Does My Dog Need Boots?

Have you ever seen a dog trotting around in a set of colorful booties and thought how spoiled and frivolous it seemed? Dogs don’t need clothes, right?!
 
I used to think the same thing. Until I partnered with a service dog and I saw the value of boots for general well-being of the dog, and as a courtesy to businesses.
 
Boots aren’t just for working dogs, though, there are times when a pet dog could benefit from a nice set of boots as well!
 
When choosing a set of boots, it’s important to think about why you need them, how the mechanics of your dog foot works (not all boots sold for dogs are good for them), and what your budget is. It’s also a good idea to have several different types of boots on hand, because then you have the option of choosing what’s best for your dog that day, in that moment.

​Reasons a Dog Might Wear Boots

• Hot Pavement or Hot Sand That Might Burn Their Pads
• To Protect from Ice Melt that May Contain Chemicals Harmful If They Lick Their Paws
• To Protect from Sharp or Poky Rocks When Hiking
• Recovering from a Foot Injury
• Wet, Muddy Weather
• Snow or Ice Conditions
• Extra Protection in Hospitals & Doctor’s Offices
• Going to Places with Slippery Floors

 
Why Is It a Courtesy to Businesses to Work a Service Dog in Boots?
We have to work our dogs in rain or snow. Walking a dog outside in the rain is almost certain to leave them with muddy paws. Keeping boots on your dog on rainy days can help keep those muddy paw prints to a minimum when you enter a store or restaurant. In hospitals, this can help keep the floors cleaner. Also in hospitals, it protects their paws from chemicals or needles that may be on the floor.
 
Types of Boots Available
 
Soft Boots
Pros: Easy to get on and off, because they match the shape of the dog's paw
Easy to pack into a bag because they take up less room than hard boots
Depending on the brand, they may be cheaper
Could be used to hold a bandage on a foot if injured
 
Cons: If you use them frequently, the soles on the front wear out quickly due to break-over point getting rubbed on surfaces as the dog walks naturally
Can be easier to slip off
Don't offer as much protection from things penetrating the soles
 
Hard Soled Boots
Pros: Offer greater protection from objects penetrating the dog's foot
Hold up better to long-term use
Better traction in slippery or rough terrain
More material used, so might be warmer
 
Cons: Take up more space in a bag
Depending on the brand, may be harder to get on/off. Some are designed upright, like a human shoe, and it's difficult to fit a flat dog paw into a shape like that
More expensive, depending on the brand
 
Pawz - Brand Name for Rubber, Balloon-Like Boots.
Pros: Great for quick errands on rainy days
Non-Slip
Wide Range of Sizes
Cheap
Feel less heavy and restrictive to your dog
 
Cons: Difficult to get on, can slide off if wrong size
Tear easily with repeated use on gravel roads
Don’t protect from hot pavement
 
Soft Socks: Basically just socks for dogs. Easy to get on but don’t really offer the protection and benefits of boots. Some work well under other types of boots to prevent chaffing. These might be good for injury recovery. Washable.
 
Medical Wraps: If your dog has a foot injury, these wrap around the foot to protect the injury while it heals, and is designed to stay on with gentle activity. Many styles are disposable.
 
How to Size Your Dog’s Paws
Many boot companies will have their own set of instructions for how to size your dog’s paw and which size to select. With that in mind, a good place to start is to ask your dog to stand on a piece of paper, with even weight distributed in their paw to capture how their foot will spread out as they walk. Measure it side to side from the widest portion of their paw, and then from their longest toes to the back of their paw. Measure your dog soon after they’ve had their claws done, to get a more accurate reading. Remember that if your dog’s claws are longer, boots may get more uncomfortable to wear, so it is good to keep up with their claw maintenance.
 
Boots Change the Game
Boots change how your dog is able to interact with their environment, making them a significant distraction for your dog. Dogs cue off of where to pee or poop based on what type of surface they feel beneath their feet, for instance, and may have a harder time finding “that spot” when wearing boots. Additionally, since they can’t feel the terrain as well, it can cause them to feel more unbalanced and uncertain in their steps. Wearing boots for your dog is a lot like wearing thick winter boots or taking a space suit for a spin for us. The first few times you wear winter boots or a space suit, and try to do things in them, life is a struggle.
 
We can teach our dogs how to cope with this change, but we have to be willing to cut them some slack if they haven’t worn boots in a while or if it’s their first experience with the feeling. When introducing your dog to boots, you may need to give them a refresher course on basic commands to help them realize that yes, they can still do sit with boots on! Or do a jump, or lay down, or go up stairs, and so on.
 
How to Desensitize Your Dog to Wearing Boots
 
Boots are not a natural experience for your dog. Dogs know how to sit, lay down, and jump on things — we merely give those actions a name. But the idea of wearing boots and not being able to feel the terrain is totally foreign for your dog. The first time they wear them, they may have trouble standing up, might walk funny, or fall down a lot. Resist the urge to laugh or taunt them, be patient and helpful instead. If they are stressed about the boots, laughing will seem like praise to them, encouraging them to be stressed every time.
 
Go slow. If your dog tries to yank their foot away, hold their paw calmly. Don’t fight back. Wait until they are calm, and try again. If they seem very defensive about having their feet handled, it may mean that they need to learn how to be confident about having their feet handled first, before returning to boot work.
 
Once you get a set of boots for your dog, start by putting one on. Let your dog experience it for about 30s. Then add the second boot. Let your dog walk around the house for a bit with both front boots on. Leave them on for 1-2 minutes, then take them off. The next time, try putting on all four boots. Let your dog wander freely about your house, or on leash in the yard. Encourage them to get up and move. Lots of patience, praise, and encouragement. Leave the boots on for 5 minutes, then remove them. Do that a few days a week. The next week, increase the time to 10 minutes, then 15, then 30, and so on.
 
Give your dog a treat-filled toy to enjoy while they wear their boots. Encourage them to play games with you. Go on walks with the boots on. If your dog is treadmill-trained, have them wear the boots on the treadmill. Boots should always be a fun experience in the training phase so that your dog doesn’t associate them with stressful feelings.
 
If your dog seems stressed out wearing the boots, ask them to go to place and leave them be for a bit. Once they have calmed down and are relaxed, remove the boots. They need to learn to work through their stress, and place is a good area to do that because it’s already been taught with relaxation in mind. Removing the boots once your dog is calm acts as a reward for being relaxed about them.
 
Practice known commands with the boots on, to help your dog understand that they can do those command with boots on.
 
Places to Buy Boots
 
BaxterBoo
Socks: https://www.baxterboo.com/p.cfm/non-skid-dog-socksdoggie-design-green-camo
Hard-Soled: https://www.baxterboo.com/p.cfm/zack-zoey-thermapet-neoprene-dog-boots-blue
Medical: https://www.baxterboo.com/p.cfm/noobys-multi-use-disposable-dog-booties-8pk
 
Chewy
Pawz: https://www.chewy.com/s?rh=brand_facet%3APawz
Soft-Soled: https://www.chewy.com/ultra-paws-durable-dog-boots-4-count/dp/56626
Medical: https://www.chewy.com/ultra-paws-disposable-dog-boot-wraps/dp/133399
Medical: https://www.chewy.com/ultra-paws-wound-dog-boot-medium/dp/56661
Hard-Soled: https://www.chewy.com/hurtta-outback-dog-boots-2-count-125/dp/176867
Socks: https://www.chewy.com/ultra-paws-doggie-socks-dogs-shazam/dp/133416
 
Kurgo
Hard Soled: https://www.kurgo.com/outdoor-gear/step-n-strobe-dog-boots/
 
I also recommend checking out your local pet stores! 

Videos to Help You

On my YouTube page, I have two videos about boots. The first goes into what boots are available and how to size. The second talks more about putting them on/off, and training your dog to accept them.