It’s still cold and snowy where we are, but it’s beginning to melt and it’s getting all muddy and gross. And even though we’re looking forward to spring, the warmer weather is melting the snow and bringing about a wack of new problems. It’s wet, salty, mucky and even worse, there’s dog poop everywhere! Ick! But out in Winnipeg, there’s still plenty of snow and we thought it was the perfect time for Kev and his Oxford Dogs to try out Pawz Dog Boots. Built for all kinds of conditions, Kev and his team put them through the paces on snowy terrain.
We woke up this morning, and it was -40. It looked like a great day to test out the Pawz Dog Boots!
Pawz Dog Boots come 12 to a pack, and fit any dog from tiny 1” feet to dogs with x-large 5” feet. If you aren’t sure which size fits your dog, they have a brilliant package with the outline of the dog’s paw on the back. So all you have to do is line up the dog’s paw with the package, and you will get the right size fit!
Before we got out of the truck, we outfitted our four dogs in their new Pawz boots. The boots are easy to put on the dogs’ feet. Moving around in the truck, with four dogs, and skis and poles… well, that was the hard part!
As soon as the dogs hit the ground, they were ready to run! They showed no signs of discomfort or distraction with the new boots on their feet. Two of the dogs have never worn boots before, and took to them naturally. We literally put them on, and then hit the trail!
pawz-dog-boots-2In the 45 to 55 lbs range, Burger, Penny and River all wore the mediums, and our biggest guy, 75 lbs, Ember wore the large size. The boots are very soft, so there was plenty of room for the dogs’ toes to move when they ran. It is essential that our dogs are able to spread their toes for a better grip on the trail. Moving at fast speeds and maneuvering around corners, we really ask a lot of our dogs. Digging into the trail and pulling needs some pretty precise foot work! The Pawz dog boots were thin and stretched enough that the dogs were able to run properly and safely.
We ran the dogs through some ankle deep soft snow,and then over some hard packed trails. Our average speed was 28 km/h, so we were moving at a good clip. We only had two boots come off at the start. We rubbed the snow off the dog’s feet, stretched the bootie back on, and we were back at it.
If the dog booties reviews here had come off, they are made of natural rubber and are 100% biodegradable. Of course we advocate for picking up after yourself and your dog while out on the trail, but nice to know that if a bootie has been missed, it won’t end up causing damage to the environment.
The booties did their job and they did it well! With 12 to a pack, the average household is going to find these boots economical. A few of the dogs have longer nails, and their nails did push into the rubber leaving little dents, but after nearly 10km of running, there are no holes in the boots yet.
In any dog boot, I look for dryness and wideness factors. The boot has to be made of a material that keeps the dog’s foot dry. Too wide of an opening or a material that allows water to seep in, means the dog is distracted and uncomfortable. A boot that is too narrow doesn’t allow the dog to run safely. The Pawz dog boots meet my standards in both of these criteria!
