Dog boots - How do I keep them on?

Royal Flush

Royal Flush

New member
Let me start with a little background:

I've got a BLF that turns 2 years old at Christmas. Last year, we had two separate occurences of foot punctures that kept her out of the field for about 3 weeks last season. The first was an unknown foreign body in her front foot that resolved after antibiotics and intermittent draining of the interdigital cyst that developed. The second occured about a week after the first occurence resolved... in her rear foot this time. I noticed the puncture hole in the bottom of her foot, between pads during the tailgate check right away. Resolved about a week later - after I pulled the offending 3/4" piece of prairie grass out when it began working it's way through the top of her foot... and antibiotics.

I told my son we were gonna rename her 'Butters' due to her soft feet.

She's pretty small but goes through cover like a bull in a china shop. I tried the Ultra Paws Rugged boots last fall after the second problem healed up. Taped them on - coban, duct tape, the whole ball of wax.... only to have her lose one in the prairie grass the next time out.

This year, the drought has the grass razor sharp again. No major issues this year early on - other than redness and some sore feet after a weekend of hunting. Bought another pack of Ultra Paws to go with the three I had. :D

I know many guys see no need for boots but they may come in handy, and some others prefer the Lewis boots....

Question is: What's the right way to duct tape them on over the coban? 'Cause I apparently need to do something differently.
 
Last edited:
I use the Lewis boots. Once on I fold down one side then tape, fold it back up and tape. Never lost a boot.
 
Keep the dog in a kennel while you are work. The floor of the kennel should be broom finished concrete. This will toughen her feet up.
 
Duct tape is what I use on to keep on Lewis boots. But I put an underlayer of Johnson & Johnson stretchy sticky guaze tape around the ankle so the duct tape is not stuck to the dog's hair. The gauze tape also pads the ankle against chaffing by the Lewis boot.
 
Last edited:
JMc's technique is critical to keeping the boots on the dog.

My first layer is the athletic pre-tape under-wrap, follow that with a layer of athletic tape or duck tape. I then pull the boots on and tape the boots on with a couple of layer of athletic or duck tape, in essence taping the boot to the first layer of tape. The under-wrap helps minimize rubbing and raw spots. You can also add a layer of the Vet Wrap over the under-wrap and under the tape. You can also slip a section of bicycle inner-tube over the wrap and tape the boots to the inner tube in a further attempt to minimize rubbing. I don't like using boots on my dog but when we hunt areas with lots of burs or rocky soil, I'll do what it takes to protect my dogs.
 
Last edited:
Thanks fellas.

I did some additional reading on the Lewis boots this morning. I returned the new Ultra Paws set today and am pretty close to rolling the dice on the Lewis boots. Seems like many guys prefer them over the Ultra Paws.

Also, looks like Gun Dog Supply has the best prices on the Lewis boots.
 
vet wrap around the ankles
boots from dogbooties.com
then duct tape the top of the boots to the vet wrap.

Not fool proof but its the best way Ive found

when done hunting cut the whole shootin works off.

and get blaze colored boots so when they come off you can find them, I never understood getting black boots..

shipping isnt cheap if i recall so buy a few extra..
 
Last edited:
UplandHntr said:
vet wrap around the ankles
boots from dogbooties.com
then duct tape the top of the boots to the vet wrap.

Not fool proof but its the best way Ive found

when done hunting cut the whole shootin works off.

and get blaze colored boots so when they come off you can find them, I never understood getting black boots..

shipping isnt cheap if i recall so buy a few extra..
Click to expand...

Yep. That's exactly what I did. Guess I figured I was missing something. I found some info / photos from Gun Dog Supply on taping the Lewis boots on. Looks awfully close to what I did with the Ultra Paws. Seems kinda common for some boots to occasionally come off - despite our best attempts to tape them in place. I guess it's the cost of doing business sometimes. Some boots may just come off easier than others.

I will say that it took about 3 hrs running through the prairie grass before it did finally come off. Worst part was, despite the boot being blaze orange and trying my best to watch as she quartered back and forth, I never did find the boot in the grass. And the duct tape on the other three sure took a beating.

I ordered some Lewis boots (both vented and unvented sets with spares) this afternoon. We'll give them an honest Field Test this season. Can't hurt - and they might come in handy this winter, too. After all, the State of Minnesota does like their salt.
 
not familiar with the Lewis boots. Do they have elastic velcro like the boots from dogbooties.com? I think that helps a lot
 
Royal Flush said:
Thanks fellas.

I did some additional reading on the Lewis boots this morning. I returned the new Ultra Paws set today and am pretty close to rolling the dice on the Lewis boots. Seems like many guys prefer them over the Ultra Paws.

Also, looks like Gun Dog Supply has the best prices on the Lewis boots.
Click to expand...

Most dogs have larger paws on the front. You can order two Lewis boots in one size and two in another for better fit. My brit takes large front, medium rear. On the fronts you have cut down the top of the back of the boot so it does not reach the stopper. Otherwise the stopper will get chaffed or cut.
 
UplandHntr said:
not familiar with the Lewis boots. Do they have elastic velcro like the boots from dogbooties.com? I think that helps a lot
Click to expand...

no, the Lewis boots are rubber, not that pliable either, but provide more protection.....with no way to attach them, you have to tape them on......the 300 weight boots from dogbooties.com cost 2.50 each and they have stretchable velcro straps around the tops and will stay on if you know how to put them on correctly.
they are very pliable, don't make the dogs feet sweat like rubber and the dog's hardly know they are on their feet. they do wear out in a few days, but for just basic protection, they are the ticket and they are very flexible on the dog's feet......that is the best part. if you need to turn burrs or goatheads, you need the Lewis boots or use cut inner tubes......good luck.
 
One thing that helps keep boots on is to put some duct tape sticky side up on the pre-wrap you put on the ankles. Just make a wrap around the ankle and stick the tape to itself. Then slip the boot on and the tape will stick to the inside of the boot. Then tape as normal on the outside.
 
Royal Flush said:
Any chance you'd like to share any info - for those of us that don't have ready access to that ?
Click to expand...

Fella starts with a wrap of Hurt Free J&J wrap and athletic tape; then he uses some Vetwrap;boot and 1" duct tape. Seems a fan of coating the boot with Shoe Goo for durability. Mite difficult to describe and the magazine is still available at a newstand.....Autumn 2012.
He has specifics with photos for the Lewis boot as well.

The few times I have needed boots I have used rather inexpensive, light cordura boots, gave a wrap under and over and lived with the occassional boot loss. The lighter weight boots do seem to hang on better, to me.
If necessary to boot every day and with some dogs and dog hair then I expect the more explicit directions offered in the article would be worth the cartage for consideration on general principles alone.
 
Thanks for all the info, fellas.

I'm hoping last fall was just bad luck - but I'm pretty sure we'll get some use out of the Lewis boots too. Particularly later in the year.
 
One year I used some terry cloth (old towels) strip and used duct tape around the leg just above the foot first and NOT TOO tight! Just applied to the skin with no tension. Then wrap the terry cloth over and around the foot, again not too tight. You may need to experiment to see how it works best for you. Then apply more duct tape over the cloth and stick it to the previously applied tape on the dog's hair. If oyu put too many layers it will get too heavy and bulky. It worked well and was very cheap. Sorta renecky I guess but when you are there and need something , it will do in a pinch.
 
Been using the Lewis boots for a few weeks now.

Great boots, and a huge step up from the velcro/cordura boots we were using - in my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top