So my pup is nearly 6 months old. Wondering how much wider his feet might get until he's fully mature. With full weight down his front paws are 2.5 inches (6.35 cm), and his rears are 2.25 inches (5.7 cm). He's close to 50 pounds (22kg) in weight and based on the chart might top out at 65-70. I'd like to buy his his protective hiking boots now so he can get used to them and also break them in a bit before we go to the mountains in August.
I think all parts of him have some growing to do yet, feet included Sam has always had big feet, big everything really as he is 38 kilos ( but no spare fat, just big ! ) His feet continued to grow with his legs, if that makes sense
Obviously not been trail hiking in Colorado, Utah, or Wyoming. We go on serious hiking/camping expeditions where the ground can put lots of wear and tear on a dogs pads. Last thing we want for our dogs are sore pads or even worse a cut pad miles from medical care. It's a very common protective gear. Thanks Kate but not the answer I was hoping for. They are expensive.
I don't think any of us could advise on how big your pups feet are going to grow. I don't think many of us have ever thought to measure them at any time during their growing phases. I don't know if @snowbunny has ever been to Colorado, Utah or Wyoming but I think she, and her pups, may have some experience of walking in harsh terrain as they live in Andorra
I wouldn't think that 18 months was not unreasonable to think a lab to be fully grown. Sorry, not much help. If you need them, you need them. Is there a second hand market for usable boots locally or even on eBay??
I can well imagine pads taking a beating on some surfaces. We canoe tripped but still, each portage had to be crossed three times and one was all rocky granite. Except for the part with a liftover at about 9 beaver dams. The dog came home from that one with the shortest toenails ever. We might just have avoided some bloody toes or pads on that one.
Heh, nope, I've never been hiking (or even visited) your neck of the woods. We have lots of rough ground here in our smaller mountains and have been on 8-hour treks towards the end of last summer (albeit gentle ones with lots of rests because the dogs were still young) and didn't have any issues with their pads. I've also been on many longer, more extreme hikes with friends' dogs into the higher mountains (still tiny compared to the Rockies!) and not had injuries. I carry rubber boots in my first aid kit when we're going on long walks, just in case of any paw injury. I've never seen hiking boots for dogs, so I'd love to see a picture of your boy when you get them sorted.
When we get out this summer I'll have some pics to post. In the meantime the pic attached here is what the Ruffwear Grip Trex shoes look like. The soles are Vibram. Kinda like snow tires but flexible. When we get above tree line in the Rockies, about 10K feet (3K metres), the sharp rocky ground can wreck havoc on a dogs pads. I don't think I've ever seen a dog without them on at that elevation and most trekkers have their dog wear them all the time even below tree line. But with a pup I need to start early so he'll be use to it. Should be a real exercise in patience . . . for me that is.
Oh, my, they are awesome! I'd Googled and seen some pictures but they weren't up close and you couldn't see the tread. Yes, I guess slow desensitisation is key, otherwise you'll end up with a Booba: No reason it shouldn't be successful, though, after all, fire dogs wear heat-proof boots. We do go above the tree line here, and have some scree to contend with in those areas, which can be sharp, but it doesn't seem to cause the dogs any problems at all.
With the sizing problem it may be worth buying some cheap dog booties for the early desensitization and then buy the Ruffwear closer to August for best fit, although with a pup still likely to grow there is still the risk of them not fitting when you most need them.
My old doggie had Ruffwear Griptrex. Although he's been gone for several years I still can't bear to put them away... We have a fourth pair somewhere.. They are pretty hard wearing boots, but they are very rough inside. Sort of unfinished even. You can get socks for them, which help, but which can also slip down and bunch up in the boot. Our old dog had them to stop him slipping and they didn't ever get to move very fast so mostly we got away without the socks. I'd wait to buy. August is still a way away. You want them to fit snugly - if too big they will spin on his feet and if too small will just hurt.
@snowbunny that clip was so funny - that would be Lilly. She was a total nightmare trying to wear one boot when she had a cut paw ages ago \we gave up, popped a sock on and left off all but the essential walks.
This post has prompted me to do some desensitisation with the rubber boots I have, although they will only be used in an emergency if a paw gets cut while on a walk, but I think it will be a valuable thing to do anyway.
