Does your dog wear shoes? Dog shoes may sound silly, but depending on your climate and the activities you and your dog do, dog shoes can help protect your dog’s delicate feet.
Are you wondering if dogs need shoes? Here’s what you need to know about dog shoe options and how to get your dog to wear shoes. Photo: damedeeso / Getty Images
Do dogs need shoes?
Properly fitted dog shoes can be crucial in protecting your dog’s feet, especially in hot weather in summer and cold weather in winter.
Hot summer concrete can cause severe burns to your dog’s pads. In winter, ice can cause cuts or foot injuries, and commonly used deicing chemicals can put your dog’s paws at risk.
In addition to keeping your dog safe in extreme weather conditions, shoes prevent dogs from sliding on hardwood, tile, or other highly polished floors. If you do a lot of hiking, you may also want your dog to wear shoes to avoid injuring your dog’s paws from sharp rocks.
If you get your dog used to wearing dog shoes, your dog can walk you safely in all situations.
What are the dog shoe options?
Dog shoe options range from aesthetically designed shoes designed to resemble designer sneakers to more useful options. There are non-slip dog socks to keep them from slipping inside, thin balloon-like rubber dog shoes, and thicker shoes that are designed to protect the feet from hot or cold conditions without compromising a dog’s natural gate.
Some dog shoes are designed to be worn in all weather conditions, while others are only designed to protect your dog’s feet from snow and chemical de-icers. The shoes that you buy for your dog should be suitable for the conditions in which you will be running.
When purchasing shoes for your dog, follow all of the fit and measurement instructions. Every shoe brand has sizing information for their shoes, as well as information on how to properly measure your dog’s feet to make sure the shoes fit properly. This is important to ensure that the shoes stay on and are comfortable for your dog to wear.
This Yorkshire terrier wears dog shoes to play in the snow. Read on to learn how to get your dog to wear dog shoes. Photo: Annaartday / Getty Images
How can I get my dog to wear shoes?
Once you have the right shoes for your dog, it is a good idea to introduce your dog to the shoes. The goal is to move slowly and help your dog make positive associations with the presence of the shoes. We have all seen the online viral videos of dogs struggling to walk in shoes. We want our dogs to be safe and comfortable in their shoes.
Step 1: show your dog the shoes and praise and treat each interaction, such as B. Approaching, sniffing, etc. on the shoes. Make sure your dog has a chance to see the shoes and not be afraid of them.
Step 2: After several repetitions with your dog exploring the boots and pampering themselves, pick up one of the shoes. Let your dog sniff and investigate – praise and treat. Then, take a shoe and place it on your dog’s foot. Give lots of praise and goodies, then quickly take off your shoe. Repeat this several times over several hours of practice, making sure not to forget a lot of goodies and praise.
Step 3: Now start by introducing a second shoe to your dog in the same way. Lots of goodies / praise with the shoes and then quickly taking off both shoes. After several hours of practice, start building up the duration and make sure your dog is comfortable with the shoes on. One way to do this is to play with your dog with two shoes on: throw your dog treats to hunt or bring out a toy and fetch or pull with your dog while the shoes are on. This will help your dog continue to build more positive associations with the shoes he is wearing.
Step 4: When your dog is comfortable wearing and playing with the first two shoes, it’s time to add the third shoe. If your dog is comfortable playing with two shoes, put on another one, give lots of praise, and indulge yourself. After a few repetitions of putting on and taking off the third shoe, play with the three shoes on. After several training sessions that your dog is comfortable with, add the fourth shoe using the same approach.
If at any point your dog has problems with their shoes, becomes nervous, or uncomfortable, take off their shoes and take a step back for your next training session. This is not a race, and the priority is to make sure your dog is wearing comfortable shoes before moving on to the next stage.
Step 5: When your dog can happily and comfortably wear his or her shoes around the house, you can start building their confidence by wearing them in more exciting environments like your yard, a walk, or a park. This is where all of the basic training you have done to help your dog slowly build positive associations with wearing the shoes pays off as your dog has confidence in the shoes and is ready to face the world.
It can take your dog a while to get used to wearing shoes. It’s a good idea to start early in mild weather and before traveling to a place where your dog may need proper footwear.
Featured image: Nataba / Getty Images
Continue reading: Hiking With Dogs: A Guide To Safe Hike With Your Dog
