Dog Boots

[tomtom]

Is there a good brand of boots that stays on a dog? thanks.

[sheimer]

I hunted with a guy that had a couple bad footed walkers and he tried everything in the book that we knew of and nothing stayed on worth a boo. Wish I could help.

Scott

[Kenny Fulton]

Try www.ruffwear.com . They have some great boots that hold up and stay on pretty good. I have a hound with a bad foot and I run a boot on him. It's kept him hunting for a couple years insted of retirement.
kenny

[dwalton]

Depending on the dog and problem, I have duck tape there feet and got by when boots did not work. Make sure you spread the foot out first so it won't bind up. Dewey

[david]

This is a huge problem in the north where we are often dealing with razor snow. I have a ton of experience using duct tape as Dewey mentioned. It has often been the difference between hunting and going home, but it sure is not ideal. Different dogs react differently to it. Some absolutely hate it. Others dont seem to mind it at all. All are slowed down by it, which is an issue with bobcat, but may not matter so much with lion. In trecherous bluff country, I do not think I would use it, because it is slippery, unless you can put a twist on the last layer, for sticky side down. I never quite figured out how to do that. But that is why it slows dogs down, it reduces traction. But again, do you want to hunt a little slower, or go home?

I have tried every boot I could find. I think this field is wide open for a smart inventor like the guys working for 3M. I figured if anyone, the sled doggers would know. And I guess they do, but they spend about $1,000 per race on dog booties. They are a cloth material that you would think is not thick enough to do any good. But it does, and this is what they use. They change them out two or three times per race, and thus the huge expense. They wear out quickly, but they are comfortable for the dogs. I have never seen a dog that hates them like some hate the tape. Only problem I have seen with them is some kinds of snow will filter through the pores in the cloth and eventually will need to be taken off and emptied out of clods of snow. If you do a search on what the sled dog folks use, you will find them. They are easily made if you have a sewing machine in the family. Even the material is not cheap though.

Bottom line, When I went up to the cats, I always had a roll of duct tape along, because after a two or three hour drive to get there, I aint goin home without seeing some dog work. I have caught bobcats with taped up dogs, but the catch rate goes down.

[Andy]

Ever try hockey tape? It's clothlike, gotta be better than duct tape for being slick, its cheap, and pretty tough. Never used it on any dogs but I've put a bunch on a hockey stick, it should be at least as good as duct tape.

[Desertrunner]

Have used a product called mushers secret for a few years now and it works great for keeping feet on a hound, I was told about it by a friend who is in to sled dogs. Hope it helps out. Its not like Tuff foot its a thicker coating. Here's the link http://www.musherssecret.net/