Dog booties

[cooldry]

I'm looking forward to taking my dogs up to the snow for the first time this winter. But I have zero experience as far as what they need for their feet. For all those that live in the colder climates, do you guys put booties on your dogs when you take them out for a long time in the snow? I have two labs. Thanks for any help.

[corax]

It's probably not the snow itself that will dictate if you want to use booties, but the actual outside temp. IIRC, one way dogs shed body heat is through their foot pads. As long as you can get booties big enough that their nails won't be catching on the inside, I'd say better safe that sorry . . .

[Good Times]

Hey David,

We use this on our goldie:

http://www.ruffwear.com/site/display/DGR_Front_340.jpg

Source: Ruff Wear (http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex?sc=2&category=11)

But it's more just for regular trails though and not necessarily snow. Haven't had the opportunity to take any of our dogs up to see snow so I can't say for sure.

One thing to note: if your dogs have never worn something like this it'll be an "interesting" experience worth filming. I was laughing my tail off watching now the goldie walked for a good 2-3 minutes :)

[Whitey]

How cold are we talking? If they do a lot of hiking normal, than they will be fine as is. Spray some cooking spray on there paws if anything.

[cooldry]

Hey David,

We use this on our goldie:

http://www.ruffwear.com/site/display/DGR_Front_340.jpg

Source: Ruff Wear (http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex?sc=2&category=11)

But it's more just for regular trails though and not necessarily snow. Haven't had the opportunity to take any of our dogs up to see snow so I can't say for sure.

One thing to note: if your dogs have never worn something like this it'll be an "interesting" experience worth filming. I was laughing my tail off watching now the goldie walked for a good 2-3 minutes :)



Hey Lance the Ruff Wear booties are the ones I was thinking of getting. But before I spend the money on them, I figure I should get some input first. I read some comments about how the dogs do a funny dance when you put them on. The instructions say to take them for a run as soon as they get them on so they get used to them quickly. Do you think they are necessary when you take the dogs out?


Whitey, I figure it would be between 20 to 40 in the mountains.

[elripster]

Well, at least you won't have to worry about salt. Claire and I got a dog 2 months ago and we'll be getting them to protect paws from road salt which dries them out and makes them very uncomfortable.

Those shown look like good warm weather booties but that mesh might be too porous for cold weather.

Frank

[Bob98SR5]

looks like my wife's sport sandals :D

[4x4mike]

My dog has never worn any booties but he's been to the snow a bunch of times. They're more excited to be there than to worry about being cold.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I would think in 20-40 degree weather the dogs would be okay without any booties.

[cooldry]

My dog has never worn any booties but he's been to the snow a bunch of times. They're more excited to be there than to worry about being cold.


How long is he out in the snow? My plan is to take them with me when I go snow shoeing. I figure two to three hours. That seems like a long time to be in the snow barefoot. I guess I'll just have to try it and keep a close eye on their feet.

[Cebby]

If they have long hair between their pads, this promotes ice to form on the hair if it's cold enough. Had that problem with an old cocker spaniel when I was growing up. The boots are funny when they first get them on - certainly some high stepping going on... :)

[Erich_870]

We walk our dog every day in the snow from November-March and he's never needed booties. The trails with glass pieces do a number on his pads in the summer, but he is happy go lucky all winter long bounding through snow. When you get in really cold temps the built up snow and the sharp ice can start to hurt their feet, but that's very unusual in recreational outings.

I would LMAO to see my dog in those :rofl: :rofl: We had to tape a sock to his foot when he took a big chunk out of a pad from glass or something. He walked around like a freaking retard :spit: :hillbill:

Erich

[cooldry]

Thanks for that info Erich. I guess you'd know better than anyone else. :D Seems like the trails are a bigger concern than the snow. If I get the booties, I'll definitely film it and post it. :rofl:

[Erich_870]

Thanks for that info Erich. I guess you'd know better than anyone else. :D Seems like the trails are a bigger concern than the snow. If I get the booties, I'll definitely film it and post it. :rofl:


My pleasure. :) One thing I should add is that crusty snow is where they hurt thier feet. If it's fluffy and soft, they don't have a problem. If there is a thick crust that you break through on each step, then they can start to tear up thier feet. Just keep an eye on thier pads and go from there. They usually won't have any temperature problems if they keep moving.

Erich

[Whitey]

You'll be fine...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jrwhite13/sled_dogs_race.jpg

[cooldry]

You'll be fine...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jrwhite13/sled_dogs_race.jpg


But those guys are like professionals. :hillbill: Mine are just indoor labs. :shake: I'll just take them out and see what happens. But after what Erich said, I'm thinking about getting the booties for trails. I wanted to start running them on trails too. I just thought the snow would be more of an issue.

[Good Times]

Hey David, the goldie is an indoor dog so we have booties for her. She's a princess so we figure we'd splurge and keep her paws nice and clean. She doesn't mind though cuz the booties does add a lot of traction for her on the trails.

If you do get the booties, do take a video and please make sure not to be lol on film cuz it'll take away from the humor of watching your dogs act like a freak show :D