Talk to me of dog boots

[AlmostDun]

Sigh. I’ve never had to deal with this before. My poor dogs went scampering around on frozen mud out in the paddocks. Now they have sore, cut up paws. I’ve got no clue why this is the first time in three years of running on all sorts of surfaces they’ve trashed their feet. We definitely don’t put caustic chemicals out there.

Anyhow, it looks like I’m going to need to get them booties to protect their feet. Anyone have recommendations? I looked at the Ruff Wear ones and got sticker shock. They’re something like $60. I don’t mind paying what it takes to get a boot that stays on and fit well, but it’s not like we’ll be running the Iditarod. I’m hoping we won’t have to use the boots much at all after the paws heal, but I do want to protect the feet while the callous regrows.

[Simkie]

I HATE the Ruff Wear boots. They rub like crazy if you ask your dogs to wear them with any regularity.

My favorite books are the Muttluks: http://www.muttluks.com/product_home.php?cat=2

[AlmostDun]

The Muttluks look really interesting. Thanks for the link. The camo ones would look pretty spiffy on my brown pup. (Probably will get a bright color instead, though. I want at least some chance of finding the thing if one of the pups loses one out in the back forty!) Darn, I wish the all weather model came in orange or neon pink. Black dog needs a bit of humiliation.

[PalominoMorgan]

Muttluks are not my favorite. Well, unless your dig has round feet. I ordered the right size and they are ridiculous on my Service Dog. Neopaws are very good and I also like and have bought a simple fleece pair. I can look up the maker if you like. They Are are my favorite. They also make a winter version too that’s waterproof.

[riff]

Muttluks are not my favorite either. I have a therapy dog who slides on lots of smooth surfaces. He wears the Ruff Wear boots with the hiking boot treads. But they won’t stay on without the socks. They have lasted for 5 years and are washed often. He also wears them around the cow and horse pastures some. I’m going to check out the Neopaws.

[yosemitejim]

Try Woof Hoofs

Woof Hoofs dog boots fit well and are moderately priced. The website www.woofhoofs.com has customer testimonials and videos of the boots in action.

[AlmostDun]

Adding to doggie discomfort, we got an ice storm last night. The boys now have a choice between walking on salt encrusted pavement or walking on sharp ice shards. Not having the time to wait for mail order, I ended up getting some Muttluks at Petsmart.
I’ll have to see how well they work tomorrow on a walk. I did a brief test run with them tonight in the yard. The dog with the more severely injured feet didn’t seem to mind wearing them once I distracted him with a squeaky tennis ball. The other dog, who is more skittish, freaked out when I tried to put the front boots on. I ended up settling for back boots only. Hopefully he gets over the novelty of it all.

[ElisLove]

Try walking them on a leash with the boots for a few days, and then maybe at the start when you first boot the boots on. My poodle hates boots, he will actually kick up his back feet and walk on his front feet with his back legs straight up in the air when he first gets them on!!! However after a minute of having him walk with them he’s fine with them (still doesn’t love them if you don’t have him distracted doing something, he will just stand still in them if he can haha)

[Simkie]

Oh, I don’t think this thread would be complete without a little Hyperbole & A Half:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

[AlmostDun]

[QUOTE=ElisLove;6724870]
Try walking them on a leash with the boots for a few days, and then maybe at the start when you first boot the boots on. My poodle hates boots, he will actually kick up his back feet and walk on his front feet with his back legs straight up in the air when he first gets them on!!! However after a minute of having him walk with them he’s fine with them (still doesn’t love them if you don’t have him distracted doing something, he will just stand still in them if he can haha)[/QUOTE]

Well, the trouble is actually getting the boots on the skittish dog. Last night that just wasn’t happening. He’s 60 pounds and well conditioned. This morning we had another go at it. As I was putting the first boot on, he actually started to bite me. Then he realized what he had done and looked embarrassed. He still couldn’t fully control his fear bite reaction, however, so he switched to gnawing on the cuff of my pants instead of my hand. I didn’t get on his case for doing that, as it was clear he was at least trying to control himself. I slowed down and started feeding him treats to let his little pea brain process the situation. Eventually I got all four boots on him. He then sat around acting like an adolescent who has been forced to wear a uniform to public school. Jeez, I can’t imagine trying to apply boots to a entire sled dog team.

After I got both boys dressed we went and played fetch in the yard. The more injured dog immediately forgot about the booties and happily romped. The skittish dog, predictably, clung to my side. After we got the worst of the yeehaws out I took them on a walk. Both dogs dealt with the boots ok on the walk.

[AlmostDun]

[QUOTE=Simkie;6724900]
Oh, I don’t think this thread would be complete without a little Hyperbole & A Half:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

:)[/QUOTE]

I was thinking of this blog post last night as I watched the first attempt to walk in boots last night. My dog was staggering around like he was drunk. Her drawing definitely captured the weird way he was waving his legs.

[AlmostDun]

And my husband is going to laugh when he comes home. The doggies are passed out on the couch. The booties were soaking wet when we finished the walk, so I hung them all up on a dowel rod and propped them in front of the fireplace to dry. It’s a Christmas scene now:
"Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

[Kenike]

I’m so glad this thread started! I’ve been trying to figure out which boots to get for my little running buddy. Muttluks have great reviews, overall, but I want to be sure the money I spend will last on shale and ice (approximately 5-8 miles a trip a few times each week, GSD/ACD dog).

I haven’t looked at the Ruff Wear…might need to now…though I admit I’m not keen on the report that it can wear sores like that at first. Not about having to wear the socks with them.

Decisions, decisions…

[Romany]

If the dogs just need boots for traction on the ice, you can use old socks and elastic bands in a pinch.

I made booties from polartec fleece, the waterproof one, which unfortunately isn’t very stretchy. I used those little double-sided velcro straps to keep them on.

They were just as good - or bad - as any of the more expensive varieties.

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=Kenike;6726078]
I’m so glad this thread started! I’ve been trying to figure out which boots to get for my little running buddy. Muttluks have great reviews, overall, but I want to be sure the money I spend will last on shale and ice (approximately 5-8 miles a trip a few times each week, GSD/ACD dog). [/QUOTE]

I hike my dogs in boots in the spring and early summer until their feet toughen up, and then just pack the boots and use them if I think the terrain is particularly rough. No problems with the muttluks holding up

The Ruff Wear boots that just rubbed the SNOT out of my dogs were the red ones. I do also have a set of the grey ones that were a last minute buy when we realized we’d forgotten the muttluks once. We’ve used them a little bit and they have been okay.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

[QUOTE=Kenike;6726078]
I’m so glad this thread started! I’ve been trying to figure out which boots to get for my little running buddy. Muttluks have great reviews, overall, but I want to be sure the money I spend will last on shale and ice (approximately 5-8 miles a trip a few times each week, GSD/ACD dog).

I haven’t looked at the Ruff Wear…might need to now…though I admit I’m not keen on the report that it can wear sores like that at first. Not about having to wear the socks with them.

Decisions, decisions…[/QUOTE]

I would suggest getting sled dog boots. I get dog booties from https://www.dogbooties.com/ they hold up to hiking on ice/gravel/deep snow, keep my dogs tender feet happy, and on the (rare) occasion they fall off, it’s really cheap to get a new ones.

[Kenike]

Thanks! I’ll check out the website as soon as I’m done posting (already have it up!).

Simkie, that’s good to know! I would love to take him on some 13er and 14er hikes, but I fear we’re extremely limited without boots. Knowing they DO hold up makes me more willing to take him. As we all know, they aren’t exactly foot friendly up where nothing goes…not are they as soft as Barr Trail (which was ridiculous this year from the drought…I though last year’s Ascent was something, PPM this year was like running through an uphill sand arena!).

My main concern for him remains winter days in the snow and before it melts out at the Reservoir trails. He does just fine on the shale (the evil shale that is S H A R P and loose) when it’s dry to muddy, but the snow and ice add a different definition.

Off to check out sled boots!

[AlmostDun]

I took the boys out for a walk on dry salty pavement today. The Muttluks, since they have suede leather soles, had stiffened slightly after the last (soggy) walk. It was hilarious to listen to the dogs going down the street. Thwap thwap thwap thwap. Timid dog was a bit better about getting his boots on today. He just threw himself on the ground and squirmed instead of having a full blown panic attack. I made a big deal and praised the daylights out of him each time I successfully anchored a boot to his foot, so he was at least considering the idea that the process wasn’t meant to be doggie torture.

[AlmostDun]

Well, the Muttluks bit the dust today. I took the boys up to the barn and let them run around in the stone dust riding ring. They were bombing full tilt for probably 20 minutes. During their run some of the boots rotated on their feet. Then, since the non-leather side was now in direct contact with the stone dust, they wore through the nylon. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.

[godiva13]

i have gotten boots from the "dog booties.com) and they work well and stay on even with my dogs running off leash in the park. I figure if they stay on a sled dog they must work. Since they were so inexpensive i got a few extra in case i loose any,. the dog got used to them very quickly.
I also use Pawz boots., http://pawzdogboots.com/ and they also stay on and are very easy to put on. No velcro or straps. They are kind off like balloons. There is no learning curve with these at all. They are also good to keep old dogs from slipping on slick floors.