8 Best Muzzles for Chihuahuas and Tips for Comfortable Muzzle Use
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These purse-sized pooches are the country of Mexico’s national symbol, with origins dating back to the pre-Columbian era. Chihuahuas are renowned for their rounded head and large eyes, with coats featuring a range of hues and patterns. Some Chihuahuas have long coats, and others have short fur.
The Chihuahua is a loyal pet with a natural charm and the spirit of a much larger animal. These pets are fantastic if you live in a big city and are short on space, and they love nothing better than lounging around on their owner’s lap. Chihuahuas can struggle with becoming overweight, so it is essential to monitor what and how much food they consume.
What Is the Best Chihuahua Muzzle?
Here are our picks for the top 8 best muzzle for Chihuahuas. Continue scrolling to learn which pick made it to first place and our review of each product on the list.
The small but mighty Chihuahua loves to romp and play and can get plenty of exercise in a small area. You must take care not to overexert these little dogs, as following their owner around will typically suffice for their daily activity.
Chihuahuas are known for their sassy, bold, and fearless temperament, which can make them quite the handful despite their adorable small proportions. They don’t warm up immediately to strangers and don’t always get along with other dogs right away. As such, choosing the best Chihuahua muzzle for your faithful companion is paramount to avoid any unnecessary run-ins with other pets and people.
Keep reading for your complete guide to the best Chihuahua muzzles, plus some helpful tips to guide you when using a muzzle for your pet.
Different Types of Muzzles for Chihuahuas
There are a plethora of muzzle types to choose from, but not all muzzles are appropriate for all dog breeds. Whether your Chihuahua gets antsy around other pets and kids or you want to keep them under control at your next visit to the vet, choosing the best muzzle for your pet will simplify your life as a dog owner and prevent any unexpected biting or nipping events.
Basket Muzzles
Basket muzzles are one of the most popular muzzle types for a range of breeds — and with good reason. These versatile muzzles are excellent for both shorter and more extended excursions with your pooch and can see you through everything from dog shows to trips to the groomers to adventures at the dog park with new doggie friends.
Basket muzzles can feature leather, wire, or a combination of both. They are safe for longterm wear because the slats provide space for your Chihuahua to eat, drink, and pant.
Mesh-Type Muzzles
For temporary situations such as a brief trip outside or transporting your Chihuahua to the vet, you may wish to consider buying a mesh muzzle. You should not use a mesh muzzle for more extended periods as they do not allow the same freedom of movement as basket muzzles do.
However, for temporary use, mesh muzzles are easy to transport, comfortable for your pet to wear, and very lightweight. Their offer proper ventilation with the nylon/mesh design and won’t irritate your pet’s nose.
Soft Muzzles
Soft muzzles are the muzzle of choice for some trainers because they offer the comfort level of a mesh muzzle while allowing your Chihuahua to pant as they would in a basket muzzle. Very spunky or aggressive Chihuahuas could bite through the sides of these muzzles though, so they are best suited to more even-tempered pups. For reasonable periods where you need a muzzle to restrain your Chihuahua, a soft muzzle is a reliable choice.
When and Why Would a Chihuahua Need a Muzzle?
If you’re unsure whether a muzzle is necessary for your Chihuahua, here are some points to consider.
Prepare for Emergency Care
The time to teach your Chihuahua to be comfortable with and accept a muzzle is now. Whether your Chihuahua needs to gear up for a routine vet checkup or sustains an injury, you will minimize handling by the vet staff and prevent bite events by teaching your pet to welcome the muzzle. Make a game out of putting on the muzzle with treats and training sessions so your Chihuahua won’t require excessive handling when it comes time to go to the vet.
If your dog gets injured, a muzzle is not only vital to keeping your Chihuahua from lashing out in pain at the vet staff trying to help them but will also stop your dog from nipping at their wound and making matters worse.
Build Trust Through Touch
If you are trying to help your Chihuahua puppy learn to accept touch and handling, using a muzzle from early in is an excellent method to accomplish this. By using a muzzle, you will train your Chihuahua to keep their teeth far away from you from an early age. Your pet will learn to put their faces inside the muzzle and not teeth elsewhere.
If your Chihuahua tends to get jumpy and nervous when it comes to handling or grooming, you can use a muzzle to get them comfortable with touching on their ears and face and desensitize their behavior patterns. When you train your pooch to wear the muzzle, then reward them with their favorite treat, they will learn to associate muzzle time with treat time.
Help Your Chihuahua Warm Up to New Friends and Environments
Chihuahuas take a while to warm up to new friends and environments and don’t naturally get along with other dogs as well as some breeds do. When your pet is reactive to new people and situations, a muzzle is critical to modify these behavioral patterns and help instill new, healthy habits.
Whether you’re taking your pet to a new dog park or traveling with your Chihuahua, you can ensure that you won’t have unnecessary run-ins with other pooches or people by muzzling your dog. If your dog is already trained to enjoy wearing a muzzle, the transition to a new environment will be far less of a jolt.
Overall Best Muzzles for a Chihuahua
| Our 2024 Picks: Chihuahua Muzzle Recommendations | |||
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Check out our top pick for the best Chihuahua muzzle that stood out above the rest.
Overall Best
Baskerville Ultra Muzzle
The Baskerville Ultra Muzzle has a flexible fit for wider noses and a small convenient opening so your pup can eat and drink while it’s on. It not only protects other pets and people from bites, but it maintains the welfare and happiness of your dog. The Baskerville Ultra Muzzle has ergonomically designed safety strapping, as well as two additional points of secure attachment to ensure the muzzle doesn’t fall off. The over-head strap is removable if desired and the muzzle also has a loop at the bottom for your dog’s collar. It also has a metal buckle with pre-holed webbing, which means it’s fully adjustable for a quick and easy fit. It comes in six different sizes.
7 More Top-Rated Chihuahua Muzzles
Four Paws Walk-About Quick-Fit Dog Muzzle
The Four Paws Walk-About Quick Fit Dog Muzzle is machine washable and used by professionals and pet owners alike to ensure safety and comfort for pets and those around them. It comes in six different sizes, so you can be sure that you will find the right fit for your chihuahua. It is made of a durable nylon and is both comfortable secure. The Four Paws Walk-About Muzzle is fully adjustable with minimal straps for easy use. It is really difficult for dogs to take off.
Alfie Adjustable Synthetic Leather Basket Muzzle
Here’s why the Alfie Adjustable Synthetic Leather Basket Muzzle made it to the number one spot of our top 6 picks.
We love the Alfie Adjustable Synthetic Leather Basket muzzle because it is a versatile choice that you can rely on for everything from training your Chihuahua to taking them to new destinations around strange dogs to excursions to the groomers.
The synthetic leather material is comfortable and breathable, with perforations at the nose to allow sufficient air flow. The muzzle is an excellent pick to keep your dog from overeating, chewing when they shouldn’t, biting at people or other dogs, or barking. The design allows your pet room to pant and stays secure without overly constricting your dog for the ideal combination of functionality and comfort.
Petneces Dog Muzzle
For trips to the grooming salon or vet, you can’t go wrong with the Petneces Dog Muzzle. With a design catered specifically to tiny Chihuahua dogs, the mesh design with an eye cover will prevent biting and barking without impeding your pet’s vision. The breathable nylon offers superior ventilation so your pet won’t get overheated, while the cushioned bumpers will prevent irritation to the Chihuahua’s tiny nose.
Whether your Chihuahua is recovering from an injury and keeps nipping at their wound or you’re worried about your pet reacting adversely to other dogs and humans, the Petneces Dog Muzzle is an excellent choice for short term use to help you tamp down aggressive behaviors and keep your pooch safe.
Mark deAndrew Nylon Dog Muzzle
Another fantastic option for short periods of wear, the Mark deAndrew Nylon Dog Muzzle features a secure yet comfortable mesh design that won’t cause nose irritation. The muzzle contains additional padding to help your Chihuahua warm up to the muzzle, along with an ergonomic design that ensures your smart pooch won’t slip the device off.
If your pet has reactive tendencies in environments like the groomers or vet office, prevent biting and chewing with this cushioned, strong muzzle.
Alfie Paxton Adjustable Quick Fit Plastic Muzzle
Another exceptional product by Alfie, this soft muzzle design does the trick to keeping your dog from eating things it shouldn’t, chewing at your furniture, nipping at strangers, or barking in excess. We chose the Alfie Paxton Adjustable Muzzle because its basket design provides plenty of room for your Chihuahua to pant as needed.
As with any type of muzzle, you shouldn’t leave this muzzle on for more extended periods as it could cause agitation and frustration. However, for temporary purposes like training sessions and restraint at the park, the Alfie Paxton Adjustable Muzzle is a top-notch choice.
Four Flags Over Aspen Nylon Quick Muzzle
If you’ve struggled in the past with finding a muzzle small enough to fit your Chihuahua, the Four Flags Over Aspen Quick Muzzle could be the ideal match. If your Chihuahua barks too much inside or outside or you need to trim their nails, but they keep getting too antsy, this comfortable nylon muzzle will get the job done.
Little dogs tend to hate being groomed and could nip at the tools and technicians. If this describes your pooch at all, eliminate these issues and work to retrain their behavioral patterns with this comfortable, easy-to-use muzzle that’s perfect for small breeds like Chihuahuas.
GoodBoy Neoprene Padded Muzzle
Our last pick is the ultra-padded Neoprene Muzzle by GoodBoy. We love this muzzle for everything from curbing unwanted chewing to helping keep your Chihuahuas weight under control by preventing overeating. The great thing about this muzzle is the neoprene padding — you won’t have to worry about your Chihuahua’s sensitive nose chafing when you put the muzzle on.
The GoodBoy muzzle provides enough room so your pet can drink and pant without issue, so you can use it for more extended periods than you could some of the other muzzles on our list. As a handy bonus, the muzzle comes with a connection strap and collar to secure the device in place, making it an excellent choice for playtime at the dog park to training sessions as a pup.
5 Tips to Properly Use a Muzzle with a Chihuahua
- The most important thing is to get your Chihuahua comfortable wearing a muzzle whenever you need it to. Start by getting the right muzzle for your usage needs. If you travel with your pet and need to put on the muzzle for prolonged periods, stick with a basket muzzle so your Chihuahua can still eat, drink, and pant with the device on. For short vet trips and temporary needs, mesh or soft muzzles will do the trick.
- You can help your Chihuahua get used to seeing the muzzle by keeping it with you (such as leaving it on the couch) and give your dogs rewards for being near it. As your Chihuahua starts to equate the muzzle with treats and happy times, you’re one step closer to getting them comfortable when they actually wear it.
- Now, you can start to reward your Chihuahua whenever they engage with the muzzle, such as touching their nose to it.
- Put the muzzle in front of your pet and give them a treat whenever they put their nose towards it or inside it. Have patience and don’t hurry through this stage, or your Chihuahua could become disinterested.
- Once your Chihuahua is regularly putting their nose in the muzzle whenever you bring it out, slowly build up the period you keep the muzzle on.
At every stage, praise your pooch for the progress they’re making and don’t forget to present their favorite treat as a reward.
FAQ’s Regarding Muzzles for Chihuahua
- Is It Inhumane to Use a Muzzle on a Chihuahua? — It could be harmful not only to others but to your beloved dog to not use a muzzle. For instance, if your Chihuahua was injured recently, prevent them from nipping at and reinfected their wound by using a muzzle for short periods. If your pet is reactive and tends to nip, you could also prevent sustaining bites yourself.
- How Do You Measure a Chihuahua for a Muzzle? — Always stick close to the measuring chart when selecting your muzzle online to make sure you get the right size for your little dog. If the muzzle is too tight, it could be uncomfortable and inhibit proper breathing, while an overly loose muzzle could slip off and be virtually worthless.
- When Should You Not Use a Muzzle on a Chihuahua? — In general, you shouldn’t use a muzzle for very long periods, or your Chihuahua may not cool down sufficiently or get the food and drink they need. Speak with your trainer or vet and make sure you don’t keep the muzzle on for longer than they recommend.
