How to Get Your Dog to Wear Dog Booties for a Safe and Fun Winter Season

If you follow any of the pet-related blogs or news outlets recently, you’ve probably read a story about preparing your dog for winter. A staple of any dog’s winter gear is a set of dog booties, especially if you live in an extreme climate and expect to take your dog out in the elements on a regular basis. What I haven’t seen discussed yet is how to actually get your dog to wear them.

When my dog Baxter and I go for a walk and he’s wearing his boots, we always get a lot of smiles and positive comments, but occasionally I hear the remark, “I tried getting my dog to wear boots, but he hates them and won’t let me put them on.” Then they ask me, “Does your dog try to pull them off?” I can see the look of skepticism on their faces when I tell them that Baxter not only enjoys wearing them, he eagerly gives me his paws if he even thinks I’m going to put them on.

It got me thinking about writing down why I think Baxter likes wearing his dog boots and for that matter why some dogs don’t. He’s generally a cooperative dog, but I don’t think he has a predisposition to enjoy wearing boots that other dogs don’t have. He’s pretty much just an average dog.

A History Lesson:

The first thing to consider if your dog refuses to wear dog boots is that maybe at some time in the past they have had a bad experience. Maybe your dog was forced to wear one of those cheap, stiff boots designed to look like a set of Converse All-Stars with blinking lights? The first thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to dog boots, fashion must never come before function. Remember, you’re doing this primarily for your dog’s benefit, not your amusement.

If your dog has had a bad experience, that’s not a reason to give up. It may just mean an extra dose of patience is required. But there is absolutely no reason why any dog can’t be trained to wear boots and even enjoy them. That’s right I did say trained. There is some basic training involved. It’s not like simply putting a new collar on. However, it’s well worth the effort and your dog will thank you in the long run. You’ll be making outdoor trips a lot more enjoyable, comfortable and safer. It may even save you a visit to the vet to treat a cut, blistered or infected paw?

First Thing’s First: Not all Dog Booties are Created Equal:

No amount of proper training will compensate for an uncomfortable, ill-fitting boot. In fact if you’ve had problems in the past you’ll only be reinforcing the same negative feelings in your dog by using the wrong boot.

Here are a few basic characteristics to look for in a good dog boot:

• Flexibility: It should move with your dog’s natural paw movements and not force your dog to change its natural stride.
• Form fitting yet not tight. If the boot is too loose and the material is too rough it can cause friction and irritation. Foot powder helps too, by absorbing wetness and reducing friction.
• Well-designed boots that stay on without having to lash them down with vice grips. If you need to over-tighten them to ensure they stay on, you’re likely cutting off your dog’s circulation. At the same time don’t keep them too loose or even good boots may fall off. It just takes a little practice to find the right balance.
• Good traction. Hard plastic or smooth soles will only make your dog feel more unstable and insecure when wearing boots. A boot with a rubberized sole will provide traction and will help your dog’s confidence with having them on. Dogs get a lot of their sense of balance and control from their paw pads. It’s challenging enough to not have direct contact with the ground. Making them slip and slide on plastic or slick soles may cause your dog to resist wearing them even more.

Now that we’ve got the preliminary stuff out of the way let’s get down to the brass tax. The absolute most important technique to get your dog used to wearing dog boots is consistent, positive reinforcement and association. Is there a single dog in the world that doesn’t get excited when their owner reaches for the leash? For your dog it means there’s a 99.9 percent chance that a walk is coming. There’s no reason why your dog cannot make the same association of putting dog boots on with an exciting, fun, adventure-filled walk. It may be just a chore to us sometimes, but for them it is like a trip to Vegas!

If you put the boots on and then just let the dog wander around the house for a while, it may only add to your dog’s frustration and anxiety. Make sure, especially in the beginning, that as soon as the boots are on you head out for a walk. Not only is it a positive association, it’s a great way to take your dog’s mind off of the fact they have boots on. There are just too many other stimulating distractions to enjoy! Also it’s a great way to release any stress or anxiety your dog may have from having these strange contraptions on.

Dogs respond better to different forms of positive reinforcement than others. You know what works best for your dog. You can do any or all of the following:

• Praise your dog for letting you put the boots on as well as during and after the walk.
• Give theme their favorite treats throughout the experience.
• If you can’t go outside, engage in a fun activity while the dog has the boots on, like playing fetch or some other game. Dogs love attention and abhor boredom. Positive, fun attention is a great way to establish a positive association with the boots.

I’m confident that if you apply these suggestions and take a dedicated, consistent approach to getting your dog used to wearing dog boots, pretty soon your dog will beg you to put them on; just like Baxter.

- Jim Leal, aka, The Dog Cobbler, is founder and owner of Woof Hoofs. The company began out of a desire to share his love of the outdoors with his dog, Baxter. You can ask Jim questions by writing him at jim@woofhoofs.com or by visiting the company website: www.woofhoofs.com.