Nothing hurts more than seeing our pets suffer. Whether it’s for protection from snow and ice or cacti and hot pavement, a good pair of dog boots could keep your pup’s paws in top shape!
Whether at home or on vacation, dog boots can make your dog more comfortable on walks and hikes. Maybe the rocky trails take their toll or the gravel roads are too rough for sensitive paws. Unforgiving plants like cacti, goat’s heads, and sand smudges can quickly ruin your day. And the weather presents its own challenges with snow and hot pavement!
As dog lovers, we all ache when we see that tender paw lift, knowing our puppies are in pain. Whether related to the terrain, the weather or the protection of local flora, dog boots can make the adventure more enjoyable.
To help you decide which is the best boot for your dog, Hercules and Cool Whip helped test five different options. We hope that our research will help you find the protection against paws.
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Get the perfect fit
Keep in mind that proper sizing is key to choosing the right dog boots – too big and they’ll fall off, too small and they’ll be uncomfortable.
Once you’ve decided on the style of dog boots that best suits your adventures, you’ll need to measure your dog’s paws in order to know which size to choose.
Steps to Measure Your Dog’s Paws for Dog Boots
- Lay a piece of paper on the floor and place one of your dog’s front paws on the paper.
- Lift the opposite front leg so that all the weight falls on the standing foot and it fully expands.
- Trace the outline of your dog’s paw, remove the paper and measure the widest part of the outline.
- Follow the same steps with a hind leg, as sometimes the front and back legs are different sizes.
Sizing Challenges
If you find that your dog’s front legs and hind legs are different sizes, look for companies that sell boots in pairs or individually. This allows you to ensure that your dog is comfortable in his boots.
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Finding the Best Dog Boots
Alcott Adventure Boots – Check Amazon Price
The “thrill sniffer” slogan molded into the tread of these boots is a perfect description. Alcott’s Adventure Dog Boots stayed on Hercules as he followed his nose browsing anything and everything in his path!
The front gusset built into the boot makes them easy to slip over the lugs and adjust placement. And the tread is soft yet firm so your dog won’t feel sharp rocks or rough surfaces along the way. Plus, there’s plenty of reflective material on the straps to keep an eye on your pup in the dark.
Favorite Feature: The double straps combined with the flexible material on the top made these boots the easiest to secure. Every dog is different and Herc has quite skinny legs considering the width of his front legs. With this boot, I was still able to cinch the tops in enough to keep them in place.
Room for improvement: Alcott’s boots only come in a set of four, so you’ll need to buy two sets if your dog needs different sizes for their front and back legs.
Hurtta Outback Dog Boots – Check Amazon Price
Flexibility goes a long way for comfort and fit, and the Hurtta Outback Dog Boots nailed it! The entire boot flexes with your dog’s paws and withstands whatever rough terrain you’re going through.
The inside tag makes it easy to know which boot goes on which lug and also provides a place to write down your phone number in case a boot gets lost.
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Favorite feature: The way these boots open in the front makes them the easiest to put on, so useful with Herc’s big meaty paws!
Room for improvement: The single strap can be tricky to wrap around in a way that keeps the boot secure while leaving enough exposed hook-and-loop material to stick to.
Kurgo Step-N-Strobe Dog Gaiters – Check Amazon Price
If you like night excursions, Kurgo Step-N-Strobe Dog Boots should be your first choice. Red and green LED lights on both sides of the sole flash with every step. Plus, there’s plenty of reflective material to keep your dog visible and safe.
They were great for our rides in the dark and held up well on the trail as well. The tops tighten with a velcro strap and an adjustable bungee cord, keeping the boots in place.
Favorite Feature: They were the tallest boots of the bunch and this feature made all the difference in attaching them to Cool Whip’s lugs. They had plenty of height to get up and pass those pesky spurs!
Room for improvement: Herc has thick legs, and these boots didn’t fit him, even though they were the right width.
Pawz Waterproof Dog Boots – Check Amazon Price
Sometimes simplicity is better. And in this case, pawz dog boots have you covered. The rubber material of these boots is waterproof and durable, so you can trust it to cover an injured pad, cross a hot sidewalk, or protect sensitive paws on a walk.
They’re also inexpensive and easy to pack, so you can toss them in a bag when you’re heading out for the day or on vacation. Cool Whip normally does “high walks” with other dog boots for the first minute or two, no matter how often she wears them – but she barely seemed to notice them once they were on . They are just an extra layer of protective skin.
Right out of the box, the Pawz boots can be snug around your dog’s legs. Stretch the tops (like you would a balloon before blowing it up) to make sure they are comfortable for your pup.
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Favorite Feature: Easy to take anywhere, and each pack comes with 12 boots so you can leave an extra set in the car, in a purse or even in your pocket. A lightweight boot ideal for dogs with grass allergies. And they come in seven sizes!
Room for improvement: Not durable for rough or rocky terrain. And you must prevent your dog’s claws from piercing the rubber.
Ruffwear Grip TREX – Check Amazon Price
A serious adventure in perspective? Ruffwear TREX Grip dog boots can handle it! They are strong and grippy for any surface your dog has to walk through.
Some of the rocks Herc chooses to scramble get a little slippery because they’re so slick. But her foot doesn’t miss a beat in these boots! It looks like a small mountain goat, but with tiny bumps instead of horns.
The boots are low cut which can be a plus or minus depending on where they land with your dog’s spur, but Ruffwear also sells dog shoes to add padding (or insulation against the cold).
Favorite Feature: Ruffwear treads deserve the praise here, they are the best of the bunch. And you can buy these boots in sets of two or four.
Room for improvement: The top is a bit bulky for the single strap to form a 100% secure fit.
Visit our Amazon store to learn more about the products we rely on to make traveling with pets easier, safer and more fun!
No matter what type of paw protection your dog needs, there’s a dog boot to get the job done! Leave us a comment if your dog has tried one of these boots or if there is a different style you would recommend.
Good adventure !
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