Doggy boots

[Golden]

OK, was out east pheasant hunting over the weekend and my poor dogs feet took a beating.

Goat heads and cactus.....to the point that she just had to sit down and wait for me to clean out her paws.

What do you guys use for boots that she will wear instead of chewing off?

Or.....what do you do?

[Juls]

http://www.gundogsupply.com/jims-nylon-dog-boots-orange.html#reviews

Temporarily sold out of Missy's size, so that tells me that many hunters are using this product for their labs too. :)

Just thought you might want to take a look. Looks like a good product.

Juls

Edit: here's another link with more to choose from: http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-boots.html

[Golden]

Thanks for the link Juls.

Wonder if she will just chew those off or what.......

I was expecting an "open toe" boot I guess....but it makes sense to be closed as far as stuff getting between the toes.

No toe nails.....can't imagine she's gonna like that ;-)

[Juls]

Well, don't put them on until she's ready to hunt then she will have her nose to the ground and not on her feet.

She will probably not even realize they are there once she gets a whiff of a bird. :)

Other dogs get used to them, so she will too. Just don't leave them on when she's not working or when unattended and not working.

Juls

[eyecatcher01]

i have never been able to get a lab to where any kind of boot. those should above i have tried...cinched em up tight as i could and he still ran out of them. cabelas several yrs ago had a neopreme boot that was some what taller and had cordura/ruberized bottom and laced up and top cpl of inches folded back down over strings(so they couldnt chew on them). they would stay on actually looked rather comfortable compared to some others....but he would walk rather goofy (was pretty funny) and didnt hunt for crap. i used to carry em with just incase we got in a bad sticker patch...trying to avoid having to carry him(been there too). these booties eventually got chewed up one night while he was kickn in the back of the truck and we were at the bar...oops...he showed me i guess. otherwise try whatever pair you can get and try some electric tape and good luck.

[Golden]

I'm headed to BPS and Cabela's for Christmas shopping....I'll see what I can find.

I can't find anything local at all.

I put some socks on her tonight and it was comedy.....I don't think she liked it but boy I sure got a kick out of it ;-)

[ksx3]

I believe there is also a pad hardener out on the market as well. Haven't tried it personally. Some boots out there have the open nail design, but the ones that look best appear to have high design with extra velcro for foreleg.

My dogs are stupid and once hunting nothing slows them. One opened ear on wild rose that required vet trip to be superglued together, another time ripped most nail off including quick that required cauterise at vet.

If you can't find what you need at Cabela's, you may want to try here:https://www.uglydoghunting.com/

Good Luck

[Rick Johnston]

I asked the same question to my hunter/breeder for my now 10 year old GWP. He suggested that he had the best success with the simple cordura type that slip on. For dry conditions I use them with a layer of inside out duct tape on the dogs foot (at the top), then slip on the boot and use an outer duct tape layer to secure.

I broke him into them when they really where not needed. He looks pretty funny with them on, but does not really mind at all.

For ice/snow I have used the neoprene boots for added protection.

rj

[Suzuki]

I wish my main problem was with the feet. My dog seems to scratch her eye balls on most Pheasant trips. This past weekend was the worst. Huge chunk of outer layering missing. Makes me cringe to think about it. All I can do is give her special eye ointment from the vet. Pretty sure she wont wear goggles!

[Eyeokie]

We hunt our setters in sand burr country and always boot them. I have used Lewis dog boots for years with good results. They last a very long time and are really tough. Waterproof medical tape works well to keep them on, but gets pretty pricey if you hunt a lot. Duct tape works well also although it seems to be harder on the dog's leg and pulls out more hair when removing. Have had good luck with the Codura boots also, but they do not last as long.

[RSR]

I could not get my Golden to keep them on. I have a pair almost new that I would sell cheap!

[musher92648]

Dogs are one of my passions. I have 2 English Setters and a very athletic Black Lab. I also have sled dogs and travel all over North America racing them. Have also done several expeditions with the sled dogs. Serious sled dog training for us starts in August and by the end of our season in April in Canada's Northwest Territories most of our dogs have logged over 2500 miles in training and racing. My bird dogs and retriever are exercised daily in the summer and fall as well as hunted hard for Ruffed Grouse and Pheasants primarily.
Dog booties are sometimes required to protect feet from injuries. Light weight, flexible booties that stay on are the best choice most often. I will copy some links to websites to find what are used in the mushing community. In most conditions one of these booties on a foot will adequately protect your dog frim injury. They are cheap and if they wear out just replace them. If it is sharp stuff it is possible to double boot.
The stretch velcro fasteners are my personal choice and that of most serious mushers. When fastened properly the booties will stay on in most conditions. Tighten them down good but don't leave them that way when the dog is not running, tight booties make the feet swell when at rest, not a good thing. In most condiitons these booties will last 60-100 miles if the toenails are properly trimmed.
These booties can also be an aid in healing injured feet by applying a healing ointment and loosely fastening the booty to keep the dog from licking the ointment off. Most tired dogs will not take these booties off.
Triple antibiotic ointment or something your vet suggest can be used under the booties. A frequent choice for us is zinc oxide ointment thinned with Tea Tree oil that seems to speed healing and add comfort while it is healing.
Most of the booties I see from hunting dog suppliers are too havy and cumbersome. They are uncomfortable on the dogs feet and I would say they compare to using Steel Toe work boots to a track meet. They impair performance and I think in some cases can contribute to muscle strains and other injuries because of their added weight and lack of flexibility.
Lots of choices on this list, you may want to try some.
Lloyd
The links are below, on many of these sites you will also find some dog jackets and other gear that can be an asset in certain hunting situations.
HUNT HARD!

http://www.shopworks.com/adanac/index.cfm?action=product&prodid=0003E395-00D2-1AD3-A4CB00017F00E026&userid=000E108A-A6AB-1BCA-89A900017F00E026 (http://www.shopworks.com/adanac/index.cfm?action=product&prodid=0003E395-00D2-1AD3-A4CB00017F00E026&userid=000E108A-A6AB-1BCA-89A900017F00E026)

http://www.dogbooties.com/ (http://www.dogbooties.com/)

http://www.kondosoutdoors.com/mm5/merchant.mvc (http://www.kondosoutdoors.com/mm5/merchant.mvc)

http://www.mtnridge.com/ (http://www.mtnridge.com/)

http://www.nooksackracing.com/ (http://www.nooksackracing.com/)

http://www.sleddogcentral.com/equip_supplies.htm (http://www.sleddogcentral.com/equip_supplies.htm)

[grc09]

We use a cadora boot with velco tops, be sure you follow how to measure the dogs foot instructions.The ones we bought work and are holding up very well,but yes when you first them on they walk around like a cat on a hot tin roof,but they soon forget they are on there feet.