Above: Casual Canine X-treme Weather Dog Boots

Member Post By Rosemary Heinz

Dog foot wear and clothing for dogs seem to be a fashion trend but these articles can also be practical.  When our family purchased two new puppies, getting these little bundles of joy, the farthest thing in my mind was thinking about clothes and booties.  My thinking was they have built in winter coats, after all they have fur and they are used to walking outdoors.  Living in a very cold winter climate the first year went by without any type of problems as they were young and not left outside for long amounts of time.  Time moved along and by the second year they were considered adults.  The time for walks and being outside became a reality.  Observing them I noticed the cold winters were taking a toll on their bodies.  Still I kept thinking dogs were used to the cold.  I began to notice them shaking with cold and their feet seemed to take the brunt of it.   In our harsh winters, wind chills can get as low as 30 degrees below zero. Just taking them out for as little as two minutes they would stop, sit down and hold their little pads up.  Actually, they couldn't walk and I would have to pick them up and carry them into the warmth of the house.  This made me think how cold my feet would be if I had to walk barefoot in the extreme cold.  The idea of boots and coats for dogs still seemed strange but the sight of their discomfort made me decide to to some research.

My main priority was something for their feet.  In researching different brands I found the perfect solution for my situation.  These were fleece lined and the outer shell was waterproof polyester with an added benefit of ridged gripped soles.  They were also easy to secure with Velcro closure, the look being generic.  As time went on I bought more with classic looks, traditional looks and even pairs that looked like tennis shoes.  After all they were part of the family and a little style doesn't hurt but protecting their little pads is the most important.  Once they catch on that this helps them they seem to like them very much.  And a good investment if you want to keep dirt and mud from being tracked into your house.

Once I solved the problem with their pads it was time to address all their shivering.  Many thick coated dogs can stand lots of cold, but even they can have issues.  My dogs have short smooth coats which is why they feel cold faster.  Just like humans they may need a little help.  With so many types of coats and sweaters on the market it is sometimes difficult to decide which is best for your needs.  Sweaters seemed to be harder to put on my dogs so I elected to buy coats which could be put over them and closed under their bellies with Velcro.  This took hardly any time and once the dogs got accustomed to having this warm layer put on them seemed to welcome being dressed.

These are a few tips to pass along.  Keeping you best friend warm is simple and can help them to live a longer enjoyable life.  These few little changes seem to have made life more enjoyable for my little dogs.  It is time to get past the idea that dogs that are dressed are pampered and to see benefits that can to keep your dogs healthy.   

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