While we Chicagoans have been lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about snow!) to have a mild beginning of winter, chances are it won’t stay like that for too much longer. Soon, we’ll be inundated with forecasts of snowstorms and blizzards, freezing rain and sleet. In other words, dog walks are about to get a little bit more annoying. One thing that you can do to make them more tolerable—for your dog, anyway, is to invest in some dog boots to protect their paws. If you’re on the fence about whether to invest in some dog boots, learning more about their benefits might make the decision easier.
They Protect Against Sharp Ice and Packed Snow
When snow first falls, it’s soft and safe and harmless, but once it’s been packed down by people walking on it, or an overnight freeze, sharp edges can form. In the same vein, if the ground is icy, if the ice cracks, the edges of the cracks can be very sharp. If your pup walks over these sharp edges without boots on, their paws can get cut pretty easily. Slipping on a set of boots can help protect the vulnerable paw pads.
They Create a Barrier from Salt and Other Chemicals
Aside from protecting your dog’s paws from sometimes-sharp edges of ice and snow, a more prevalent benefit of using dog boots is that they create a barrier between harsh chemicals that people put down on sidewalks to melt ice and snow. These chemicals can dry out your pooch’s paw pads and, if they’re not wiped off every time your dog comes in from outside, they can also cause chemical burns. Using boots not only saves you the time and hassle of having to wash off your dogs paws after every walk, but it protects your dog’s paws from getting dried out and cracking from chemical burn. Overall, having your dog wear boots helps their paws stay safe and healthy! What’s not to like about that?
They Keep Dogs’ Paws Safe from Extreme Temperatures
Of course, another great reason to use dog boots during the winter is because they help keep your pup’s feet a little warmer. If you take long walks or there’s a lot of snow—or even if the ground is just very cold due to the weather—think about what a difference boots can make. After all, we humans all wear shoes outside during the winter, so it makes sense that boots for your dog can help protect against the cold.
What’s best, the boots don’t have to be one-season apparel. Because sidewalks and asphalt can get extremely hot in the summertime, too, you can use the boots then as well, to get more bang for your buck.
Do you use dog boots for your pups? What kind are your favorite?
