Cross Breeds

Dog Question #2?

ok i just asked a question about if my dog should wear boots in the snow or not...ill be a little more specific.... Hes about 11 months...hes a shiba inu...he was born in arkansas but we moved to california....his coat isnt thick like a huskys or an akitas but its not thin like a lab or a dalmation...he hasnt much experince with snow...and were headed up to tahoe so i was wondering if i should get him some boots for his paws or if he will be ok for a couple hours as he is?

Public Comments

1. If it were my dog, he would have boots on!! If nothing else, they will make him much warmer so he can enjoy himself more!! Have a Great Time!!
2. For a couple of hours in the wilderness he ought to be fine, but pay close attention to him, and dry his paws once in a while. Boots are most helpful in the city because de-icer or salt on sidewalks can really tear up their paw pads.
3. He'll be better without the boots. If it is slippery the boots will hinder his natural traction.
4. It depends on the temperature. You don't want his pads to freeze, but for a little while he should be fine.
5. Get him the boots
6. If you are going to be outside in the snow for a while you could get him boots, although they do make mittens for dogs. They also have sweaters or some type of jacket for him.
7. dogs have natural foot ware so to speak on the bottoms of there feet. They were made for cold weather so to speak. I think your dog will be fine as long as you are not in Artic conditions. He will need to be warmed up after 4-6 hrs. same as we would though. If you are really concerned you can purchase boots and a sweater for him, but watch his panting. He can become over heated and it could be bad for your pet. Dogs are equiped with a special coat no matter how short. It keeps them warm. I hope this helps! Good luck!
8. Unless he has very soft paws or you are walking where there are a lot of chemicals boots aren't need for the couple of hours you are talking. Normally boots are more a fashion statement for the owner rather than something that is needed for the dog.
9. dogs were not meant to wear boots....they are humiliated IMO. as long as he is active and not just tied up outside and left to sit he should be fine and when he starts lifting his feet and holding them up or trying to chew the ice out from between his pads he's had enough and you should go inside.
10. Get him a warm sweater/coat. If it is icy his natural traction won't work. My friend tried boots on her dog, and they just kept falling off. I would just put a coat on him, and make sure its warm inside so when you return he will be warmed. I live in Washington and when it snows my dog just has his coat on, i wanted to try booties but if they just fall off i don't see a need to waste money. You could try booties, but be ware if its icy.
11. He doesn't need the boots. The snow in Tahoe is dry and powdery (I lived there for 9 years). My friend here in IL has 2 Shiba's and they don't wear boots even in the icy wet snow we have. They also use Sand there instead of salt, so that's not a concern either. Besides, if you take a dog out in Tahoe with boots on, the locals will most definitely have a good laugh.
12. Get him some boots i seen dogs bleed a Lil bit when they walk on snow.
13. .dogs love snow. he will love and enjoy it. he should do fine without boots!.
14. The paws should be fine. Those booties never stay on their feet. I had a dog who would get snow balls between her toes because her feet were large and hairy. I tried to get those darn things to stay on her feet but she would always lose them. I have no idea how the Idinerod (SP) dogs keep theirs on. My dog's feet would get bad just on walks around our home. We live in the country with little shoveled areas. We used them just to keep the snow balls off not to keep her feet warm. Dogs feet can take cold.
15. The dog will be better off without the boots, as long as you aren't going to be out in the snow for several days at a time. Shiab Inu are mountain dogs in the first place; at worst he might get a little cold, but he should be fine. But as someone else mentioned, watch him carefully and dry him off occasionally. Most dogs LOVE the cold/snow. Chances are he will be running around so much that he may be too hot, not the other way around. Besides, if any other dog saw him in boots then he would never live it down.
16. For a shiba, I wouldn't recommend using a coat. I only use the boots when my "kids" are walking on sidewalks or areas where they are going to get subjected to man's products. Just for our back yard, no I don't use them. But if you are going to be aroudn snow for any period of time, I definately recommend boots.
17. Dogs lose heat thru their paws and panting watch the weather if you are going to be outside all day then i would buy them or if its going to be a heavy wet snow that will pack in between their pads and freeze i have hunted with labs in ohio in january and always put boots on my dogs they seem to stay warmer. i have worked dogs in a cold rain without pads and they get colder to the point where they will actually shiver. if you are going to be in and out of a building then no i wouldnt buy them