WHAT ARE PUPPY BOOTS?
There are two different types of “boots” that can be used for puppies.
The first type of puppy boot is usually decorative, used for wearing indoors. These boots are used for appearance purposes only, and are not to be worn outdoors. There are hundreds of companies that manufacture decorative puppy boots, in anything from puppy leather boots, to puppy slippers. Due to the active nature of Labrador Retriever puppies, however, it may be slightly difficult to convince your puppy to refrain from chewing on decorative puppy boots.
The second type of puppy boot is used mainly for practical purposes. This type of puppy boot is used for outdoors, usually to protect a puppy’s soft foot pads from snow or ice. Because a puppy’s foot pads take time to fully develop, being outdoors in harsh weather may damage the soft skin of the toes and feet. Practical puppy boots are usually waterproof, and include a secure fastening device to keep the boots from falling off of the feet. This type of boot is also useful if walking your puppy on hot pavement, or if you wish to take your puppy hiking.
HOW TO GET YOUR PUPPY COMFORTABLE WITH WEARING BOOTS
If you wish to get your puppy used to wearing boots, the first step is to introduce the boots indoors. It’s best to buy a full set of four puppy boots, since this will be the easiest way to get your puppy comfortable with wearing boots. Many puppies will act adorably confused when they first try on their puppy boots, so you may want to have a camera ready! Since the ground feels different under their paws while wearing boots, many puppies will kick their feet high into the air, trying to become accustomed to this new sensation.
PUPPY BOOTS FOR INJURIES
If your puppy has recently had an injury involving the legs or paws, sometimes a special type of boot will be required for proper rehabilitation. These types of boots are usually used to immobilize a specific joint or bone during the healing process, similar to a plaster cast. A puppy boot may also be required for some puppies who have weakness or instability in the joints during initial development. These boots are usually only worn on one or two paws, since support is usually not required for all four legs.
