Do Dogs Need Snow Boots?

When it's damp, cold or scorching hot outside, you might notice dogs wearing dog booties. They appear to be amusing and adorable, but are they really necessary?

Let’s start by asking the question: Do people need shoes? Shoes protect our feet from surfaces that are too cold, too hot, too rough or too dirty, and can simultaneously be a fashion statement. The same facts hold true for dogs! Dog booties protect our dog’s paws, maintain the cleanliness of our houses, and certainly make a fashion statement.

Although a dog’s paw pads are built for adventure, there are times when they need some extra protection. This includes:

• extremely hot or cold weather
• dirty sidewalks
• rain and snow
• hiking on uneven terrain
• exposure to allergies
• paw injuries

Dog Boot Benefits

Dog boots (like Walkee Paws Deluxe Dog Boot Leggings) provide a lot of advantages for dogs of all shapes and sizes, as well as pups living in both urban and rural environments. Your dog's paws are sensitive and prone to injury (just like your own feet!), especially if you take them running, hiking, or walking outside in ruff weather. Boots protect paws from sharp objects; mud, dirt and germs; harmful chemicals, allergens and pests; and icy or scorching sidewalks. 

Benefits of using dog boot leggings include:

Injury Prevention & Care

Dog boots can protect your pup from prickly burrs, glass and other sharp objects. This not only prevents cuts and scrapes from happening, but if an injury has happened elsewhere, dog boots keep paws clean and dry while wounds are healing.

Winter Paw Protection

Winter brings snow and ice, which also means sidewalks are covered in snowmelt salt and chemicals. If your dog gets these on their paws and ingests them, it can be harmful to your pup. That’s why it’s important to keep their paws dry, clean and chemical-free with dog boot leggings like Walkee Paws. 

Icy sidewalks or snow-covered fur can also lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Fortunately, our Deluxe Dog Boot Leggings are made with TPE material that’s designed to withstand temps down to -40F, plus stretchy legging fabric keeps snowballs from forming in their fur.

Summer Heat Protection

Is it dangerously hot where you live during the summer? When you take your dog for a stroll, the pavement and sidewalk can burn his sensitive paws.

If there are no shaded or grassy areas for your dog to walk in, it may be necessary to put dog boots on your dog to protect them from concrete burns. With our dog boot leggings, legs are also protected from summer allergens, pesticides and ticks.

Allergy Prevention

Some dogs are allergic to grass, pollen or other outdoor irritants. While booties will not protect paws from airborne pollen, they can assist protect them from grass and weed contact irritation and prevent your pup from tracking them back into the house.

Germ & Chemical Protection

We take our boots off at the door, so why shouldn't our pets? Walkee Paws protects your pup from germs and harmful chemicals, and also prevents them from bringing them into your home.

Simply remove our outdoor leggings at the door and give the silicone paw covers a good rinse under cold water.

Senior Support

Boots aren't exclusively for active dogs. As dogs get older, they may start to drag their feet when walking, which can cause damage to their paw pads. It's also common for senior pets to have trouble getting around. The extra grip from dog boots can help your pet keep their freedom.

Need a little extra protection for senior dogs who slip and slide indoors? Try our Indoor Grippy Sock Leggings, made with silicone grippies for traction on indoor floors!

How to Get Your Pet Acclimated to Dog Boots

It's not always easy to teach your dog to wear boots because it's not a natural behavior. They're used to feeling the ground on their paws, after all! Fortunately, Walkee Paws Deluxe Dog Boot Leggings are made with stretchy-yet-durable TPE material that’s designed to mimic the feeling of their paws on the ground, providing a more natural dog boot experience.

Here are a few tips for getting your pooch used to dog boots:

Step 1:

Before you introduce boots, make sure your dog is comfortable with you handling his or her paws. If they aren't, practice touching and holding one foot at a time until your dog is comfortable. To help them get used to the sensation, softly tap their toes and rub and squeeze their paw pads, all while providing plenty of praise and treats.

Step 2:

Test out Walkee Paws in the comfort of your home. Your pet may do a little high-step dance when they first try dog boots (we call this the Walkee Wag!). Test putting them on and taking them off, and letting your pet wear them inside before you go out to adventure.

Step 3:

Once your pet is used to the sensation, it's time to put the dog boots to use! Start training your pet to be ready to put our outdoor leggings on before every walk. Have them sit at the door and lift their paws for you (and don't forget to use treats for encouragement!). Before long, they’ll forget they’re even wearing them!