When should you put boots on your dog? It’s a common question for dog parents, and the answer depends on your dog’s activities, the environment, and your dog!
At RMPP, we recommend boots for several occasions:
Hot Weather: If you live in a hot climate, pavement can become dangerously hot in the summer, leading to burns on your dog’s paws. Boots provide a protective barrier against the heat. The rule of thumb is that if it feels hot for your hand, it is definitely too hot for you dog's paws.
Daily City Walks: Did you know that all that loose grit can actually get embedded in your pup's paws? If you live and walk in the city, we recommend paw protection for not just grit and hot pavement, but also to protect against sharp and dangerous objects, like glass.
Rough Terrain: If you love to hike with your dog like we do, you know that some trails are not exactly paw friendly. We like to boot our pup's up when we see lots of loose and sharp rocks on the trail. Also, for longer hikes, booting up for the downhill can save your pup's paws from soreness caused by friction.
Snowy or Salty Winter Walks: I think we've all led our dog through salt accidentally and it's absolutely terrible! The salt burns their poor paws, while the snow can create hard balls of ice that can cause frost bite and make it very painful to walk. Boots offer perfect protection against salt and snow.
Injuries: Did you know RMPP was created to help our boy, Ender, heal from a paw injury? We had to keep it dry and keep him from licking it, but all the booties we tried fell off or caused secondary wounds so we.
Allergies: Many dogs have allergies to grass or the pesticides used on grass and their poor paws suffer because it. Itchy and red, once aggravated it can be very difficult to heal without some form of paw protection.
Slippery Floors/Senior Dogs: As our dog's age, hard flooring can be difficult to maneuver -- paw pads become more smooth and their joints require extra support. A non-slip boot can be the perfect option to preserve our dog's mobility and quality of life.
Ok, so we established that boots are definitely needed for some occasions, but not all dog boots and shoes are created equal. And some actually do more harm than good!
When choosing a boot, look for something soft and pliable, that allows your dog's paws to stretch out and feel the ground beneath them as they walk. Boots with clunky rubber soles, poorly placed velcro or plastic hardware, and shoes that are meant to look like human shoes, do not have your pup's best interest in mind. Dog's need paw wear that is specifically designed for them.
This is why we created our Leather Doccasins. They offer the perfect solution for paw protection. Made with naturally breathable deerskin leather and stretchy neoprene, with no closures to rub and cause discomfort, they are boots your dog will actually want to wear! With their stay-on, easy-on design, we are proud to offer an innovative and comfortable option for dog's everywhere! 🐾
