How To Make Your Dogs Wear Shoes
First, show your pet dog the shoes the same way we do before giving them a new toy or treats.
You can add gestures like putting them on your fingers and do some ‘finger strutting’ on the floor
Then, let them see and sniff a pair up close. Do this to help your dog feel less stressed by their new kicks, which will let them know that shoes aren’t a threat.
Start putting a shoe on for each foot at intervals.
Let a shoe stay on your dog’s foot for about 10 minutes or so.
Once there’s no shaking or constant biting it off, it’s a good sign.
Then, repeat for each foot until all four paws are covered.
Now that your dog have the shoes on, it’s time to let them have a kick.
Play with them. It’s, important not to laugh once they start walking strangely. Be encouraging!
Attach the leash and go for a mock walk around the house, doing your best to have them follow your lead. Walk your dog in this way for a shorter time than a regular walk outside until your dog becomes familiar with the new footwear.
Make sure the footwear is secure so that it doesn’t hamper your dog’s walk.
Safety
By nature, dogs are playful and carefree.
Dogs can have boundless energy and are on their paws all day long – jumping, running, bouncing, and playing. As such, they can sometimes slip, bump, get scratches, and knock their heads on polished floors.
Shoes that fit well and don’t fall off assist in avoiding slipping accidents and can save you a trip or two to the vet!
Here are 7 truths that dogs wish everyone knew about dog boots and dog socks:
1. Walking in dog boots, booties, or traction socks does not feel natural for your dog. If you’ve ever seen dogs attempting to walk in booties, you may have wondered, “Why do dogs walk weird in boots?” Quite simply, it’s not natural. A dog’s toes contain numerous proprioceptive receptors, which feed information to the brain about the body’s spatial position. When the paws are covered by dog boots or socks, this information is altered.
2. Dog boots or socks interfere with your dog’s natural ability to grip the ground with the toenails. Dogs rely on their toenails to gain traction and dig into the ground like soccer cleats. What comes naturally to them becomes impossible when wearing booties or socks.
3. Your dog’s feet get hot and sweaty inside dog boots or socks. Since dogs sweat through their paws, socks don’t allow your dog’s paws to breathe.
4. A dog may chew at the dog booties or socks because they are covering and touching the dog’s paws and toes—sensitive tissue.
5. Dog boots or socks can be uncomfortable for your canine companion. They twist, bunch up, and fall down.
6. Taking booties or socks on and off frequently is a hassle for your dog. (And maybe for you too.)
7. Dogs aren’t people. Their paws work differently than our feet.
Don’t get me wrong, dog boots or socks do have their place in helping our canine companions—namely in protecting a dog’s paws. But protection (for example, from hot sidewalks where a dog’s paw pads are at risk of burning) and traction are two very different things.
Doggo doesn’t like his new shoes
When the first snow hit North Iowa, it turned to slush. I ran to the nearest pet store and bought my dog cushy boots. Neither the small or medium size fit him and he kept kicking them off not matter how tightly I wound the Velcro straps, so I returned them.
I conducted some Internet research and ordered a product called Pawz which are thin, waterproof rubber boots that are meant to slide onto a dog’s feet without clips or Velcro. They’re also disposable (though you can utilize them multiple times), biodegradable, and endorsed by Cesar Millan.
Supposedly, dogs have an easier time wearing Pawz because they aren’t padded and allow them to feel the ground beneath their feet. They’re like little red balloons or feet condoms.
Trayse the dog suffers through short winter walks after which he gingerly licks the snow from between his paws. If only he’d understand why he needs to wear Pawz. Silly dogs. They have no complex reasoning skills.
I spent $20 on three pairs of red Pawz and now I can’t use them. The first two boots ever so slightly worn, as they were the ones I chased him around the house with. I managed to put them on his back feet, but quickly removed them when started walking around on his front two paws and attacking his own feet.
In order not to waste $20, I would love to give the Pawz away to a reader with a small dog. The package says the size small will fit a dog with paws up to 2.5 inches long.
If you want to enter this ridiculous giveaway, leave me a comment at the bottom of this post or my Jeni Eats page on Facebook and include your best winter dog exercising or walking tip. Even if you don’t want to boots, feel free to leave a tip anyway. I will randomly pick a winner and mail the boots anywhere within the continental US free of charge.