Introducing Measuring Tools to Your Dog: A Gentle Guide to Muzzle Fitting

August 18, 2025
Posted by Bev Kirk

When it comes to choosing the perfect-fitting dog muzzle, accurate measurements are key. But before grabbing your tape measure, it’s essential to help your dog feel safe and relaxed around these unfamiliar tools.

This guide will walk you through how to measure your dog for a muzzle using both traditional and alternative methods, all designed to be dog-friendly, low-stress, and positive.

🧰 What Tools Will You Need to Measure Your Dog for a Muzzle?

To get the most accurate fit, gather the following

✅ Soft Measuring Tape (preferred for flexibility and comfort)
✅ Flexible or Flat Ruler
✅ High-value Treats (essential for positive reinforcement!)

Optional or alternative tools for sensitive dogs:

🥣 Clean, empty large yoghurt pot (great for nose targeting)
📏 Cutting mat with printed measurements (ideal for visual, contact-free measuring)

🐶 Step-by-Step: How to Introduce Measuring Tools to Your Dog

1. Let Your Dog Explore the Measuring Tools

Lay the tape measure or ruler on the ground and let your dog sniff and check it out.

Pro tip: Pair curiosity with treats and happy praise!

2. Associate the Tools with Positive Experiences

Hold the tools near your dog, but don’t use them just yet. Reward calm behaviour with treats, affection, or play. This helps build a positive association with muzzle measuring tools.

3. Desensitise Gently and Gradually

Start by touching your dog with the tool on low-sensitivity areas like their back or shoulders. Work slowly toward the face and muzzle, rewarding along the way.

4. Keep It Short and Sweet

Limit each session to about 5 minutes. Always stop while your dog is still comfortable and engaged, even if you haven’t completed the full measurement yet.

🐾 Dog-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Measuring Tools

Alternative #1: Yoghurt Pot Nose Targeting

For dogs who are nervous about rulers or tape measures, a yoghurt pot can provide a pressure-free, fun alternative.

How to Use:

Use a clean, empty large yoghurt pot that fits over your dog’s snout.
Place a treat or a smear of peanut butter inside the bottom of the pot.
Let your dog voluntarily place their nose inside.
With repetition, your dog will learn to target the pot confidently.

How to Estimate Muzzle Size:

Mark where the snout reaches inside the pot.

Measure the pot’s opening for snout width.
Use these reference points to estimate snout length and width. Remember, we need the widest points of the cheeks for the width measurement, so you’ll need to estimate that based on the width of the pot opening.

🐕 This hands-off approach is great for dogs sensitive to physical contact on the face.

Alternative #2: Cutting Board Chin Rest

Another clever trick is to use a cutting board or measuring mat with a printed ruler or grid.

How to Use:

Place a cutting mat or board with printed measurements on a surface level with your dog’s head (a stool, low table, or bench works well).
Encourage your dog to rest their chin on the board using treats.
Once your dog is comfortable, gently note where their nose starts and ends on the measurement grid. You may find it easier to set up a tripod for your phone to record a video, which you can then look back on and pause to take the measurements.

Why This Works:

No rulers or tape touching the dog.
The chin rest position is calming and stationary, making it easier to get consistent measurements.

Great for visual learners - what you see is what you get!

📸 Capture the Perfect Measurement

Whether you're using traditional tools or alternative methods, recording the session can be incredibly helpful. Photos and videos:

Lets you double-check accuracy
Provide visual references of your dog’s face shape
Can be shared with our expert team for fitting support

🎥 Tip: Aim for straight-on photos (not angled), showing the full face, snout length, and width.

💡 Bonus Tips for a Calm Measuring Session

👥 Ask a helper to assist – one person measures, the other rewards
🎉 Make it a game – treat frequently, keep it fun!
⏳ Go at your dog’s pace – no pressure
📷 Set up your phone on a tripod to film hands-free. Ensuring to capture the measurements clearly, the full face of the dog and images taken straight on, not from an angle. These can be used to review afterwards or sent to us for a second opinion.

🐕 Ready to Choose the Right Dog Muzzle?

Once you’ve taken your measurements (or best estimates), you’re ready to explore muzzle options that are both safe and comfortable for your dog.

Visit our Dog Muzzle Sizing Guide to match your measurements with the right muzzle style.

Still unsure? Email your photos, videos, and measurements to support@themuzzlemovement.com – our sizing experts are happy to help.

If you would like more guidance on how to measure the length, height and width, our blog on what makes a well fitting muzzle will help.

Follow the instructions carefully: Accurate measurements are essential for the right fit.

Check your measurements twice: Incorrect measurements can lead to the wrong size being recommended by the quiz.

Use the sizing chart or quiz for guidance: This will help ensure you select the perfect muzzle for your dog.

If you're struggling or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us at support@themuzzlemovement.com.

One-Fit-Review Policy

Please ensure you have provided your dog's measurements and any photos showing how you measured. This helps us support you quickly and accurately.

To help us give every dog the time and care they deserve, we usually offer one sizing recommendation per dog. If you're unsure, please wait until you have your final measurements and photos ready before contacting us, this helps avoid duplicate reviews and means we can support everyone faster 🐾

We are a small team working extra hard to ensure your muzzles arrive as quickly as possible. It can take us up to 3 working days to reply to your query.

Any future assistance we offer will be as post-purchase support only. We won’t be able to offer a new sizing review based on updated or changed measurements.