The purpose of this article is to explain the different type of bite sleeves and the various features of different sleeves. I am not trying to belittle one product over another, just explaining the differences in sleeves.

Many people think that a bite arm is a bite arm, they are all the same. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is an inexpensive sleeve. The green arrow points out a lack of leather protection for the inner elbow of the helper. The green arrow indicates what I would call an inexpensive bite bar. The bite bar has been formed by adding a piece of foam under the leather wrap that covers the barrel. This bite bar is very flimsy and a sleeve like this will not last long if it's used on adult dogs with good grips.

The leather covering of this sleeve is very cheap. It's almost like plastic naugahide (fake leather.)

Some inexpensive sleeves do not have protective covers over the end of the sleeve leaving the hand exposed. This can be a dangerous sleeve for beginning helpers, because the dog can actually bite the hand.

This sleeve shows a good solid protective end that has been sewn in and protects the hand. Notice the nice round shape to the barrel. This is because the barrel is made from a good quality plastic that has been covered with leather.

Notice that this sleeve is almost oblong in shape. Compare it to the round shape of the sleeve above it. The reason for this is the plastic that that makes the barrel of the sleeve is very thin. The sleeve can not even hold it's round shape without being bit, when a sleeve cover goes on and a dog bites, this sleeve is going to crimp down and pinch the helpers arm.

This is a photo of a good quality sleeve. The bite bar is sewn into the sleeve, the barrel is made of a heavy plastic and covered with a tough thick leather covering.

Bite Bars

Some sleeves are made without bite bars. They are called barrel sleeves. They were more popular in the late 1980s. The thinking was that if you trained with a sleeve that did not have a bite bar it would force the dog to open his mouth, and therefore have a better grip when confronted with a sleeve with a bite bar (like those used in all schutzhund competions).

The fact is that genetics and good training result in grips, not fooling around with equipment.