OK so my rescue pit -- who I've had for a year -- was abused by his previous owner, and the dog was very jumpy and nervous all the time when we first got him. Eventually he began nipping (as opposed to chomping down and shaking and not letting go) when he was afraid, and after a UPS driver was bitten, we were court- ordered to muzzle him for the rest of his life (yeah. kinda extreme, for an older puppy, to be punished that severely). So. Cloth muzzles = ok, but he can't pant, and also they rubbed his snout and caused severe chafing (anyone who has a pit knows that their skin is extremely sensitive & soft). Plastic / rubber cage muzzles: Better, but they also chafed his skin, mainly because they seem to be made to fit "all dogs" and not particular breeds of dogs, and my li'l guy always has to rub his face all over everything to smell things and also to let it be known that he doesn't like the muzzle-thing very much, dammit. After developing a skin chafe so bad that it seemed to be permanently bleeding, I found this Hannibal Lecter-looking facebrace. It is designed specifically for a pit's snout (they customize these per breed!). First one I got was too big, but I received the smaller one the next day, and guess what, my dog's snout has completely healed, and the hair has grown back, yayyyy!! He looks like a baseball umpire, but he is sore-free. No rubbing, no chafing, he can pant and drool when he runs, he can drink water through it, all is well. Drawback: when he rubs his face on your leg with this thing on, it does NOT feel good for the rub-ee. Oh well, it's the least I can do to tolerate what he has to wear on his FACE. So, it's been 3 months or so, and Thumb's Up. Now I'm looking for a leather custom-cut muzzle so he can switch-off sometimes. UPDATE 12/31/2013: This muzzle is still the only one that 1) doesn't create chafing sores on my dog, 2) is in PERFECT shape / new-condition / not at all damaged, and 3) worry-free (meaning, there's no way the dog could bite anyone with this thing on). This muzzle continues to be fail-safe. WELL WORTH THE MONEY and cheaper in the long run than all of the other muzzles I've purchased, combined (6 failed muzzles at approx. $20 each, at least). A great investment.
