Shoe Boxers

I recently went into Petco and was on a made hunt of a dog collar that my cocker/Sheppard mix little dog, AKA Houdini of a dog could get off. I found a great style of leather collar from the American Kennel Club, but while I was in there I came across an awesome pair of indoor booties for dogs.

I had written a post on dog shoes awhile back, but those stylish dog shoes were for outdoor use and not really made for the dog that comes indoors. These new booties I found are made fleece and have a Velcro closure to keep them on the paws and keep them very secure.

They were about $6 and, of course, purchased mine in the size of extra small, but they do go up the size of large for the bigger dog breeds. The brand is called Dicken’s Closet and it’s in the “Hound’s Tooth Collection”.

I really enjoy these shoes for my dog, because he is an indoor/outdoor dog during the colder months and during the hotter season as well. Of course he doesn’t wear booties during the hot months, but if he travels in the car I throw on his boots. It’s difficult to purchase clothes for pets, because you don’t want to be known as the crazy pet owner that dresses their pet in the “clown clothes”, but these boots make it easy to not be so obvious with your “wanting to protect your furniture” in your home.

They have a non-skid bottom so when they are inside on hardwood floors or linoleum, they don’t slip and slide and put marks on your floor. They are a great “pet” stocking stuffer too. Check them out.

Okay, so you strap on your boots, put your coat on, grab the dog leash and the dog and head out into the winter chill. You are nice and cozy all snug and warm in your boots that shield you socked feet from the wet snow, but what about Fido? Dogs are similar to humans where they get cold, their feet hitting the snow covered ground repeatedly as well, get cold and chilled. If your furry companion is your best friend, then why make him suffer through the snow or rain? There is an inexpensive solution. Dog shoes.

I know what you are thinking, and I have issues with it too, people dressing their pets up in these horrible outfits just so their pet can look cool. But the shoe aspect of it seems reasonable. You can get the simple dog shoe from a company like Foster and Smith and it’s just a basic paw cover, no bells or whistles attached that will protect their pads from the chill. I was a bit leery of it, till this past summer when my nine year old cocker mix ran right through coals from a bonfire and burned his pads. He doesn’t look where he is going most of the time. I was told by my vet that extra care needs to be taken with the pads of his paws now, so I investing in some dog booties. Some of my friends even went the extra mile and bought him a pair of Classic Lilly boots from an online company called Pampered Puppy. My dog, Baz, loves it when I strap on his booties before we head out, he knows his feet are protected and this winter he will thank me when he walks across the cold snow covered ground.

A lot of people don’t know this, but certain breeds of dogs can’t swim very well and need help, especially if they are on a boat or near water. Dog drowning rates are about 1 out of every 1027 dog. That is very high. The next time you take your furry friend near the water, on a boat place a life jacket on them. Even if you think your dog is strong and can handle the water, water current could take them out further than anticipated. Dogs get muscle cramps as well and can easily go under in a matter of seconds. Check out the life jackets from Pet Street Mall.

Also if you own a pool consider investing in a Skamper Ramp. Anything can fall into your pool, why not give it a chance to save itself.