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Isn’t it too early for snow? Not because I woke up this morning with my yard buried under 2-3 inches of the heavy, wet stuff. Murphy is somewhat sensitive to the cold, and he HATES snow. He’ll bounce around the yard like a little bunny, lifting each foot quickly and shaking it off as he goes. Last year, every time we got more than a dusting, I had to shovel off an area of the grass, because if I didn’t, he’d poop in the driveway so he wouldn’t have to set foot on the chilly, wet mess. Of course, I HATE to shovel the stuff, and I don’t have to explain what a pain it was to endure additional shoveling to keep my driveway poop-free. So, this year, I have found a solution to avoid extra shoveling and keep Murphy’s tender toes warm and dry.
Doggy Boots! Yep, I found a great selection of boots for pooches at The Fashionable Pet.Com. Our personal favorites, the Stylin’ Doggy Boots, are heavy enough to protect Murphy‘s paws from the snow and come in a great variety of colors to match any outfit. Murphy and I like the classic black and fire-engine red.
For more sporty pups, check out the Hiker Doggy Boots, with more robust rubber soles for those long hikes in the wintry woods, and the Reflector Doggy Boots with reflective strips to keep Fido safely visible during those night-time treks under the stars. Both styles also come in a variety of great colors. The Fashionable Pet also offers adorable Floral Print Doggy Boots in pastel shades of pink, purple, baby blue, and green. Don’t be fooled by their girly good looks; these boots are sturdy and durable enough for a quick romp in the snow or a stroll down a chilly, slushy sidewalk.
If you’ve never purchased footwear for your pup, you’ll probably want to consult the Doggy Boot Size Chart to ensure a comfortable fit. We all know how excruciating it can be to walk around in constricting boots, no matter how fabulous they may be.
Even if your pup loves the snow, you may want to consider trying a pair of dog boots for those bad-weather days, because although sturdy, the pads of their feet can be sensitive to cold weather hazards and deserve special care. And keep in mind that salt on winter sidewalks can be very irritating.
I saw a little poodle out walking with her sweater and booties, today! (It’s snowy here, too.) She was so precious.
I can’t wait ’til Charlotte’s coat arrives!
Adorable! Would love to find same boots for my young daughter..!
Pet booties aren’t just a solution to ice buildup in your animal’s paws. They can also aid with added traction for older animals with hip problems.
My dog, Delphi, has a set of red Vibram-soled booties. They even have a tiny yellow Vibram trademark on the burly tread. Go ahead, laugh. I don’t mind. The truth is, not only do they look cute on her – OK, goofy to some of you – they are super-functional. * I’m not one to dress up my animals, for which Delphi and my horse, Jewel, are truly thankful. However, if I can help improve their quality of life, I will. Which brings me to the booties. When the snow piled up this winter and the Missoula Valley became an ice rink, my aging golden retriever’s mild case of dysplasia became painfully evident. The once-cheerful and tireless snow romper developed a tentative gait and a worried look. She made it clear that she did not want to slip or fall, and the constant snow buildup in her paws was becoming a nuisance. All that lying down to chew off the frozen clumps and then getting back up again was wearing her out. What to do? I took a cue from the sled dog world and sought out booties for my dog. Mind you, I didn’t do a lot of research in the purchasing because at the Trail Head I found what I was looking for: booties with traction. Delphi loves them, which – at $59 for a set of four – was a relief. From the first time she had them strapped on, she fully understood their purpose. She now motors around like a half-track tank. What’s even better, she’s back to her usual carefree self. She actually seems proud of her flashy red accessories; even strangers who come upon us comment on her obvious happy swagger. The cold-weather paw gear has given us back our freedom, and the more we have wandered this snowy season, we have come to learn that booties come in all shapes, sizes and colors – and that we aren’t unique with our canine outerwear. Ellen McCullough said her dog’s life completely changed when she recently bought a set of bright orange booties for Rocket, her 7-year-old English shepherd.
“I like to take him cross-country skiing, and this year he couldn’t go very long before snow would clump between his paws and he would stop,” McCullough said last weekend while putting her skis on at the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area’s Crazy Canyon trailhead and Rocket sniffed at Delphi’s booties. “We wouldn’t get very far because of his comfort level. When I saw somebody else with the orange booties on their dog in the North Hills, they said they worked great and that Go Fetch! was the place to get them.” “I put them on him. We went really far the first day he had them,” she said, “and it’s been great ever since. I’m now a bootie fan.” From McCullough and Scott Timothy, owner of Missoula canine specialty shop Go Fetch!, I’ve come to learn there are many bootie choices, with as many price tags. Rocket’s orange set made of nylon cost just $10, which McCullough says is the perfect price because she doesn’t have to worry about losing one in the deep snow. Of course, she said, they are a more streamlined version of Delphi’s and don’t have a knobby tread. “They aren’t as a highbrow as your dog’s,” she said, “but they work great.” After comparing and talking about each other’s booties, we both burst out laughing. At Go Fetch!, Timothy showed me other products on the market. He, too, carries the pricey booties Delphi wears, but he’s getting lean on his inventory. “We had to make additional orders to replenish our stock because when winter came, it was such a dramatic temperature change and dogs were freaked out,” Timothy said. “That was the initial big push and the demand has been pretty steady since. “You could call this the year of the bootie,” he said. “Booties, booties, booties.” Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots.