No one likes the idea of putting a muzzle on their dog.

Still, it is sometimes necessary to remove their potential for biting.

Even if your dog is very docile, you might want to muzzle them so that others will not be afraid when you go out in public.

Regardless of your reasons for needing a muzzle, it is important to pick the right one for the job.

IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…

	5/5 Redline K9 Medium Leather Dog Muzzle Best Overall Product	Best Budget Product 5/5 BRONZEDOG Dog Muzzle	Runners-Up 4.5/5 CollarDirect Leather Basket Dog Muzzle
	Check price on Amazon	Check price on Amazon	Check price on Amazon
Summary	This is a high-quality and heavy-duty dog muzzle that should be tough enough for any German Shepherd.	This is another heavy-duty dog muzzle, and this one is intended mainly for bulldogs.	This is one of our favorite muzzles, and not just because of its stylish look. This one is made mostly of leather, but all its connections are made with steel.
Pros	Very strong and secure	Made to resist head slipping	Toughest muzzle on our list
Cons	Nosepiece is a little off-center	A little on the short side	The front strap might be chewed on

1. Redline K9 Medium Leather Dog Muzzle

This is a high-quality and heavy-duty dog muzzle that should be tough enough for any German Shepherd.

The whole thing is made of steel and covered in leather, giving it a great mix of durability and comfort.

This is the most expensive muzzle on our list, and that is probably due to the high price of premium leather.

Still, it is a high-quality product overall, and so it might be worth the money.

We like the fact that it secures the entire nose and mouth area, leaving no room for the dog to chew through or work around its restrictions.

This muzzle is well-padded on the inside with felt, and it’s really thick. That’s a good idea, but we can’t help but notice a little problem here.

The nose pad is a little bit off-center, which is bound to be less comfortable. Considering the high price of this product, that kind of negligence is a problem.

At the same time, you couldn’t ask for anything more secure than this muzzle. All the metal is covered with leather so that it won’t chafe or irritate your dog’s skin.

This one also looks nicer than most other muzzles, which is a small plus.

It’s definitely good to get a rigid muzzle like this instead of a soft and flexible one.

The soft muzzles are not meant for serious cases and are generally too weak for large dogs like the German Shepherd.

2. BRONZEDOG Dog Muzzle

This is another heavy-duty dog muzzle, and this one is intended mainly for bulldogs.

However, it is (surprisingly) long enough to be suitable for German Shepherds as well. You will have to adjust the straps a little bit, but it should work just fine.

Because it was designed for bully breeds, this muzzle is held very securely in place.

The neck of a bulldog is only a little smaller than their head, so extra reinforcement is necessary to keep them from “slipping” their way out.

Although German Shepherds don’t have this problem, it’s good to know that your dog won’t be able to slip out of this muzzle.

Everything about this muzzle is thick and durable, and we couldn’t help but notice the buckles on the neck straps.

They are thick enough to be used for someone’s belt, and the steel is well-coated to resist corrosion.

Since the buckle is the number one potential weak point of a muzzle, it’s good to see that this one is fully reinforced.

That being said, this muzzle might be too short for some German Shepherds (particularly the larger ones).

Also, it would be nice if some of that metal were coated in a softer substance.

The muzzle tends to rub against the sides of the dog’s snout, which has to be a little annoying.

We recommend you wrap these sections with electrical tape to save your dog a little bit of irritation.

3. CollarDirect Leather Basket Dog Muzzle

This is one of our favorite muzzles, and not just because of its stylish look. This one is made mostly of leather, but all its connections are made with steel.

We see a lot of redundancy here, which is a good thing for a muzzle. If one strap, rivet, or buckle should happen to fail, there are others to take up the slack.

This isn’t one of those muzzles that rub and scrape against the dog’s face. In fact, it doesn’t have that problem at all.

Every point where the muzzle contacts the dog is made of leather, which should be soft enough to make this muzzle fairly comfortable.

On top of all that, this muzzle is nowhere near as expensive as the other leather muzzle that we saw earlier.

This mask has plenty of ventilation, which should give your dog plenty of room to breathe. However, we do have one little worry, and it’s right in the front.

If the dog manages to get the front straps into their mouth, they could potentially chew through them.

A dedicated chewer could get through that leather pretty quick, so you might want to watch out for that problem.

The only other criticism we can find comes from the fact that your dog might not need something this serious.

A muzzle like this is only necessary for dogs that have serious issues with aggression, or perhaps for medical reasons (keeping the dog from digging at a wound, etc.).

4. CollarDirect Soft Nylon Dog Muzzle

Most of the muzzles we have examined so far are heavy-duty muzzles that are intended for serious cases.

However, not all dogs need such an extreme solution.

If your dog doesn’t have that much of an aggression problem, or if you are only muzzling them as a precaution, a simple snout collar like this should be enough to do the trick.

It is easy to adjust this muzzle to the desired level of tightness, which makes it good for all sizes of German Shepherd.

The velcro strap makes it quick and easy to achieve that perfect fit: Tight enough to prevent all possibility of biting, but loose enough to allow eating, drinking and panting.

It also presents a less intimidating appearance than a big steel cage.

In terms of comfort, this one is near the top of the pile. In fact, it seems to be designed more for comfort than security, so make sure that you can afford to make that a priority.

This one also has the benefit of being very affordable and is the second-cheapest item on our list.

At the same time, we should give you a word of caution here: Don’t try to use this muzzle for a dog with real aggression issues or escaping skills.

Nylon is pretty strong, but it might be possible for the dog to paw that velcro strap until it works loose.

5. Coozero 7-Piece Muzzle Set

This one is a little different from the other products on our list, mostly because it is a set of 7 muzzles rather than just one.

As such, this represents a great bargain that you might want to consider. for breeders and other people who have a lot of dogs, this is a very cost-effective solution.

At the same time, you can’t expect the highest quality when buying cheaply and in bulk like this.

Therefore, you should not use these muzzles for the most aggressive and/or stubborn dogs.

They simply consist of a sheathe that goes over the snout, with only one strap to hold it in place. Still, it’s a good option for those whose dogs are not that aggressive.

One good thing about this set is the variety that you get.

Most of these muzzles are sized differently, giving you good options for old dogs, young dogs, larger dogs, smaller dogs, and everything in between.

It’s kind of a “shotgun” approach, but it definitely works. Considering the low cost of this kit, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have in your dog training toolbox.

There is something to be said for simplicity, and these muzzles definitely have that factor.

They are quick and easy to use, waterproof for outdoor use, and dogs seem to find them quite comfortable compared to most other muzzles.

The biggest flaw of this product is the single nylon strap. Just one more of those things would have made this product a lot more reliable.

6. Baskerville Ultra Muzzle

This is a very modern-looking muzzle, and it has quite a few interesting features that live up to its appearance.

The snout cage is made entirely of high-strength plastic, which is very thick.

This is attached to straps on all four sides, making this a very well-secured muzzle.

We might as well start by talking about the most distinctive feature of this muzzle: The plastic cage.

Most muzzles use steel or leather as their main structural components, so this one is something of an oddball.

Still, that means no chafing as metal parts rub against your dog’s face. Dogs with sensitive skin might benefit from a muzzle like this one.

Like a mouthguard, this muzzle can be heat-shaped so that it conforms perfectly to the contours of your dog’s face.

You can heat it in a variety of ways, but steam is probably the safest option.

Once it has been heated, it will become much more flexible. Once it has been heated to this point, you must hold it in place until it cools.

This one also has a special adjuster that is meant to tighten the muzzle in response to pulling.

Thus, if your dog tries to paw or dig this muzzle off, they will probably just make it that much tighter.

This can be a good thing, but it can also present a safety hazard if the muzzle becomes over-tightened.

We also worry that the plastic cage could be vulnerable to chewing.

Best Dog Muzzle For A German Shepherd Buyer’s Guide

The muzzle is a simple device that has been around for a long time.

As such, we don’t really need to explain how they work or why you might need one.

The reasons might be simple (like aggression) or complex (like a self-chewing problem).

Instead, let’s look at the qualities that you want to see in a good dog muzzle.

Safety

This one is listed first because it is the most important consideration.

Some muzzles can present a choking hazard if overtightened, so be wary of those neck straps.

There have, unfortunately, been cases in which a dog was strangled to death because its muzzle was fastened too tightly.

You should also be careful of muzzles that place a lot of bare metal near your dog’s mouth.

Sometimes, these things can come from the factory with sharp points on the corners, and these must be filed or sanded down.

These sharp points are the result of a rushed welding process in which the “garbage” was not properly ground away.

Comfort

From the dog’s point of view, this is also a very important factor.

Even if your dog is highly aggressive, they don’t deserve to endure hours and hours of discomfort.

If you need to put it in perspective, ask yourself how much you would enjoy wearing one of these!

Friction is one of the big issues in this department.

As the dog walks and moves around, the muzzle will move just a little bit, and this movement can be a problem if the muzzle is rubbing against the snout.

Obviously, soft substances like plastic or leather can be allowed to rub a little bit, but any chafing from metal should be dealt with immediately.

If nothing else, you can wrap the offending parts in electrical tape or otherwise add some kind of padding.

Security

Since security is the main purpose of a muzzle, this factor needs to be considered carefully.

On the one hand, you don’t want to make your dog feel (or look) like Hannibal Lecter. On the other hand, you need something that will hold those powerful jaws reliably.

You should always look at the number of straps, as this plays a big role in how well they stay on the dog.

Four straps would be ideal, but three is good enough for most German Shepherds.

Muzzles with one or two straps can be used, but only if your aggression problems are mild.

Those straps should also be thick enough that your dog won’t be able to break them. Don’t underestimate the strength or determination of a large dog!

Durability

Last but not least, you want to consider the overall durability of any muzzle that you might buy.

This factor goes along with security somewhat, because a weak muzzle will not do its job for long.

Leather and steel are the ideal materials when you need something tough, with steel being a little better because it cannot be destroyed by chewing.

Plastic can be used, but you should make sure it is very thick like the cage in our seventh example.

Another thing to look for is redundancy. What we mean is, your muzzle should not rely on just one mechanism to hold it in place.

If only one strap is holding the muzzle on your dog, then only one strap has to be broken in order for disaster to occur.

You also want to look at the stitching to make sure that every stress point is reinforced with lots of stitching in the shape of an “X.”

Steel rivets are another thing to look for, and (of course) all buckles and fasteners should also be made of well-coated steel to resist breakage.

Conclusion: Best Dog Muzzles For German Shepherds  

In a perfect world, no dog would ever have to be muzzled.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in such a world, and we probably never will.

That’s why any German Shepherd owner should invest in a good-quality muzzle like one of those described above.

Just remember: You aren’t looking for the “best” product. Rather, you are searching for the one that suits your needs in the most effective way.

We hope that this article will help you to do that and that you will come back to see us again.

FAQ:

1. Why do I need a muzzle for my dog?

There might be situations where your dog needs to be muzzled to prevent potential biting incidents. Even if your dog is docile, others may still be fearful of them in public.

2. What is the best muzzle for a German Shepherd?

The Redline K9 Medium Leather Dog Muzzle is a great option for a German Shepherd. It is durable, secure, and provides no room for biting. However, it is also the most expensive option.

3. What are the best muzzles for German Shepherds?

There are several muzzles that are recommended for German Shepherds. Some of the best choices include the Baskerville Ultra Muzzle, Jafco Muzzle, Secure Leather Mesh Basket Muzzle, Dean & Tyler Wire Basket Muzzle, and BronzeDog Wire Basket Muzzle.

4. How can I train my dog to wear a muzzle?

Training your dog to wear a muzzle requires patience and positive reinforcement. Start by introducing the muzzle to your dog gradually, associating it with treats and positive experiences, and gradually increasing the time your dog wears the muzzle.

5. Why might I need to use a muzzle for my German Shepherd?

Muzzles are often used to prevent biting, to help dogs adjust to uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations, or to keep them from picking up and ingesting dangerous items while out on walks.

6. What types of muzzles are suitable for German Shepherds?

German Shepherds typically do well with leather basket muzzles, wire basket muzzles, and mesh muzzles. These types of muzzles allow the dog to pant, drink, and breathe easily while wearing them.

7. How can I ensure that the muzzle I choose is the right size for my German Shepherd?

To ensure the right fit, measure your dog’s snout length and circumference. Then, refer to the sizing guides provided by muzzle manufacturers to select the appropriate size for your German Shepherd.

8. Can my German Shepherd still drink water while wearing a muzzle?

Yes, certain types of muzzles, such as wire basket muzzles and mesh muzzles, are designed to allow your dog to drink water while wearing the muzzle for short periods of time.

9. How do I keep my German Shepherd comfortable while wearing a muzzle?

To keep your German Shepherd comfortable while wearing a muzzle, ensure that it fits properly, and allow your dog to gradually acclimate to wearing the muzzle through positive reinforcement and praise.

10. Why might a dog need a muzzle for short periods of time?

Muzzles may be used for short periods to prevent dogs from biting during visits to the veterinarian, grooming sessions, or in situations where they may feel anxious or stressed.

11. How can I train my German Shepherd to accept wearing a muzzle?

Training your German Shepherd to accept a muzzle involves positive reinforcement, patience, and gradually increasing the time your dog wears the muzzle while associating it with positive experiences.

12. Are fabric muzzles suitable for German Shepherds?

Fabric muzzles are generally not recommended for German Shepherds, as they can restrict a dog’s ability to pant and could potentially cause discomfort over longer periods of wear.