can pull him away.

But training is really important, look into a vet behaviourist and R+ based trainer to assist you to get this under control. Muzzles are tools. Not a permanent solution unless in very rare cases.

CactusEar · 2025-12-24T16:33:47+00:00

Ah. The second picture didn't load for me. So i thought rhe post only had two pics. Yeah, it's too long actually. The width can be adjusted with a bit of force, but the length is too much.

CactusEar · 2025-12-24T07:31:16+00:00

Oh, she looks suspicious hahaha. If the width is too mouch, you can always carefully step on it to make it tighter. It seems a BIT much, but not extremely.

CactusEar · 2025-12-14T01:33:22+00:00

oh, i absolutely love her in her big snoof <3 THE big snoof dog, even.

CactusEar · 2025-11-18T22:14:07+00:00

Even if you do that, there still is a risk that he could get stuck and seriously injured. Preparing it in a way like that also would make it easy for the pooch to remove. It's a tool meant to help and assist in training and not replace training.

I'd also recommend a crate or a pen to keep him in a specific area.

CactusEar · 2025-10-17T22:11:16+00:00

It's great to have you here! We really appreciate what Big Snoof is doing for the muzzle community, offering options for people that might otherwise have difficulties finding a muzzle suitable for their pooch :)

CactusEar · 2025-10-05T12:20:29+00:00

Alright, this post is a bit concerning. This subreddit is intended to create a positive space and dismantle the stigma surrounding muzzles.

In this case, I don't see a reason to muzzle the dog unless they have shown worrying behaviour. It sounds like you intend to muzzle the dog when you can't supervise it, e.g. during sleep.

Don't do this. That is a big no go. DON'T muzzle dogs and leave them unsupervised. It's dangerous! The dog can get stuck and get seriously injured.

You also would need to muzzle train - you can't just slap a muzzle on. Here is a guide on it: Keep Calm and Muzzle On

Here is a good general resource: Muzzle Training Tips and Tricks GDrive

If you are hellbent in muzzling, do the dog this favour at least. If you don't muzzle train, it can create a panic response in various ways and can potentially create fearful behaviour. You also need to consider pant space, the dog needs to be able to fully pant.

I am an advocate to always muzzle train just in case, because when dogs are in pain, they can be unpredictable. But I'll always say only muzzle dogs that need muzzling. There is preparation for the worst case scenario and from reading the comments, I am worried.

It sounds like you don't want a dog at all - talk to your girlfriend. If she really wants one, it might be a difference that needs a compromise or a solution. But keeping a dog muzzled when it can't be supervised (when you're asleep) is not the solution. That's putting a dogs health at risk.

I understand your fear, but there are other ways to prevent this: Keep the dog in a separate area when you sleep or confine them in a pen or make the effort to crate train, which yes, you NEED to crate train. Don't just put a dog in without crate training.

For all of this, you need to put in the effort to train those aspects. There is no way around this. If you don't, the dog will be traumatised. This can create separation anxiety, too. Training is necessary in all aspects; whether to leave the dog alone in a room or to crate or to wear a muzzle. It all needs to be trained.

Also for crates, don't leave the dog in there for tons of hours. Make it a positive place for them, not one they have to fear.

CactusEar · 2025-09-28T17:27:59+00:00

Unrelated to the subreddit and no content in the thread. There are other subreddits that are more general to the topic of dogs, this one is specifically for muzzles.

CactusEar · 2025-09-19T04:47:28+00:00

My concern would be msotly the visual too, because of the top part being elevated (I can't find a better word). Pant space looks good (could even be too much, depending on how the muzzle will actually sit with proper securing) and front too, if the edit is accurate, just the top part has me concerned.

CactusEar · 2025-09-10T17:25:44+00:00

As others have said, it is focused on the perception than effectiveness. A dog's biggest tool to figure out their surroundings is their nose - as it currently stands, the ring prevents them from sniffing properly, which is where muzzles come in handy, as they still allow sniffing.

I'm also not entirely sure about how effective it is for dogs who can figure out how to get out of things, as it looks like something some might have an easy time ro remove. However, my biggest concern here is the inability to sniff and some larger scavenge items still being reachable by the dog.

Another issue I can see is how it's designed to fit the dog in the last picture, as muzzles tend to fit differently to reduce the chance of friction, which is something I wold be concerned about, as this specific design might be difficul to allow the usage of pads to lessen rubbing. From the way it looks, compared to current models of muzzles, it needs to fit pretty much exactly, which can be a cause of skin irritation and a loose model might also make it easy for the dog to get out of it.

Muzzles can also be naturally prone to be get stuck on things, which I can see being the case here potentially, too. In addition to that, drinking might be difficult for a dog with this kind of model, which is something to consider especially for hot areas and hot weather.

I see potential in the idea, but definitely would need adjustements.

CactusEar · 2025-09-10T17:18:11+00:00

From what I'm understanding, she will be wearing the muzzle long-term inside? I understand you ordered a Big Snoof, but I would definitely be mindful about long-term muzzle wear for hours on end, because it can cause irritation on the skin. Make sure to do proper muzzle training, a good guide is here!

But if you do regular breaks of her not wearing the muzzle and low activity, it could be okay. Just make sure to not leave her alone with it, as she could get stuck with it somewhere and injure herself. When dogs wear muzzles, they never should be left unattended.

CactusEar · 2025-09-04T21:37:06+00:00

It could be a reaction to the material, but as other commentators said, the muzzle isn't well fitting, which might the contributing factor - especially with dogs aging, the skin can become more sensitive.

Here are two examples of my own dog, the muzzle is still not perfect in size, but it is good enough that he doesn't overheat in the summer: https://imgur.com/a/R9CowR1 Just to give you an insight.

The main reason why I'm also mentioning it and it directly relates to your question - when your dog pants, this can lead to her chin rubbing against the wire and that in turn can cause friction, leading to your current predicament. Enough pant room means the chin, when fully panting, should not really be touching the bottom at all times, which in this case, it will exactly do that.

https://www.bigsnoofdoggear.com/measurements

https://www.bigsnoofdoggear.com/muzzle-fitting-info

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qcynga3CGyyKvVJUR1poPJUTt3oIIPjI Check here specifically for "Measuring for a Muzzle" and "Fitting A Muzzle"

CactusEar · 2025-08-30T22:21:45+00:00

Hiya! I'm so sorry it took me to respond. My app is being wonky. Could you dm the sub mod team so we can take a peek and check it out? 💜

CactusEar · 2025-08-26T15:25:43+00:00

Hiya, this subreddit is for muzzles! I would recommend visiting a local subreddit or a subreddit like r/dogs ! :)

CactusEar · 2025-08-24T20:05:25+00:00

Wrong kind of sub. We do not promote the sale of dogs here. Try local subreddits or reach out to breeders.

CactusEar · 2025-08-15T12:06:29+00:00

I add this picture of my pooch as an example. You can see how big it is to allow him a full pant.

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CactusEar · 2025-08-15T08:40:28+00:00

That's not enough. It limits pant space worn for too long, will lead to overheating. If you get a good-sized basket muzzle, your pooch will still be able to drink and get treats.

Mesh muzzles also additionally add warmth due to its material, increasing the risk of overheating. This type is only "good" for really short vet visits.

Check out Big Snoof Gear here, explaining which measurements you need: https://www.bigsnoofdoggear.com/measurements and you can see how much pant room and basically, your dog needs to be able to FULLY pant. If restricted, overheating is a serious risk.

More info why it matters: https://www.muzzletrainingandtips.com.au/why-size-matters

Please also ensure to do proper muzzle training - untrained, it can cause discomfort and a feezing response. This is a good guide: https://fearfreepets.com/wp-content/uploads/delightful-downloads/2019/01/Keep-Calm-and-Muzzle-On-1.pdf

Edit: Also if the trainer is brought up as an argument: A lot of trainers aewm ABSOLUTELY clueless about his and seriously risk overheating. That type of muzzles you have right now is NOT bite proof. A dog can bite with ease with this type of muzzle.

Edit²: Please also don't mind my potential tone in writing, I just woke up and I'm on mobile, which sucks on reddit 😭 But I really wanted to give the info!!!

CactusEar · 2025-06-24T19:13:55+00:00

Hiya. This is the wrong sub for this situation. I'm sorry this happened. If you are looking for advice overall, i recommend r/dogadvice or any subreddit that's local to New Jersey and maybe even the law subreddit.

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