Dog booties for icy conditions

[7mmfan]

Does anyone have any recommendations for booties for dogs during icy frozen conditions? Hunting the last couple days was super rough on my dogs paws/legs, especially Friday after the freezing rain the night before. I tried wrapping them with athletic tape before we went out but that didn't last long. She's really bumming right now with paws neosporin'ed and wrapped in ace bandages to keep her from licking it all off.

[dye7barrel]

A couple different options

https://reedandsage.com/collections/paw-treatment

http://www.adanacsleds.com/cut-resistant-dog-boots/

Get a bunch of these. Put a small amount of vetwrap around the wrist and then tape them on with cloth athletic tape.

[87Ford]

I had the same problem in the Yakima area last week.  That crusty snow really tore my dogs feet up.  Had to shut one down after a day and a half.   

[7mmfan]

Found these on a quick search, but $90 seems like highway robbery. Was thinking about something in the middle and wrapping up the wrist like you talked about.

http://www.gundogsupply.com/bark-n-boots-polar-trex-.html

[7mmfan]

I had the same problem in the Yakima area last week.  That crusty snow really tore my dogs feet up.  Had to shut one down after a day and a half.   

We got 2 days and didn't hunt the 3rd I planned on, but should have probably cut it short on the 2nd day, or at least waited until it warmed up a little and softened those south facing hills.

[87Ford]

On another note, the roosters were very jumpy and few and far between.  Also saw nine yotes in three days hunting.  Never seen so many before..

[Boss .300 winmag]

On another note, the roosters were very jumpy and few and far between.  Also saw nine yotes in three days hunting.  Never seen so many before..

Shootem

[dye7barrel]

Found these on a quick search, but $90 seems like highway robbery. Was thinking about something in the middle and wrapping up the wrist like you talked about.

http://www.gundogsupply.com/bark-n-boots-polar-trex-.html

A few guys I hunt with used to run those types of booties. Just about everyone has converted to the cheaper booties I posted.

[7mmfan]

On another note, the roosters were very jumpy and few and far between.  Also saw nine yotes in three days hunting.  Never seen so many before..

We were a little further east, found plenty of birds, but yes, extremely jumpy. Only took a handful of shots despite the number of birds that we saw. Also saw a ton of coyotes. Time for some predator hunting.

[7mmfan]

Found these on a quick search, but $90 seems like highway robbery. Was thinking about something in the middle and wrapping up the wrist like you talked about.

http://www.gundogsupply.com/bark-n-boots-polar-trex-.html

A few guys I hunt with used to run those types of booties. Just about everyone has converted to the cheaper booties I posted.

I will take a look at them. $5 is appealing.

[trapp01]

My dogs can't stand the booties. I wrap thier feet with vet wrap and bring it up about 4-6" up their leg. I try to leave two nails exposed so they can grab some traction. ill put a gauze square under the pad for some extra cushion if I'm feeling frisky. Just don't go to tight around the paw.

[aaronoto]

I've heard Lewis Boots are the best.  Some guys swear by inner tube boots as well

[7mmfan]

I saw the inner tube boots video earlier, that's interesting. I can see the tape working, I probably just wasn't thorough enough when I tried it initially.

[highside74]

This shows how to make them and put them on and take them off.

[7mmfan]

 

[10Key]

Lewis boots showed up today, going to try them out next weekend.

[AWS]

My old wirehair would run through a pair of boots in as little as 45 min.  I went with vet-wrap and duck tape, it was the best I ever used.  I'd buy vet-wrap from Jeffers Equine Supply by the dozen and use a decent duck tape.  with a set of surgical tape sissors they would come of in a few seconds.

[scottr]

I've been using Mushers Secret to prevent ice balls in my dog's paws with mostly good results. Liberal application right before the hunt really helps the dog last longer. Used it yesterday and he was good for two hours.

If conditions are so icy or the snow is crusty such that the dogs paws are getting tore up it may be better to not hunt. Just like car tires, dog boots will slip on ice and that is a recipe for serious injury like a blown ACL. Dogs can also break a bone in deep crust if they post hole in during a run.

[WAcoyotehunter]

https://dogbooties.com/shop/500-denier-cordura-booties/

Try these.  they are cheap and work awesome.  the stretchy Velcro is good stuff.  I use them on my hounds in the ice and they seem to stay on pretty well, but if you lose one they're only a couple bucks. 

[GoBeavs85]

Not sure what these are but my pup didn't like them at all! They were too small for her maybe that's the only reason.


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[jagermiester]

What about mushers secret?

[Henrydog]

My spanial will not wear boots.  My wife and daughter are horse people, and they told me a couple of years ago to wrap the dog with vet wrap.  Works good and it cheap.  $3 a roll.  I even use it in the early season to keep thistle and cheat grass out of his paws.  If you do a couple of thin layers it works well for ice and snow

[Skyvalhunter]

Does it stay on and come off easy?

[Henrydog]

Vet wrap?  It comes off very easy.  It is designed for horse legs, it does not stick to hair. My dog is a Spanial with curly hair comes off no problem.  I do it layers and he has only blown out the wrap once.

[7mmfan]

Vet wrap?  It comes off very easy.  It is designed for horse legs, it does not stick to hair. My dog is a Spanial with curly hair comes off no problem.  I do it layers and he has only blown out the wrap once.

I'll have to find some and give it a try. I tried athletic tape, which ends up ripping a bunch of hair out, plus it just froze and fell off or unraveled after about 20 minutes.

[10Key]

Lewis boots showed up today, going to try them out next weekend.

Hunted the desert today and had a chance to test out the Lewis non-vented boots...all I can say is awesome. I wish we would have discovered these years ago. Dog ran for four hours with boots on his front paws and they never came lose, not even close. 4-8" of powdery snow with a crust a few inches down. Without the boots, dog would have been torn up within an hour. I can't wait to try the other set on rocks next year.

PS: I only ran fronts as I was concerned with awkwardness, had to stop several times for ice balls in rear paws, should have done all 4, dog had no problem adjusting.

[JLS]

What about mushers secret?

It works very well.  I've been using it for a month now.  I don't use boots in the snow, but I've used both the Lewis boots and inner tube boots.  They both work well.

[7mmfan]

Thanks for the updates guys. We're done for the season so I have some time to figure it out.

[Happy Gilmore]

I've been running fall city wet foot dogs in the desert near Mexico. End of the first week everyone's feet are sore. Put on some mushers secret at the end of the night before bed. Everyone is starting to get back into shape and feet are toughening up at the end of week two. Losing some weight and pads are feeling good.

Only problem people have is weekend warrioring your dog. It is always a conditioning issue. Or, lack thereof.

[10Key]

I've been running fall city wet foot dogs in the desert near Mexico. End of the first week everyone's feet are sore. Put on some mushers secret at the end of the night before bed. Everyone is starting to get back into shape and feet are toughening up at the end of week two. Losing some weight and pads are feeling good.

Only problem people have is weekend warrioring your dog. It is always a conditioning issue. Or, lack thereof.

You nailed it, it is a conditioning issue. Being a weekend warrior with our dog is the only choice, glad we discovered boots, finally

[Bwana Bob]

Tried AWS method of vet wrap and duct tape and it worked great. Need to buy a bandage scissor to get them off.  I left a couple of toes out for better traction.

[7mmfan]

I've been running fall city wet foot dogs in the desert near Mexico. End of the first week everyone's feet are sore. Put on some mushers secret at the end of the night before bed. Everyone is starting to get back into shape and feet are toughening up at the end of week two. Losing some weight and pads are feeling good.

Only problem people have is weekend warrioring your dog. It is always a conditioning issue. Or, lack thereof.

I agree 100% that conditioning is the real issue. Unfortunately when you live in a rain forest and hunt the desert (or an artic ice field), its hard to condition their feet to that. You guys have given me some great ideas to work with in the future. I think it was a good discussion   

[Happy Gilmore]

I started mushers secret today. Glad it showed up. Pads were really dried up.

[PA BEN]

I've never used anything on my dogs feet. I live in the country and my dogs get a lot of year round running time.  My 8 and a half month old 80 lb lab pup loves the snow and spends several hours a day playing in it. The only problem I see if it's a problem at all is his pads are ruff and seem dry. They are not cracked, would I be doing more damage by using something like mushers secret on them now? Might soften them up?

[scottr]

I've never used anything on my dogs feet. I live in the country and my dogs get a lot of year round running time.  My 8 and a half month old 80 lb lab pup loves the snow and spends several hours a day playing in it. The only problem I see if it's a problem at all is his pads are ruff and seem dry. They are not cracked, would I be doing more damage by using something like mushers secret on them now? Might soften them up?

If you are out on a hunt and the dog is getting ice between the pads that is affecting the dog's ability (constantly stopping to chew out ice, cuts and bleeding etc) Mushers Secret will help. It gives my setter an extra hour or so in the snow on on a hunt and by the end of the hunt it's worn off. Used in these circumstances I don't think it would give your dog softer paws, just relief from ice build up.

[Happy Gilmore]

It keeps them from cracking and does make them feel smoother. It is like treating leather. If its smooth and supple it doesn't crack and isn't brittle. Think of chapped lips. Same deal. Smile and the big old crack goes right down you middle lower lip.

[GoBeavs85]

Thanks for this thread guys. I wrapped my dogs paws in vet wrap then added duck tape at the top. Held up good for 4 hours on my last hunt of the year. I had never heard of the stuff until I read this. I had booties that she hated but she got used to the vet wrap real quick


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[Elliott]

We have ruff wear boots for our pup. She tolerates them, just make sure they are secured, she has skinny feet so they tend to slip off, but only once, on one foot.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Products/dog_boots