****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I used to DRIVE somewhere to walk my dog in the winter because of the snow, ice, salt, and filthy slushy streets we had to cross in our neighborhood. Then I changed jobs and my dog walking schedule and I have no choice but to walk her right here at home. I don't have the money to be buying her boots that get lost in the snow. I've been using balloons on her feet and it's doable but a pain. I think I read every single review of every single dog shoe on the market before deciding to try these.They work, they really work! So far, they have stayed on through 2 walks in our neighborhood. One walk was 8 city blocks, the other was longer, maybe 10 or 12 blocks. Each walk included bare sidewalks, curbs, steps, packed snow, ice, 6" deep fluffy snow, ice melt salt, and dirty slush in streets. I almost didn't use the shoes because I thought our brand new shoes would be filthy after just one walk but they really didn't pick up the dirt. I shook off the snow and hung them on clothespins near a heat duct so they'd be ready for our next walk.My dog was not thrilled with them at first and kept lifting her rear feet after I put the boots on. But she loves her walks and the minute we got outside it hardly seemed any different than usual. One thing I noticed is that the booties make a little sound as she walks, like the pitter patter of little feet. She has stumbled a couple of times that I attribute to the boots and maybe it will get better with time. She kind of stumbled up a snow-bermed curb and she stumbled when she tried a flying leap. Overall her walking pattern, speed, etc., seemed very normal. I had to keep looking to see if the front shoes were still on (they were--YAY!)SIZING:My dog is a 15# long-legged mutt, maybe a shih tzu terrier cross. Her feet, when pressed down on paper, measure 1 1/4" across. Based on the sizing guidelines and info from reviews, I ordered the Petite. When they came I almost sent them back. The foot part looked OK, but I thought no way was her limp foot gonna make it through the opening, and yes it was a little awkward/difficult threading her foot in, but it was easier the second time. The next size up would be way too big and flappy in the feet. I would say 1 1/4" width is about the biggest foot that will fit in the Petite size. I would have to agree with some other reviewers that if you have a really tiny dog, the Petite will be too big, but balloons should work.A SAFETY PRECAUTION ABOUT BALLOONS - CHOKING HAZARD:My dog was pretty OK with using balloons on her feet. One day as I was putting them on, one ripped and I stepped away from her long enough to get a balloon from the next room. When I came back I noticed that one balloon was missing from her feet and thought it had just come off. But then she started gagging a little bit. She wasn't actually chewing or choking; she just seemed a little odd. I couldn't get her to open her mouth or even force it open.We went ahead outside for her walk and she kept doing these little tiny gags. Finally, luckily, very soon a bright green balloon suddenly appeared on the sidewalk. She had it in her mouth or throat the whole time and I'm lucky she didn't die. Children die from swallowing balloons so watch your dog carefully if you use balloons on their feet. Don't let your dog out of your sight when they have balloons on their feet and don't leave them within your dog's reach in between walks. Dogs love chewing on rubbery things and may be especially inclined to chew up and kill those rubbery things you keep putting on their feet.If you try balloons, you need to cut off most but not all of the neck. It needs some of the neck to be tight enough to stay on. Only use them for short term use as they are tight on the dog's legs and also sweaty.ULTRA PAWS DURABLE BOOTS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I am thinking of ordering a spare pair for when these need to be washed. Also it seems inevitable that a boot will go missing sometime and I'll have plenty of spares on hand.
