Dog Boots???

henhenROOSTER!!!

henhenROOSTER!!!

New member
ANYONE (especially a trainer) with a lot of reason to try out & test different styles/brands of dog boots, know which ones seem to work & stay on the best, and where also is the best place to get of a set of them???

I am planning on hunting a couple places later this week & next that are pheasant-filled hot-spots, but absolutely loaded with grassburs/sandburs - making it brutal & almost impassable for the dogs!!! :(

I have used old-school rubber dog boots that had to be duct-taped at the top over 20 yrs ago when I lived in the desert southwest & everything in sight had a sticker or thorn on it, but NEVER thought I would run into the same problem here in CO!...I have bumped into half-a-dozen or more rooster-filled fields this year all across eastern CO & even a couple in NE that were basically unworkable with the dogs, because they got all 4 paws full of burrs with each & every step. Finally had to just pick up & leave all those happy roosters totally unmolested! :mad:

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
I buy dog boots from dogbooties.com. They were originally developed for sled dogs but have been adopted by hunters. They are made out of cordura and can be purchased in three different weight (330, 500 & 1000) or in a material called Toughtek.

I buy the 330 weight for hunting in MN and the Dakotas because I'm mostly looking to deal with the abrasive nature of prairie grass over a multiple day hunt. Have only run into sand burrs and small cactus in a couple areas along the Missouri Breaks. Had to cover the bottom of the 330's with a couple layers of duct tape to try and keep the cactus spines at bay. Seemed to be a good barrier for the burrs and kept them from sticking to the fabric.

The heavier cordura might do a better job in tougher terrain. I'd call or email them, describe your situation and see what they think. The cost is only $2.50 each so buy extra's as they will eventually wear through in tougher/rocky terrain.

To keep from losing them I put a peice of vet wrap or reversed duct tape on the dogs leg first. Slip on the boot and tighten with the velcro strap. Then a few wraps of duct tape to connect the top of the boot/strap to the duct tape and/or wrap underneath.

I can't remember the brand names but have tried at least three other type of boots and always end up coming back to the dog booties.
 
From everything I have read about dog boots it appears that the Lewis Rubber Dog Boots are the best. I did order a set for each of my dogs but have not used them yet. I think they are one of the few that will stop sand burrs. I got mine from Gun Dog Supply.
http://www.gundogsupply.com/lewis-rubber-dog-boots.html

I've been told to put some vet wrap around the dog's leg under the boot and then use duck tape to hold them on. Make sure you trim the rubber on the top to ift your dog. Just follow the directions. For $25 a set I think they are very reasonably priced.
 
Dog Boots

I vote for good ol' Lewis Rubber Dog Boots. Yep, you still have to duct tape them on but they work. And you can buy different sizes for front and rear paws. My dog takes large on the fronts and medium on the rears.
 
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Lewis boots here as well. I run in sand burrs and at times flint in the canyon. They are great but a pain in the butt to put on.
 
Check out the boots by Ruff Wear
http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex?sc=2&category=11

They work really well. I have used them for a couple of years on my weims when we go snow shoeing, or where they will come into contact with burrs or hiking over talus. They seem to be pretty tough with a vibram sole and it gives them plenty of grip which was my complaint with other boots :thumbsup:
 
$60 for dog boots!!!!:eek:

The standard cordura nylon style work just fine for me. A small strip of duct tape on top of the velcro helps keep them in place.
 
I wish you could test drive them in real hunting conditions before actually shelling the cash out for them..
 
Thx guys for all the input!

The lewis boots are exactly what I used way-back-when (& may be in the end what I gravitate back to)...But looked at all the styles suggested & have to say without trying any out so far - the Ultra-Paws look the most intriguing to me with their tough exterior, foam padding, & double-velcro straps to help keep them on with less pain-in-the-butt duct taping...Think I'll try out a set. Will let you know how they work out.
 
+1 for the cordura boots from dogbooties.com. I have the 330W cordura and they work well, stay on well and turn all but the most stubborn stickers that I have encounterd. I don't think the 330W ones would turn a cactus spine but I bet the 1000W cordura ones would. Nice thing about them is the price. I bought extras as all my dogs take the same size but if I lose one I don't have to shell out another $20-50 bucks to have a set. They sell them individually for $2.50 a boot and they are well worth it in my opinion.
What have you got to lose for $10 a set, after all they use them during the Ididarod.
 
HHR, I have tried numerous boots. To date the best ones that I have run across were a prototype that a gentleman out near Wiggins made for me to try out. If you would be interested in them I could try to find his contact info.

Other than that, they have all been about average, but the one route I can tell you not to go would be the Avery's. Even though I am a fan of most Avery equipment and throw them a bone often times, I cannot say the same for boots.

I know you being another Coloradoan, have you tried Dogs Unlimited here in Hudson. It is a ma and pa warehouse for dog training and hunting equip only. They are awesome, and if you call and talk to them, they almost always let you come out ot fit your dog to different products ie. boots, vests, etc.

Best
 
Just received a pair of "Muttluks" for Merle and had to put them on her for a good laugh! Compared to some of the other pairs of boots I used to run my lab in, these seem to be very well constructed. They've got rough-out leather bottoms and heavy nylon uppers with a self tightening velcro strap. Hopefully I'll have time to throw them on her this weekend while training on chukars to see how well they work and to help her adjust to wearing boots. Hopefully Colorado goat heads aren't too bad this year. Here she is an all of her wiry, bearded glory. 5 months old!
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Dakotazeb said:
Come on! $25 for a set of Lewis boots is less than a bag of dog food. If you can afford a dog $25 shouldn't be too much to pay, even if they don't work.
Click to expand...

I find that I can buy a lot of dog food with the money I save by buying from dogbooties.com. Nothing cheaper out there and if the dog tosses one you aren't out much money.

Only thing I would say different than Downtown Bang is that the toughtek and heaviest nylon boots should be avoided if you encounter any kind of ice and snow. I can't imagine what heavy rubber boots are like in ice and slick snow but I bet the dogs who wear them wish they could talk to us! The dogbootie 330's wear out a bit fast in some conditions--crusty snow and lost of field stubble for example are tough on them--but again they are cheap.
 
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I used Lewis boots long time ago- noisy but worked ok

I bought two sets from dogbooties- toughest they had- holes appeared in the front after 2 days of short hunts- soft, easy to put on, but not near tough enough

Dog Boots Nylon- from GDS- $19.99 per 4 are great- ordered 3 more sets- best I've seen yet- velcro top strap- small strip good duct tape over the velcro-* some of the cheap duct tape doesn't cut it- sand burs/boarsheads don't poke thru- Britt's ran fine with them on
 
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