Boots for Dogs

[Bicoastal]

Until this week, my dogs have managed the limited snow in NoVA. We had snow in December and the dogs did ok.

NOT this time. :eek: The poor guys go lame after two minutes. On the Papillon, I shaved his paws to reduce the possibility of snowballs. I’ve tried Musher’s Secret. Even used non-stick cooking spray.

I bought the only tiny boots they had remaining at Petco. Like this. They stayed on but I’m worried the foot area is not roomy enough and I can’t tell if his foot hits the ground in a natural position. He bites at the tops. For all I know, he’s walking on his tiptoes. And these boots are VERY slippery :no:.

I called several stores last night and finally found one that hadn’t sold out of Pawz, the water balloon type booties. Timber might be an XXS but I couldn’t get my fingers into that size to open them. Putting on the XS is a major ordeal but Tim is so accommodating. I think these might work.

We’re going to PA this weekend for an agility trial and I really want him to be able to walk! It will be colder up there and may snow.

Any experiences? Any sympathizers? Anyone want to laugh at my poor pathetic dog dressed up in silly accessories?

[callmegold]

I’ve tried and I just don’t know if there’s a good solution. I’ve used the granite gear mush and endurance boots on my decidedly wimpy dobes. I think they help if they stay on. My problem hasn’t been how the paw area but paw depth if you know what I mean.

They sure do walk funny in them the first couple of times don’t they

[MustangSavvy]

REI has some really nice dog boots. I like them and have used them in the past. I don’t like the Pawz kind I kind that they need to be to tight and not really protect the dog.

[whitney159]

Go online: Neopaws. They have a great selection of really high quality dog boots!

[stargzng386]

It might not be the snow. My dog instantly hops on all 3 legs, sometimes two if there is any salt on the sidewalk. If I walk her in the deep snow she is fine. Make sure if they do get salt on their paws that you wash it off because it burns.

[morganpony86]

Muttluks are the only way to go. DH is a vet and all of our vet friends in arctic climates don’t use anything else. We used the original boots for our border collie mixes the entire time we lived in MN (5 winters). 2 of those winters they were put on for the dogs to run free in the backyard, 3 of them we didn’t have a backyard and the dogs were walked ~1 hour a day. Down to -20oF temps. Worth it.

[Lil_Nibs]

I am tempted to buy some of those boots. But I can’t even get Percy to wear his dog jacket. I think boots would be impossible. I just take him out the back door where there’s no salt or pavement. I am in NoVa too, Bicoastal!

[morganpony86]

They get used to them. It took a few times for both dogs to get used to walking in them. Every single time we put them on our BC/GermShep cross he acted like his legs couldn’t function. The second we grabbed his leash, he “forgot” about the boots entirely. Our other BC walks a little funny for the first few steps, but then is fine.

[Knubbsy]

We bought boots last year (had a traction sole but knit top with velcro straps) and never used them, they were too bulky to stay on my Sheltie’s slim legs.
Have you tried Dog Park in Old Town Alexandria? I saw a post on facebook that they still have boots in stock (I feel like the icey snow we’re getting this year is worse than previous years on dog paws, I’ve had to carry our dog inside because she will just stop walking.) I think we’re going tomorrow to get her fitted for new pairs.

[canadianbacon]

I had the ruffwears for my jacks, they tolerated them well and had good grip in them.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex_3?sc=2&category=11

[5chestnuts]

My collies in their booties romping in this latest snow storm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb78py7ewo0

Easy to slip on, soft, flexible durable, lightweight material. The digs don’t even know the booties are on. I made these myself. (Took about 7-10 minutes per bootie) Just good quality synthetic cloth, and Velcro. Piece of cake.

The original design came from the sled dog booties purchased from Mountain View Sled Dog Products ($1.50 each bootie - a bargain!). I needed taller booties for my collies, however, so made these myself.

[Bicoastal]

For the sturdier boots, some I previously researched were not made in a size small enough for a 7lb Papillon. Any consensus on which brand?

He tolerates the boots. He can run, trot, pace, and hop around on three legs while sporting them.:lol: Food drive is a wonderful tool.

My Pap also hates his coat, so this week has been torture.

[5chestnuts]

My collies in their booties romping in this latest snow storm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb78py7ewo0

Easy to slip on, soft, flexible durable, lightweight material. The digs don’t even know the booties are on. I made these myself. (Took about 7-10 minutes per bootie) Just good quality synthetic cloth, and Velcro. Piece of cake.

The original design came from the sled dog booties purchased from Mountain View Sled Dog Products ($1.50 each bootie - a bargain!). I needed taller booties for my collies, however, so made these myself.

[wendy]

neopaws are by far the best, stay on, don’t rapidly get soaked through, and provide decent traction. Muttluks are one of the worst I’ve ever tried, they don’t stay on at all; and any of the cheap sock-like booties perform even worse than the muttluks.
Pawz are ok if all you need is protection from salt on the sidewalks/roads.

however, other than the salt- have you just waited? my dogs often act like the snow is unpleasant for the first couple of minutes, then move on to totally ignoring walking in it. Not sure what that is about.

[Tha_Ridge]

Pawz. Pawz. Pawz. Pawz. Did you hear me? Pawz!

Seriously, they are a lifesaver. Now, they do need to be tight which means you may spend a few extra minutes putting them on, but my dog loves them.

I made the mistake of trying to take him out without them last night. I thought, oh, he just has to pee. He REFUSED to walk until we went back upstairs and put them on. Dogs like them because they don’t affect their traction. I go through a pack every season, rinsing them off between uses. At $13, they’re the best deal I’ve found too.

[Bicoastal]

Pawz are the hands/paws down winner!

Tha Ridge you are right! When I thought the walk brief enough or walkways clear enough to go naked, Timber would be limping within one minute. When I made the effort to put them on, he could walk as long as I liked (admittedly brief at 10 degrees, howling wind, and snowing!) and take care of all duties.

Saturday evening I accidentally left the Pawz at the trial site. He never pooped as he could barely walk and I had to scoop him up when he just couldn’t take another step.*

5chestnuts, a couple of winters ago I made my own. They came off no matter how tightly I velcroed them on. I think his bones are just too skinny and straight to resist gravity + paw flinging.

The rubber boots stay on! They are hard to get on and I’ve hurt him a couple of times (the hair gets in the way) but once on, they aren’t coming off. I was very happy to see his paw prints in the snow look normal. You could see four defined toes, even nails. His foot has room to spread appropriately in the balloon. He is not slipping and sliding like in the other pair.

I’m very happy with Pawz. I wish the store had a medium for Joey.

*My traveling companion, when I said I had to pick Tim up again, remarked, “Boy he has your number!” That really bothered me because I’m kinda self conscious about the furbaby perception. I think he limps from physical pain. He dislikes being picked up, held, or carried. Am I supposed to make him tough it out? Will he toughen up?

[HomelessPony]

Another fan of Pawz! They keep the salt and grime out of his feet and he doesn’t seem to mind wearing them outside. He literally will not move off our doorstep without them when it’s raining - hates to get his feet wet - but once they’re on will run through snow, puddles, etc. I’m considering getting tiny socks to put under them for the super cold days since he wants to stay out longer, just not sure if they would slide off. Only downside is they are a pain to put on! Have to put him on his back like he’s a flipped over turtle to get him to hold still.