Dog boots!
 

What are you guys using? We use Lewis boots, but after losing a few I think its time for a change!

Lewis, and extremely less than thrilled about it :(
He got over it as soon as we hit the field

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He would get friction abrasions unless I first wrapped his "wrist" with tape, then put on the boot, then more tape to the top of the boot onto the first layer of tape

Rick,

When I use boots, they are Lewis boots. Until I did more extensive taping them on, I would lose a few. I never had a Lewis boot wear out, but I don't use them much anymore. Kansas is easier on my my dogs feet than Oklahoma.

Ken

Hard to avoid these Cholla SOBs in SE AZ :(

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Had a Black Locust thorn go up through and out the top of one of my dog's paws in NW Mo. once

Rick, my buddy and I have tried every boot know to man with very little success. We now fashion them out of good old duck tape. I was impressed with how well they held up. His GSP has the daintiest of paws and these held up the best.

Vet wrap and electricians tape. Always fits.

Bruce, what's vet wrap? Ace bandage?

Yes. It’s a stretch mesh bandage roll that is wrapped around the leg, foot, etc. Buy on line , as I’ve not seen it in stores.

What I’ve seen with rubber boots is that they often do not fit well and the dog does not tolerate them well. They get lost. Vet wrap is light and conforming.

I’ve had some dogs that do fine with ground cactus buds and goats head stickers but some dogs do not. Some naturally have thicker, tougher foot pads than others.

I carry a bag, actually an old gas mask musette bag, of vet wrap and other dog stuff with me in case needed. The worst are the small ground cactus buds that break off and stick on the dogs foot, then the dog bites it out of the foot then it sticks in the dogs mouth then they try to paw it out, then.... you get the picture. I carry porcupine pliers for that too.

We cut out 4" circles from the plastic sheet that comes in bacon packages, and put a layer of Duct tape on the dogs foot side, and an "X" of tape about 8 inches long on the plastic, and position the plastic on the dogs pads. then wrap foot and shins with duct tape. There used to be an outfit that made blaze orange duct tape...I liked that, but cannot find it any longer..

Doggie boots are a huge issue up here for the sled dog racers. Most of them make their own out of felt or stout cotton or nylon with a single velcro strap to hold them on(or try to). They mostly need them to protect the dogs feet from the icy packed trail that cuts their feet and to prevent icing of the hair between their toes, which can really cripple a racing dog. You can go down the race trails and pick them up by the hundreds after a big race and especially after the long 800-1000 mile races across the state. I once collected a trash bag full while working at a remote check point in a village and gave them to a recreational musher friend. They get sprinkled everywhere. Unfortunately, since a dog doesn't have an ankle protuberance that will prevent a strap from sliding off, there is no way to secure a booty short of taping it directly to their furry leg, which most dogs just do not like. Booties on snow/ice are of course different than booties on sharp rocks and cactus. Has anyone tried making them of some kind of kevlar cloth? I'm not sure even cast iron booties would repel that damned cholla cactus!