I know this post is different than our usual adventure-based posts, but paw protection and other gear is important for your pet's health and therefore extended adventures! So let's dive right into it!
From taking your pup on a hike through the mountains, a day at the beach or just a stroll through your neighborhood, the ground may not have the safest terrain for their paws. King and I highly suggest doggie boots for any dog that loves to be active with their parent(s). The first time I noticed something was out-of-the-ordinary with King's paws was when we visited Canova Dog Beach, south of Cocoa Beach. This is an all-around great spot and we will dive into more detail about in our upcoming Orlando post, but the sand on a hot summer day can become unbearable. Walking from your car to the beach isn't bad, but the sand stays hot and takes a while to cool down and therefore isn't safe for them to stand on. Next time you are out, see if your pup is shifting their weight from foot to foot and make sure to periodically check between their pads, which are tough and can stand some temperatures outside the norm, but the soft skin between the toes can't. King has had a few cuts and sores in this area that we have had to take care of. Cold environments can cause problems as well, as snow can build up between the pads and form ice cubes that get stuck to their paw hair. Certain brands are able to handle the snow much better than others, but protection against the extreme temperatures is highly recommended for all breeds, even huskies. There is a complete read, going much more in-depth on the topic, available from Earthbath in the article here. All in all, for a small price you can make sure that your fury friend is comfortable no matter where you take your adventures to!
After a little bit of research, I quickly realized that I needed to get King some dog boots. The issue was finding the best ones, and to be honest I failed here twice before settling on the ones that were right for this golden in particular. The first set came from off the Petco shelf as a set of 4 and had a long sock built-in with two straps. These were a little tough to get situated and sometimes King's nails would get stuck in the sock material. Overall, they lasted about one and a half months before they completely feel apart. I also had to constantly adjust them on our adventures. If he ran through any type of water, they would instantly slide down and awkwardly be hanging off one of his feet. The next set was something that reminded me of Crocs. There were a ton of holes, marketed as a way to keep the paws cool, and had a similar type of soft-silicone material. Our issue with these is they were so bulky! The past boots took some time for King to get used to, but these were even worse. He never wanted to wear them and would actively avoid me whenever I grabbed them. In general, I felt they were not completely protective because of the design. Hot sand or cold snow could still get into the boots through the holes and then sit there on top of his paws. I wanted something that was a little bit more protective all around.
King:
The first paw protectors Dad got me were so lameeee. I looked like a horse and people even laughed at me sometimes when I was wearing them. The worst thing was when one fell down while I was chasing a squirrel and got caught on a stump. I'm lucky the squirrel didn't have any friends nearby or I would have been a goner!
Finally, we settled on our favorite pair of doggie boots this year. Summit Trex Everyday Dog Boots by Ruffwear get a 9 out of 10 from me. The bottom has an ample amount of padding and grip so that King can comfortably climb rocks on our hikes and I do not have to worry about them slipping after we cross a creek or any other body of water. The tops are made out of a strong mesh that lets King's paws keep cool while still managing to keep sand and other debris out. There is a single velcro strap on the top of the boot that keeps the boot secure without causing King any pain. My favorite aspect of these boots is that they come in sets of two and four. The pair option is great for most dogs whose paws are larger in comparison to their back paws. This allows you to carefully measure a front paw and a back paw to pick two different pairs that fit best. For example, King's front paws are 3.25 inches while his back paws are 2.5 inches. When they fit well, your dog will not even be bothered by them. In addition to panting, dogs dissipate heat through their paws. Any type of boot will cause that heat to stay trapped and therefore your dog will not be able to regulate their temperature well. To overcome this, make sure to get the boots wet regularly or put a wet paper towel inside the boot.
King:
Dad calls these my Super Hero Boots. He says I run so much faster and can even jump higher when I have them on. I don't know if he is just talking me up, but I do love how much longer I can play on the rocks with these and how fast they dry off when wet. They are water, rock, sand, and even tree boots. They can do it all, just like me! I give them a 4 out of 4 paws! đžđž
Use our link above or click the image below to head over to Amazon to take a look at these great Summit Trex boots from Ruffwear! I highly recommend inspecting your furry friend's paws to make sure they are in good health and ready for the next adventure.
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