Product Review: PAWZ Dog Boots

PAWZ are disposable, reusable dog boots that are basically balloons you put on your dog's feet. They are made from natural rubber, and it's difficult to overstate how much these look like party balloons. It just occurred to me that I have yet to attempt to inflate one though. Anyway, these are available in seven sizes to fit paws up to 5" long. Each size is a different color.

It took me a long time to fall in love with PAWZ. They're basically the Crocs of the dog fashion scene. Cheap rubber shoes that are surprisingly comfortable and get the job done while looking cringe-worthy. I mean, they look like I put balloons on my dog's feet.

You wouldn't think that thin, unpadded rubber boots would work very well. They don't have any insulation. They don't have a hard sole. They don't have grippy treads. They don't offer very much protection, but they do offer a small barrier between hot pavement, cold snow, abrasive gravel, and your dog.

We use these at work quite a bit. They are worlds better than most of my impressive collection of dog shoes because they stay on pretty good, and it's not the end of the world if we lose one in the field. At $18 for a pack of 12 boots, I just kind of shrug when Zip comes out of the brush without one.

Most dogs are willing to wear PAWZ even if they hate other shoes, because these don't feel like wearing much. Their toes can expand naturally. Their nails can grip like normal. They have almost as much traction in these as they do in bare feet. There aren't in constricting straps either, the boots just pop on. I've seen people use vetwrap and bandaging tape to help keep the boots on, but honestly my dogs don't lose them unless we're working in really rough terrain.

Pros

• Inexpensive, easy to replace
• Really genuinely waterproof, at least until they develop holes
• Durable enough to handle an entire day's herding, sometimes two or three days before they really fall apart
• They actually stay on almost all the time
• Comfortable for dogs

Cons

• Not protective enough for really hot or really cold conditions
• Look absolutely ridiculous
• Not breathable at all
• No color choice, my dogs wear medium so we only get blue

Bottom Line

These are surprisingly effective without throwing my girls off their groove too much. I am hesitant to put anything on them that could change their gaits, limit their traction, or change the way they move. We work on really abrasive, rocky terrain most of the time, and PAWZ hold up well enough to spare their feet when they start getting sore.

Product Review: Ultra Paws Durable Dog Boots

These Ultra Paws Durable Dog Boots have some unique features that set them apart from the usual dog shoes. The top of the boot opens up wider than the boot itself, making it easier to cram all those toes and claws in there. The inside of the top also has foam cushions that help grip the dog's leg and make the boots more comfortable when fastened tightly. The soles and toes have nice heavy grippy rubber to provide traction, and these are specifically recommended for seniors that slip on hard floors. Durable Dog Boots are available in two colors and six sizes to fit paws 1.25-4" wide.

Photo by Erin Koski

Ultra Paws definitely put some thought into the design for these dog shoes. They've clearly used a lot of boots in the past, and know the most common problems with various designs.

Their Durable Dog Boots are sort of a cross between bag-style boots that are the same all the way around, and shaped boots with a distinct top and bottom. They're not hard-sole boots, so they won't be super uncomfortable if they twist around.

I'm pretty sure the #1 complaint about any dog boots on the planet is that they don't stay on. Ultra Paws has addressed this issue in a couple of different ways. The first is the foam inside the boots, under the straps. This has a slightly grippy texture, and also provides some padding when the straps are cinched down tight. Each boot also has two straps that run in opposite directions around the leg. These can help them fit over dewclaws.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: The grippy bottom of the boots extends well up the tops as well, so if they spin they still provide traction. Easy to put on and tighten down. Seem to stay on better than most dog shoes.

Cons: Despite the name, these Durable Dog Boots are mostly recommended for indoor use with only "light duty outdoors". The way the boot opens at the top can really irritate some dogs' dewclaws.

Bottom Line: The best solution for dewclaws in boots seems to be wrapping them with vet wrap first. For Brisbane, I first do a wrap under the claw to keep it from pressing against his leg, and then add a second wrap on top to protect the dewclaw from the boot. If I wrap a little higher, I can even use medical tape or duct tape to secure the boot to the wrap.

Fido Fleece Dog Boots

These leopard print fleece dog boots are from the original Fido Fleece company. A little more than just a standard booty, the durable grippy sole wraps around the front of the toe where boots often see the most wear. In addition to the standard velcro wrap strap, these have a drawstring at the very top to help them stay on and keep stuff out of the boots.

Photo by Erin Koski

I remember hearing about Fido Fleece when Brisbane was a baby. They were the preferred coat for shivering jack russell terriers. While the product line still has the original brand name, the ownership of Fido Fleece has changed quite a bit.

Originally Fido Fleece was its own companyl producing fleece dog jackets and matching booties. Then the company was purchased by Premier, makers of wonderful martingale collars and harnesses. Then Premier was acquired by PetSafe and I assume from there everything went to hell.

I'll be honest, I really don't like PetSafe as a company, and would avoid buying their products if they didn't keep buying up companies I really like. I loved the Premier SureFit harness long before PetSafe bought them. I had Busy Buddy toys for my cocker spaniel before Brisbane was born. I feel like they acquire small businesses with excellent customer service and then assimilate them into the giant and faceless corporation.

Photo by Erin Koski

Some giant corporations have decent customer service, but PetSafe is just terrible. I bought a couple of their Come With Me Kitty harness and stretchy leash sets, and after slightly over a year of sitting in a drawer the leashes lost their stretch entirely. I had the same issue with one of my original Ruffwear Roamer leashes, and it was considered defective and replaced. Apparently PetSafe's stretchy leashes simply have a shelf life, and when I emailed to ask about it they told me to just buy another one. I was given another stretchy PetSafe leash and it did the same thing, so apparently this is just a product with a short lifespan. I feel icky about supporting a company that doesn't stand behind their product, and makes things seemingly designed to fail just after their warranty period.

Fido Fleece is another wonderful company swallowed by PetSafe. The product line seems to have shrunk significantly since the brand was acquired, and these boots are no longer available. I haven't heard anyone mention Fido Fleece in years now.