Dog Boots are a difficult thing to buy. You have to consider your dogs’ needs, the quality and durability of the boot itself, and the vast array of options. Cooper and I have tried out many different varieties of dog boots over the years with varying degrees of success.
Pawz Dog Boots aka Ballons (price: about $14):
Pawz are probably the most commonly seen dog foot covering around, and that is because they are disposable and inexpensive. These would probably work for smaller dogs who just go outside briefly and need a barrier from the salt but are not adequate for any dog who going on a substantial walk on sidewalks. These are not an option for Cooper and I imagine not an option for most larger dogs / dogs that like to go on long walks. NOT RECOMMENDED.
Muttluks Fleece Lined Dog Boots (price: about $40):
Cooper has used these for years with minimal problems. In his younger years a set would last at least the whole winter and sometimes next. Perfect for a city dog especially if they are walking just a couple blocks on sidewalks to a park but are on snow / grass for most of their walk.
Muttluks are flexible, fairly easy to put on, and Cooper doesn’t seem to mind them at all. The soles of the fleece lined version are leather, but not made for extended use on sidewalks and pavement. So if the park is a long way away or you are walking on sidewalks a lot they will get holes in them quickly.
Since Cooper is getting older and especially since he had his surgery/treatment he started to drag his rear feet a bit due to arthritis. He wears boots on his rear feet on most of his walks year round and can really do a number on the Muttluks leather sole. Within a month the leather will start to have holes, but we've found that using a little bit of Shoe Goo to repair the bottom whenever there is a hole can prolong the life of Muttluks indefinitely (it’s an old skateboarders trick!). They might not look as pretty, but they protect his feet just the same. You just need to make sure that the Shoo Goo is a very thin layer and doesn’t ball up and make the boot unpleasant to walk on.
Please note that Muttluks makes several different versions...if you order them make sure the soles are leather (it almost looks like a really rough suede) because some of their boots seem to have a synthetic fabric sole instead. Those did not last very long for us.
Ruffwear: Summit Trex Boots (price: about $60)
Ruffwear are the most heavy duty dog boots that we’ve found on the market. Cooper has a set of the Ruffwear Summit Trex. Overall these are really well constructed, and durable The sole of the boot is similar to that of a human shoe.
Thus far these are the only boots that Cooper has yet to wear through the sole...but they have a couple problems and you need to keep an eye on your dogs feet. Most dogs have dew claws on their front feet. The rubber sole of the Ruffwear boot do not come up very far on the a dogs foot, and can rub uncomfortably on the dew claw irritating the skin and even causing your dog to bleed. There is a solution to this problem, but it involves spending a bit more money and buying the Ruffwear Bark N' Boots Liners. Basically the Bark N’ Boot Liners are dog socks, and they make sure the claw stays close to the leg and does not get irritated. This worked for Cooper, but I honestly was pretty annoyed that I had to spend another $20 on what already felt like expensive boots ($60 for the boots and another $20 for the socks).
The other issue is the boots are rough inside and thus potentially rough on your dogs’ feet (unlike the Muttluks that have the fleece lining). They may rub the dogs pads roughly and wear them abnormally. I thought this happened to Cooper, but now realize it may have been a combination of previously dragging his feet due to surgery and arthritis and getting used to the new boots. Either way the Boot Liners also helped with this issue.
What boots does Cooper wear now?
Cooper needs the foot protection on the back feet pretty much whenever he is outside and we are alternating between these two brands. I just bought a new pair of Muttluks (our 5 or 6th pair over the past 9 years), and in the snow he is actually wearing Ruffwear Summit Trexon his rear feet and Muttluks on his front feet.
The Muttluks over all seem to be more comfortable, but less durable...that is why we repair them with Shoe Goo and switch back and forth with the Ruffwear.
Muttluks and Ruffwear are the only two brands that Cooper and I can recommend at this time. Both boots protect a dogs feet well from the salt, snow, and pavement.
Muttluks are great if your dog needs protection from salt and snow and will be on pavement some, but not all the time. You can find Muttluks here (for sizing click here).
Ruffwear is a great option for a dogs that mainly walk on sidewalks or go hiking. More durable, but with that durability comes the responsibility of keeping a closer eye on your dogs feet. You can find Ruffwear Summit Trex here (for sizing click here).
Dear dog boot makers, if you would like an honest review of your product please get in touch with me. Cooper is a great boot tester, and we would happily put your boots through the ringer and give you an honest review. Tweet at me: @MeanOldTom (I’m not really mean) or contact us through Tumblr.
If you need human boots...I highly recommend L.L. Bean’s Bean Boots.
