Originally Posted by LaVcaM (Post 4743177)

Okay, so it doesn't work. IF I lived in an area that had snow and owned a dog that needed to use an outside toilet... I would think strongly about making a covered dog-run that kept the snow/water outside of it so my dog could do it's business and stay clean and dry. But I live up by Sacramento, CA where we only get tons of rain and my Yorkie uses pee-pads for her business. So we only go outside for exercise & fresh air when it's not raining. Just sharing what I know.

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie (Post 4742922)

My Yorkies were born and raised in snow country, and I swear by booties. If hubby questions the need, ask him to look at pictures from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- where Alaskan huskies bred for snow country wear booties to protect their feet!

When my Yorkies were pups, they were the most playful dogs ever in summer. Come winter, they started to balk on their walks. I tried coats and they helped, but they didn't embrace winter until I discovered booties. Not just any booties, but simple fleece booties without hard soles. I find dogs don't need hard soles, but they do appreciate getting their pads off the ice.

It takes a little conditioning to get them used to booties. At first, some throw a fit and you start questioning whether it's a good idea or not. But if you just lure them to a treat or a ball one step at a time, they slowly forget they have them on their feet and start appreciating winter.

The simpler the better, though, in my opinion. If you sew, make them yourself. A stretchy elastic velcro at top makes all the difference because they tend to want to fall off.

And you're right about salt. The dogs hate it.

Here are a few pics of my dogs in their booties just this week.

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie (Post 4742922)

My Yorkies were born and raised in snow country, and I swear by booties. If hubby questions the need, ask him to look at pictures from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- where Alaskan huskies bred for snow country wear booties to protect their feet!

When my Yorkies were pups, they were the most playful dogs ever in summer. Come winter, they started to balk on their walks. I tried coats and they helped, but they didn't embrace winter until I discovered booties. Not just any booties, but simple fleece booties without hard soles. I find dogs don't need hard soles, but they do appreciate getting their pads off the ice.

It takes a little conditioning to get them used to booties. At first, some throw a fit and you start questioning whether it's a good idea or not. But if you just lure them to a treat or a ball one step at a time, they slowly forget they have them on their feet and start appreciating winter.

The simpler the better, though, in my opinion. If you sew, make them yourself. A stretchy elastic velcro at top makes all the difference because they tend to want to fall off.

And you're right about salt. The dogs hate it.

Here are a few pics of my dogs in their booties just this week.

Originally Posted by canana (Post 4743366)

Your dogs are so awesome! How tight do you have the stretchy velcro? I've tried making my own booties and they always slipped off. :(

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie (Post 4743394)

I’ll make them snug, not tight where it’s going to cut off circulation. They generally stay on pretty well, but i’ll lose three or four a year. The white elastic Velcro works great but you can also attach some to the end of a regular elastic strap. A woman made some thick, double fleece booties for me one time and they didn’t stay on as well. Dogs also weren’t comfortable with the thicker booties.

As for salty areas, I pick them up. I don’t want them eating stuff on salty snow sidewalks anyway. Our roads have never been a problem because city uses gravel. The only salt comes from the little they put in the gravel to keep it from freezing.

Originally Posted by canana (Post 4743395)

Thanks for the tips on the booties! Will look into getting some white elastic Velcro. I wish I could just pick mine up during the winter, but everywhere we walk there's salt!

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie (Post 4743396)

Hmm, that stinks! You might consider another material then. AllDogBoots has some designed for the salt. The fleece will protect them if the snow's not slushy, but once it's wet the salt will go right through.