I carry a ”dog”box on the rig. It includes first aid supplies and “preventative” equipment like boots, belly saver vests, and udder ointment.
my point is if you’re not sure your dogs feet can’t handle it, or in this case a solo dog in big , rough country- you owe it to your buddy and get him a pair of boots. He will be a lot happier and so will you. It’s a small price to pay to keep your buddy hunting , prevent feet issues and prevent cutting your trip short. They’ll be worth their weight in gold when they are needed!