Florida Dog in NH

[Dreepa]

the Standard Poodles I walked with for years

people were going to let this statement slip by without comment?
Lloyd the Poodle walker!

[Rocketman]

Yes, they sell dog boots.

  Yes, they sell anything people might be dumb enough to buy. 

Dogs are born with boots.

And left to their own devices, they'd have the sense to keep their "boots" out of situations that we put them in.

As Lloyd pointed out, dogs do get ice/snow wedged in their pads, and it can cause problems. If nothing else, boots make for easier cleanup after a walk.

Kevin

Yup, I suppose... the "boots" I've seen didn't look like they'd be much good, and I know my Delia would strongly object to any form of footwear, but to each (dog) his/her own. 

Sorry to dis' your suggestion -- it's just that I hate when people use their dogs to play dress-up -- that's what Barbie dolls are for.   

[KBCraig]

the Standard Poodles I walked with for years

people were going to let this statement slip by without comment?
Lloyd the Poodle walker!

Lloyd made several favorable nostalgic comments about standard poodles at Shorty/PorcFest '06. Perhaps because we brought one along:

(Lloyd has his back turned, and Said Poodle is leashed to Mary.)

(Lloyd making friends with Katie the Fearful, who is also leashed to Mary.)

Kevin

[KBCraig]

Yup, I suppose... the "boots" I've seen didn't look like they'd be much good, and I know my Delia would strongly object to any form of footwear, but to each (dog) his/her own. 

Yup, some dogs will refuse to wear them. Dogs tend to be "touchy" about their feet.

Sorry to dis' your suggestion -- it's just that I hate when people use their dogs to play dress-up -- that's what Barbie dolls are for.   

We're in complete agreement there. Dogs should be dogs.

A friend in Texas recently went on a three state, two week, super-intensive bird hunt with his Vizsla. The hunt started in Texas creek beds with razor-like shale, and you can bet the dog was wearing boots! Later, in marshy Kansas lake beds, it was essential that the dog's toes be able to spread naturally to provide a wide footprint. No boots; they'd have gotten sucked off in the muck. And then later still in Oklahoma, when her feet were tender from two weeks in the field (including cut-over corn fields), she got boots again.

We breed dogs to do things that "natural" dogs wouldn't do. Then they follow us --or we thrust them-- into situations where "natural" dogs wouldn't go.

A bit of added protection is in order when they're doing what we ask of them. 

Kevin

[Lloyd Danforth]

In the second image, I was simply petting the girl that I could get away with petting.
My parents had Standards for a number of years.  They are substantial dogs and don't fall over when you pet them.

[Kat Kanning]

Wilson is a cutie!

[FSPinNY]

Thanx, they tell me it runs in the family...or is the family has the runs, I forget.

[Kat Kanning]

I met Jazzy Girl and she's a real sweetie.

[burnthebeautiful]

In Malmo where I live the city pours salt on the roads and sidewalks to melt/absorb the snow. It was a pain for my dog, because he'd always gets salt stuck in his paws, which hurt them and made him limp.

[FSPinNY]

The leather boots (like slipper sox) solved our problem of walking in the city in the Winter. I think he actually has some extra fun with them on. It's funny, the first 10 seconds that he has them on he walks like one of those fancy walking horses- picks his feet up real high.  It's so funny, but then he gets used to it. 

[David]

The road salt and chemicals can also make the foot sore.  Keep her off the road after any possible snow, and she will be fine. 

[KBCraig]

We've been thinking about taking up carting to exercise Tonka (the Great Dane/Bloodhound cross), because none of us can keep up with her at her walking pace.

I found these folks in Littleton:

http://www.wilczekwoodworks.com/

Love those Bernese Mountain Dogs!

http://www.neddc.org/