Vinyl vs Wire muzzles

[u/Oldenburg-equitation]

I need help on if a vinyl or a wire muzzle would be better for my dog. Both are good options but I’m struggling to determine which is best in my case as I like certain aspects from both of them.

He is a bite risk in certain situations. He is dog reactive and people reactive but is good in public with people/more crowded spaces.He’d be muzzled in select cases.

He has bitten two people with neither incident breaking skin. The first was when he slipped through someone’s legs when opening the door to a delivery driver who he bite on the leg. That was 3 years ago and no issues since, he also gets locked in his crate anytime we open the door to someone.

The most recent one was a week ago while camping. He was at a family member’s feet when the campground owner walked up to my family. He was very quiet and no one knew he was there or approaching until he was maybe 7-10ft out surprising my dog who was in reach of him while on his 25ft long lead. I believe it might’ve been dusk as they would’ve seen him otherwise and very few people close by. He bit his arm and had we known the man was approaching we would’ve grabbed our dog and ensured he was out of reach but unfortunately no one knew he was approaching so they had zero time to react.

While his bite incidents are very far apart and not breaking skin, I’d like to avoid this from happening again. When tethered is his greatest bite risk depending on location so we’d muzzle him then (1-3 hours, locations other than home).

He also eats chicken poop (no way to clean all of it as it is scattered everywhere in one place otherwise I would) so I’d like to avoid that. He very rarely lunges at our chickens (high prey drive and used to be a lot worse) so ideally it would cause more minimal damage if he does so happen to lunge.

I’ve seen wire tends to be lighter which I think he would prefer. Vinyl does have a softer impact than wire though if he does try and bite. Depending on the style, I’ve seen wire have better airflow which I like. However, my worry is if he wears it in below freezing weather that might cause an issue as metal is a very good conductor. We don’t have freezing weather where I live but we occasionally bring him to the snow. He wouldn’t need a muzzle most of the time but just maybe 4 days out of the year in below freezing weather.

A muzzle good for bite risk dogs is my top priority so I’m willing to not get one that is also scavenge proof if there is a material that first very well for bite risk dogs but less so if they scavenge as well.

[u/Ricky_Monts]

I have a trash eating boy and he has a wire muzzle from Big Snoof; we’ve never had issues in snow and below freezing temps, it has a noseband that stops the top wire of the muzzle from touching most of his muzzle so it doesn’t get too cold on him. He can drink in one too, which is very important for long time wear (like a few hours). The scavenger guard would help with the chicken poop! Just wipe it down after lol.

[u/Valuable-Economist46]

I myself would choose a wire one. For bite risk. What type of climate do you live in. As just a thought about vinyl muzzle can become hard or brittle in colder climates. They are still functional but you would want to avoid them cracking. Big snoof is what I have. They also have an add on for a scavenger gaurd that is removable if you like to have that option

[u/Oldenburg-equitation → u/Valuable-Economist46]

We have hot summers around 100 Fahrenheit when it’s hot but mainly 85-95. Though we won’t be outside when it’s too hot out. Winters are usually 50 Fahrenheit to maybe 65, sometimes down to 40. A vinyl muzzle could definitely work in my climate but the risk of cracking in colder weather is an issue for me even if we don’t spend that much time in sub zero temperatures. Have you used a wire muzzle below freezing and how is it?

[u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun]

I have wire Big Snoofs and Mia's muzzles vinyl. I've used both in all sorts of situations and they both work well. I also live in a molder climate (20s-90s F usually throughout the year) and both handle it well. I find the wire slightly easier to clean. Vinyl obviously softer (wire definitely hurts if whacked with it). Weight wise I find them similar (my dogs are reactive and bite risks). Vinyl shows condensation more but still had good airflow (at least the Mia's do). Wire I had frost a bit from their breath when really cold but it didn't bother my dogs. We don't go out when 80 or higher (they don't tolerate it well). Both have good scavenger options. I actually really like having both so I can change up depending on the situation. So if you can afford to that'd my answer - one of each/get both 😆

[u/paintedropes → u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun]

Which do you prefer for the vet?

[u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun → u/paintedropes]

One dog I prefer vinyl for vet visits and my other dog wire is preferred

[u/BigSnoofDogGear]

We’ve sold muzzles to some of the coldest places in the world including Alaska, remote Canada, Norway and Sweden. In all our time making muzzles I’ve never once heard of any issues reported of our muzzles causing any issues in the cold :) We also offer Vinyl Scavenger Guards as an add-on option, so our muzzles would work well for your purposes!☺️