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!
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