Perhaps you have been out to the dog park or around town and noticed dogs wearing booties. Some may wonder why dogs would need to wear them. After all, dogs come equipped with 4 paws, don’t they? Are dog booties really necessary? The truth is that a dog’s paws are merely a thick skin that is filled with fat. A dog still feels sensations such as hot and cold through its paws.
Dog Booties During the Heat of Summer
If you enjoy going on walks with your dog during the summertime, it would be a good idea for you to go ahead and pick up a pair of dog booties. If you have ever walked with bare feet on asphalt, you likely got a good taste of exactly how hot the sun can make asphalt become.
It should only be a logical thought to understand that dogs can also feel this heat radiating into their paws. Protecting your dog from experiencing pain such as this should always be a priority.
Dog Booties During the Cold of Winter
If you live in a climate where there is cold and snow, booties can be your dog’s best friend. They help keep your dog’s paws toasty warm. In addition to this, they stop snow-melt salts or lawn pesticides from getting on your dog’s paws. These harmful chemicals would only be licked off later, possibly making the dog sick.
Dog Boots to Help Perform a Job
Coarse, rocky trails, or extreme environments and weather are all useful places for you to have your canine wear dog boots. Working dogs, such as those who are a part of search and rescue teams often require extra protection on their feet. This is logically due to the nature of the job they are performing. Whether they need to be protected against blood or broken glass, dog boots help working canines get the job done effectively.
Think about your bare feet, and what you would not like to have on them. Now consider the reasons to put booties on your dog. Here are a few things that dog booties protect against:
- Ice
- Snow
- Mud
- Salt to melt snow
- Hot asphalt
- Sharp objects such as glass
- Poop
- Bacteria
- Fungus
- Pesticides
- Antifreeze
- Spiders and fire ants
How to Get Your Dog to Wear the Boots
- Allow your dog to see and smell the boots. Give a treat if your dog shows interest in doing so. Repeat this about 10 times.
- Take the bootie and touch it to your dog’s foot. Give a treat. Repeat 10 times, only switching feet.
- Put the bootie on for a moment, take it off and give a treat. Repeat 10 times, doing the same for each foot.
- After your dog has become comfortable with the boot being on for a second, increase it to 20 seconds.
- Next time, put two boots on. If your dog seems comfortable, put them all on.
- Play your dog’s favorite game. Take the boots off and continue to play.