A muzzle is a piece of safety equipment, and the wrong sort worn for too long is genuinely dangerous, so it is worth being blunt about what this one is and is not. It is a leather muzzle that closes round the snout with adjustable straps, with holes punched through for airflow. It stops a dog biting or picking things up, and it does that job well for short, specific tasks. Sizes run from extra small to extra large, in black or pink.

The limitation is panting. Dogs shed heat almost entirely through an open mouth, and a close-fitting muzzle of this type restricts how wide the mouth can open. That means it should not be worn for exercise, in warm weather, or for anything longer than the few minutes a nail trim or an examination takes. For walks, a basket muzzle that lets the mouth open fully is the right tool, and we would rather tell you that than sell you the wrong thing.

• Leather muzzle with adjustable straps
• Ventilation holes punched through the leather
• Five sizes, from XS to XL
• Two colours, black and pink
• Weighs 120g
• Prevents biting and scavenging during short handling

On sizing and use. Introduce it slowly with treats over several sessions; a muzzle forced on in the vet car park makes the next visit worse rather than better.

Who it's for: Short supervised handling such as examinations, nail trims and grooming, rather than walks or anything in warm weather.