Winter Trail Dog Question

“What kind of footwear do you use to protect your dog's feet from snow and ice on the trail? Any other tips or tricks for winter doggy foot care?”

“In Alaska they use booties made out of fleece. They are pretty easy to make if you are into sewing, or cheap to buy. They were hard to keep on our golden retriever, but really help prevent the balls of ice that form between the pads and protected the pads from sharp ice etc.

Here they are at a good source.

”

“I have never done anything I check her feet at night to make sure she does'nt have any cuts or sores but that's all. I guess I'm a bad dog parent.”

“here is the main link. Look in the "Select Product Category from Catalog" section.

Cold Spot Feed Store

It is a great store for skijoring (cross country skiing pulled by dog) gear too.”

“Thanks Pathman. That arctic belly blanket looks like it would work well with a pack, too.”

“I tryed on some at the store the nother day, but they was weeerd! I walked like a sissy!

My daddy sayed "that is ok, we can make some with goss and duk tape I gess if you have prollems when we go walkin in the snew" but I did not have no prollems walkin in the snew in Snew Yort and Snew Hamster. I did ware my perty new swedder and a nek gater so the deep snew wold not get in my swedder none.”

“I nominate Belle the official TT Dawge Produk Testre.”

“She could submit reviews.”

“summit revoos?”

“grease 'em up! LOL

"Crisco feet collect no ice!" or so I have heard. I have tried this with PatchyG and it does seem to work(no ice balls between the toe pads), but I think most dogs would try to lick the stuff off (yummy!)
Patchy has really hairy feet too, so iceballs can be a problem. I have tried both crisco and vaseline and they seem to work for her.

Booties work too - just not in deep snow. In my experience, booties do not stay on. I haven't tried the many many different kinds available though.”

“do YOU walk around in snow, barefoot, with crisco on your feet?”

“That's a rather personal question, isn't it, Raddy? ;oP”

“I used to find plenty of booties along the multiuse trails in Fairbanks. They can be hard to keep on.

Also, trimming the fur between the pads helps if icing up in snow is the only problem. The booties help prevent cuts and abrasions in rough or extreme conditions.”

“My parents got Buddur some "Ruff Wear" Dog Booties for Christmas a few years ago, and I (we) laughed so hard seeing him walk around in them for the first time. He'd try to bite them off, and if they weren't on tight enoutgh, they'd fall off (and what good is 2 or 3 of them). If anything try 'em on just for a laugh.

They are pretty slippery in the snow, as he literally has NO traction with them on. So I don't make him wear them in the snow. He does get snowballs in his pads, and I keep having to dig them out for him, but I don't mind.

If you look at the pictures from the manufacturer, they show dogs on (hot?) desert rocks. I wonder if they're more appropriate in those conditons?”

“Birchdog got booties and they wouldn't stay on. She hated them and danced around on three legs chewing on the forth until she removed them all. I custom made fleece ones thinking they'd stay on better. Nope.

You can get the same laugh factor by slipping sandwich bags over your dog's feet. (I personnally have not done this to my dogs; only my cat) What a hooT!”

“A Christmas bow right between the (cat's) ears. Nuff said.”

“my daddy put on the boots and I was walkin like a sissy and ever buddy sayed "hahahahahaha that perty dog walks funny!" and I was barrased and sayed "get those crazy theengs OFF NOW!" so my daddy taked them off and we got my new swedder tho that is perty and a new nekless for my rabbits tags.

I got bak in the kart and we went and seen the rats some more.

Pets Stor is KEWL! My daddy sayed we will go ther some more. I theenk we mite get rats the nother time so I will have some nother frends. I prolly mite not bite off ther heds tho.”

“As other have said, I have a hodgepodge set of booties from losing them at various points in the snow. I've come to the conclusion they're pretty worthless except for when we do aggressive beach hiking or in nasty tallus where her pads can really get scraped up.

I've yet to see her nibble at her paws and I check them periodically to make sure there's no build-up. If there is, I'll have to try the Crisco method!”

“Make sure you use edible stuff like Crisco, I'm not sure Sarabelle could tell the difference between vaseline and Crisco.”

“You missed one rad.”

“i missed one what?”

“I have read that these are really good, especially for snow and ice conditions:

http://www.muttluks.com/”

“I've done the booty thing, Suzy hates them. The best thing I've done for her is to vaseline her pads, even then her pads can get some ice. This year, I'm cutting the hair in her pads and the\at should help more. BTW she will burrow and lay in the snow, very much an outdoor winter dog.”

“dogs do great in winter, especially if you let the acclimate. Our golden slept outside to -20 with a dog house. Sled dogs stayed out all the time.”

“There's no time to get acclimated on a weekend hiking trip, though.”

“so you better be careful taking them out, if they don't get out during the week. They need the winterized coat. Or let them stay out during the week.”

“Right. That's why I was thinking she'd need a sweater and booties.”

“How cold?”

“I don't know exactly. Could be into the single digits at night and 20s during the day, or 20s at night and 40s during the day. I've heard both. She has short hair and she sleeps inside at night. Also, Kentucky winters are pretty mild and that's what she's used to.”

“Crisco on their paws? Hmmm, all buttered up for the BEAR....well, at least the awakened ones and the Polar bears.”

“Sweater would probably be good then. Paws are hard to tell, but could be a problem if they aren't toughened up.”

“They are tough hiking-wise, just not cold-wise.”

“I don't think cold paws would be much of a problem, its more abrasion and lacerations that you would need to worry about. Core temp would be more of a problem, therefore the sweater.”

“Yeah, I figure I'm probably worrying over nothing, she'll probably be fine. (I'm such a Mom sometimes. LOL)”

“sweaters are good in camp, but for hiking on the trail, maybe try a coat (I am serious.)

PatchyG has a cordura overcoat(like a horse blanket style) that repels water and gives her light insulation (they come with or without fleece lining.)

When we are in camp at night, she gets the sweater. I have found sweaters to be problematic while hiking, esp when it is wet or snowing/sleeting. Doggie's bodyheat melts the snow and ice that accumulates and then you have a heavy wet sweater.”

“Yes, crampons.

I plan to make a set for Belle one of these days...”

“Just don't cut her nails.”

“Thank you all for all of the great suggestions.”