I couldn’t begin to count how many times I swore I would never put a dog of mine in booties. Maybe 100 times. I bought booties for Gus once and he pulled each one-off in seconds, and that was the end of the ignoble experiment for me.
Today, I bought some f—— booties for my dog Bud.
I just don’t like the idea. Dogs were not ever meant to run around in booties, even though I certainly recognize dogs need to be protected from extreme cold and exposure. Blessedly, neither Gus nor Bud has shown much need for a sweater.
My conceits and egotistical preferences have been blown right away by this savage winter storm and subsequent arctic cold front that has gripped me, the farm, the town and much of the country.
But I would rather be humane than right.
Maria got hypothermia yesterday (which she finally conceded today on her blog after MUCH protest. It takes a brave man to tell her she is mortal), and we woke up this morning to a thermometer that read – 18 degrees.
Fate and Red struggled to walk on such cold ground, and poor Bud just couldn’t hack it, and almost fell over trying to get his feet on better ground. After about ten seconds of this, I let him in, and within minutes he had taken a dump in my study. The poor guy had to go.
My attitude and bravado crumpled rapidly, I could not abide either his suffering or his dumping on my rug. I rushed to PETCO in Bennington, Vt. and got him some polyester storm shoes – okay, booties – there were only one or two left. “They have been flying out of here,” offered a happy salesperson.
When I got home, we spent 10 minutes trying to wrestle them on, the poor dog may have to wait a long time to go to the bathroom. I hate those things. It was always my idea that Bud would be a dog, not a small dog. I have another pair (four shoes) coming tomorrow from Amazon. The reviews say they are simple to get on and off.
I just hate these things and the idea of them, I’ve always had hardy working dogs, we’ve always handled the winter, which is often severe and challenging. I can’t imagine putting booties or a sweater on any of them. Rose would have never forgiven me.
But this my first small dog, a Boston Terrier. My farmer friends with Boston Terriers tell me with contempt in their eyes that their dogs never wear sweaters or booties. Clearly, they suggest, I am one of those out-of-town wussies. And so, by reason, is my dog.
Still, I put my steward cap on. It is my job to make Bud comfortable and safe, he wasn’t either this morning. I just ate my ego. No regrets.
He needed those booties for sure, and it looks like we will be getting more frigid blasts over the next month or longer. It’s that Polar Vortex they love so much on the Weather Channel. It is breaking down, and releasing some brutal weather.
Tonight, Bud will get his first trek outdoors in his new booties, assuming I can figure out how to get them on. Pride is a dish best swallowed hole.
My little did well not tolerate any type of foot gear. We’re have compromised.. they will tolerate paw wax. Easy to apply and rub into their pads, protects them from road salt, etc. I use mushers secret. $12 on Amazon. One container has lasted 3 winters.
I use
Pride/schmide…who needs it when it comes to those closest to us.
As Clint Eastwood said in some movie when he shooting up bad guys and looking good: “A man has to know his limitations”. Bud is huge in heart, but small in body, with little hair or fat: these are extreme conditions, even for upper NY. I get that he and you hate the bootie concept, but sometimes we have to do what we have to do.
Oh my, the things we do for our pets. Your headline made me laugh so hard I snorted!
Does it help at all to consider that booties are gear that some working dogs do use? They’re par for the course for sled dogs who are out running in those extreme cold temperatures and snow and ice.
There are some wickedly funny videos of dogs trying to walk in booties for the first time!
Let us all know how he addapts!
I love it, “Pride is a dish best swallowed whole”..btw, when he first wears his booties, best get the video ready for the show he is likely to put on..lol
At least his shoes will match his outfit. 🙂 They could have been red with sparkles, and that would have been a whole ‘nother thing…
You could also try “Musher’s Wax”, whic h you apply to the dog’s pads to protect them. It’s what they use for sled dogs, and works well. You just put a small amount across the pads….and it’s not injurious to the dog.
My sister uses Mushers paw wax on her dogs. I got it for her on Amazon
The title of your post had me laughing hysterically before I even read it because I remember the struggle with those store-bought boots. They are completely useless. I found a lady at a local farmers market who made boots and coats for dogs. Much easier to get on and they STAY on. The ones from the pet store? They might be good for a funny video but that’s about it. I read about someone who built a kind of lean-to against the house right outside the door. He kept it shoveled out and that’s where the dog did his thing when it was super cold. Personally, I would rather solve the problem by moving to Arizona or Hawaii. Dreams are free ….
Dear Jon, If you put one on outside when he is feeling it (lifting it up) he will appreciate it more, then you can keep adding until they are all on. I start with the back ones.
In taking to a friend in Vermont who has pugs she offered this solution: spread straw or hay on an area outside on the ground. They shovel the snow to make a three sided “snow fort” and spread the straw around about 2″ deep. This gives their dogs an area where they can walk around a bit before they poop. They pick up the poop. When more rain or snow is expected they put a tarp over the area to protect it.
Hi,
May I suggest that you put the booties only on the front paws at first, for a couple of days, that way he’ll get used to them slowly but surely. In Ottawa, the cold is constant (-34C on Monday) and the snow plows distributes salt everywhere so even for big dogs, we have to put booties on because the salt burns their paws. Looking forward to seeing a picture of Bud with those on. Cheers!
I tried multiple booties for a 45 pound dog whose toes would get big snow balls, making it very uncomfortable to walk. I also tried the mushers wax, but that didn’t work at all. What has worked are indoor fleece booties with the soft bottoms covered witb soft rubber. All my dog needed was protection against the snow and cold, but not against rough surfaces. Here’s a link to their website.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0721Z1GT4/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1