Anyone make their own Dog boots?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Anyone make their own Dog boots?

    Was thinking about making my girls some booties, since it's almost summer & I can't stand the thought of paws on hot pavement.  I've tried some condura ones, that have a rubber type covering on the bottom with 2 bands of velcro - those worked ok, if the dogs get running pretty good - you end up seeing booties flying off all over the place.  I tried the velcro type 'australian' ( i think) leather 'open' boots.  Large was way too big for Akyra, and small was too small, so she wore the large - but they were all floppy, they worked but she looked pretty funny.

     The only other ones I'm interested in are those ones with actual rubber soles but they're $60 a pair!  I can't spend that much on doggie shoes. So I have a sewing machine & I think I'm gonna try to make them myself.  I would love to make some that stay on in the water, but I know thats a pretty difficult task to accomplish.  These are primarily going to be for summer, so I want them to be tough - keep their paws protected from the heat of hot pavement, but also cool, maybe a mesh or light fabric on top - but it still has to be tough becuase after all it's going on my dogs, and it has to stay on.

     

    ook i wrote a novel..........love to hear if someone has made some.

     

    also - i've heard that dogs cool off through their feet ( & panting) so I would want them to be pretty breathable.
     

    • Silver

    I started but didn't finish. This was for my Golden for winter, since she gets so many ice balls stuck between her toes.

    What I tried was to take kids' sock, stuff crumpled newspaper in them to make them the right shape, then dup them in this stuff you ca buy at the hardware store. I forget what it's called, but it's in the paint section and it's for dipping tool handles in it to make them grippy. Kind of a rubbery substance. Stinks like heck.

     

    Anyway, I got two coats on and it got absorbed into the fabric and I never got around to putting on more coats. I think I would need at least 5 to get a "sole." Best I can do---good luck!

    • Gold Top Dog

     i want something for Kaydee for when she goes swimming. i make my kids wear water shoes when in a public swimming area.. so why not my dog? idiots like to go out to the river and drink and inevitably they leave their stinkin beer bottles lying around, or they break them.... its nearly impossible to find a place thats safe without paying for it.

    and besides that..... its always a good precaution what with sea shells and horseshoe crabs at the beach...

    do they have water shoes for dogs and do they stay on? remember my dog is kinda gimpy still.... doesnt move like a normal dog - hence the reason for swimming.. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     i would really like to find some that stay on in water. I just keep finding things wrong with the ones I've tried, so that why I was thinking about making some.  Had an idea to take old bicycle tire ( slick type) and make soles out of those, not sure how I would attatch it to the 'sock' part of it, but I even wanted to drill a few drain/air holes in the bottom.  I also noticed almost all dog boots come in black - i'd prefer a different color some come in blaze orange - which i like for high visability.

    I'll post some pics if i get something figured out.  kinda alot to ask:  must stay on in water, must breath/drain well, cant be black. 


    I've tried these - they dont stay on swimming - luckily I convinced my dog to go retrieve them so i didn't have to jump in!!

    http://www.gearfordogs.com/pages/Dog_Booties.shtml
    • Gold Top Dog

    I tried making them once. Pfft! I ended up buying some very expensive ones about 4-5 years ago and we still use them.

    Look at these.

    The shoes also protect the dog's paws from blistering or any abrasion while rollerblading, swimming and running with your Best friend IN THE HEAT! This allows for a safe and eventful summer !!!
    • Gold Top Dog

     those were the ones i was eyeballing, if I'm not going to make them Big Smile

    • Silver

    The Neopaws are very good. I had the study winter ones for Zircon and they not only held up well, they stayed on. I think those mesh ones would be good. I do have to say that the style is good for a dog with a slender paw and a long leg-if your dog has really big clodhoppers the shape might not be the best.

    But anyway, yeah they are expensive, but if they prevent injuries and stay on then they are a better value than cheaper ones.

    • Gold Top Dog

     lol, look how funny she looks in the leather boots that were too big.....

     

     here's her 'chalk masterpiece' lol