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How to Adjust & Fit your Dog's New Muzzle

A muzzle should feel safe, secure, and comfortable. In this video, we’ll show you exactly how to adjust the straps on your dog’s muzzle so it fits as it should: secure, comfortable, and functional for real life.

A well fitted muzzle keeps your dog safe, protects others, and gives you confidence on walks, vet visits, and everywhere in between.

Take a minute. Adjust. Check. Advocate for your dog.

How to use Chicago Screws

All muzzles with a quick clip fastening have at least one Chicago screw, which allows the muzzle to still be adjustable. We also offer a Chicago screw upgrade for all muzzles.

By upgrading to Chicago screws you can detach your strapping and mix and match in the future, and make small modifications to your muzzle fit without cutting Biothane.

Gluing your Chicago Screws

Chicago screws can gradually come undone over time, so check regularly that they're still secure. Alternatively, once you have your ideal fit or colour combination, you can 'Loctite' your Chicago screws closed.

Want back-ups just in case? Add another Chicago screw upgrade to your basket when you place your order — and if you lose screws later, you can order more any time.

How to use the Quick Clip Upgrade

All muzzles are compatible with our quick clip upgrade. A question we get asked frequently is 'Are quick clips still adjustable?' — and the answer is yes!

This video shows how to adjust the size of your strapping when you have a quick clip, to find the perfect fit for your dog.

If you adjust your quick clip and still find the strap too short or long, you can punch additional holes using a leather hole punch, or reach out to us at support@themuzzlemovement.com and request a shorter or longer strap.

Standard vs. * Nose Band Explained

The difference is the width of the Biothane: the standard nose band is 25mm, while the * nose band is 38mm — which, combined with the basket, can add some length for dogs that need it. The basket part of the muzzle remains the same.

How to switch the nose band over

Want to switch up your muzzle's nose band without buying an entirely new muzzle, or mix and match Biothane colours? If your muzzle already has the Chicago screw upgrade, simply swap your current nose band for your new colour choice.

If your muzzle has rivets, you'll need both the nose band and the Chicago screw upgrade: cut off your current strapping and replace it using Chicago screws. If you'd prefer replacement rivets that you close yourself, this can be organised on request.

How to Trim a Nose Band

Noseband too close to the eyes, or your dog has a shorter nose? Consider trimming the nose band if it's touching the water line of your dog's eyes. The video explains how.

How to Attach a Foam Nose Band

1. If you have Chicago screws on your current nose band, unscrew to remove using a screwdriver. If you have rivets, the noseband will need to be cut off.
2. Place the muzzle in front of you facing forward, with the open end facing upwards.
3. Hold the noseband with the curved edges facing towards you.
4. Unscrew the Chicago screws and wrap the Biothane around the muzzle where the previous noseband sat.
5. Put the Chicago screws back into place to attach the noseband, and screw them in with a screwdriver.

How to Flip your Nose Band

Sometimes the nose band on your dog's muzzle might need to be flipped. A few reasons why:

• Comfort around the eyes — even if the muzzle length fits well, the Biothane might be slightly too long, causing discomfort near the eyes.
• Sensitive noses — for a dog with a sensitive nose or previous injury, a flipped * noseband increases coverage and lifts the muzzle slightly, reducing contact between the bars and the nose.
• Too much length — if a * noseband feels too long, flipping it helps shorten the length, making it feel more like a standard noseband.

How to Order a Shorter Strap

Need to further customise the fit with a shorter or longer muzzle strap? No need to cut or punch holes yourself — simply order a different length. Enter which muzzle size you currently have on the item listing, and whether you need the strap longer or shorter.

It's one single strap that can be used as a quick clip strap, a buckle strap or a head strap. If your muzzle doesn't already have Chicago screws, add them to your basket too, so you can re-attach the new strap once you've removed the old one.

Muzzle Too Narrow? Boil & Expand

If the back of the muzzle is slightly too narrow, it can be boiled and reshaped. Our muzzles can usually be stretched up to 1cm extra width at the back — many customers achieve more (up to 2/2.5cm), but we can't promise this, and it may settle back to around 1cm over time.

Place the muzzle in boiling water for two minutes and stretch it at least 2cm wider than standard. Cool it thoroughly (minimum 4 hours) before removing it from whatever is holding the stretch; it may sit 2cm wider for around 24 hours before settling at roughly 1cm wider.

You can do this with strapping attached — it won't affect the Biothane, though it may affect the hardware's longevity, so removing the strapping first is preferable (possible with the Chicago screw upgrade).

Muzzle Too Wide? Boil & Narrow

If the back of the muzzle is slightly too wide, it can be boiled and reshaped — the video shows how we reduced the back width of a Taz basket. You're likely to have the most success adjusting the cheeks, by a couple of centimetres.

Muzzles can typically be narrowed by 0.5cm on smaller sizes like Rex and Neli, up to 1cm for medium sizes, and around 1.3cm for larger sizes (Sunny, Harry, Mitzy).

The muzzle may gradually return to its original shape, especially in hot environments like a car or conservatory. As with expanding, strapping can stay attached but removing it first is preferable.

How to Attach a Scavenger Guard

Fitting a Scavenger Guard is a quick and effective way to prevent unwanted scavenging on walks. Whether your dog is a poo eater, stone eater, or has a habit of picking up harmful items like sticks or rubbish, it offers an extra layer of protection.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with our muzzles, it reduces your dog's ability to ingest dangerous or disgusting items while still allowing panting and safe airflow — keeping your dog safer, your walks calmer, and your vet bills lower.