ISO dog boot recommendations

[Mosby]

I just ordered some of the 1000 denier boots for my dogs.

 

[airmedic1]

If we all used the same size boots a few of us should go together and buy a lot of 250 boots from dogbooties.com. They drop from $3.70 to $1.80 each. At my age I’d never use 250 boots anymore!

 

[Mosby]

I got my boots in. I ordered XS for my small female GSP and small for my male Vizsla. Tried both on and it looks like I ordered the right sizes. My dogs have never worn boots and both were a little OCD about having a boot on but it's a start.

 

[airmedic1]

Whenever I put boots on my dogs around the house they won't walk or do exaggerated moves, picking their feet up and shaking them. I've gotten to the point where I put them on in the field and they just take off and go hunting. I have had them chew them off when in their dog box moving to a new spot but usually once they are a little tired it's not an issue.

 

[Powderhorn Jim]

If you are hunting sharptail in SD you will encounter cactus, primarily prickly pear, but also that little obnoxious sucker that I call "mini-cholla". It has a hook on the spine so it is actually hard to remove. I'm seeing prickly pear growing everywhere on the grasslands. With all the moisture this year, the stuff that was little last year is much larger, which is good - the dogs can see it, but there are patches of new cactus that is hidden in the grass. I try to avoid boots as they cause my dogs to fatigue early, especially when it is hot, but I carry boots 100% of the time, "just in case".

There are also places up here with massive infestations of goat heads and/or sand burrs in old cultivated fields that have been left fallow. Often these are good for pheasant, I assume because most people either don't have boots for their dogs or their dogs won't wear boots.

 

[Wind River]

 

[Wind River]

Nasty stuff. Locals call it ground cactus

 

[GPowers]

Dogbooties.com every color and size available. I have used these boots for years and love them.

 

[UplandHntr]

If you go the dogbooties route dont wait to order as shipping can be a bit longer as they are in AK I believe

 

[Bonnie_Springer]

If you are hunting sharptail in SD you will encounter cactus, primarily prickly pear, but also that little obnoxious sucker that I call "mini-cholla". It has a hook on the spine so it is actually hard to remove. I'm seeing prickly pear growing everywhere on the grasslands. With all the moisture this year, the stuff that was little last year is much larger, which is good - the dogs can see it, but there are patches of new cactus that is hidden in the grass. I try to avoid boots as they cause my dogs to fatigue early, especially when it is hot, but I carry boots 100% of the time, "just in case".

There are also places up here with massive infestations of goat heads and/or sand burrs in old cultivated fields that have been left fallow. Often these are good for pheasant, I assume because most people either don't have boots for their dogs or their dogs won't wear boots.

I am definitely going to try and get a few sharptail. Where we hunt, there are prickly pear cactus, but also this cactus that I can't identify. I need to take a picture next time I go out. They are small and just completely cover the ground. Luckily, the spines aren't too big, but it's bad. I personally have taken a few of what I assume are the "mini-cholla" type cactus, to the back of my calf. Stings when you have to pull them out. I get them stuck in the hem of my pants, and then I guess kick it into my own calf. Tried to squat down once and poked myself in the rear end. They are not my favorite.

 

[Bonnie_Springer]

Nasty stuff. Locals call it ground cactus

it's not fun for sure!

 

[airmedic1]

Nasty stuff. Locals call it ground cactus

I agree, it's nasty stuff!
I think the proper name is opuntia fragilis. It's a type of prickly pear that is sometimes refereed to as Dune cactus. I've also heard it referred to as button cactus, ground cactus as noted above and other names I can't print!

The first time I was introduced to it was grouse hunting in the Sandhills. My old dog got one stuck in her throat, I'm sure after pulling it from a leg. I had a hell of a time getting it out since I wasn't carrying gloves or pliers and I had a bunch of spines in my fingers before I got it out. This is one of the reasons that I always carry gloves and a multi tool whenever I hunt.

My second experience came when my buddy ran a spine under the nail on his big toe. We figured a dog brought it in the house. It was really stuck, probably at least a 1/4" or more under the nail. We were able to pull it out and the spine looked intact. He had a very sore toe foot awhile but never suffered any issues after a couple of weeks.