How to find the best winter boots for dogs
Choose winter dog boots by measuring for the exact model, considering your walking route, and checking your dog’s comfort.
Quick answer: The best winter boots for dogs fit according to the exact model’s size chart, stay on without obvious discomfort, and suit the walking route.[3][4][5][7] Boots can help protect paws from salt-treated surfaces and snow or ice buildup between toes.[2] Watch for paw-lifting or reluctance to walk in cold weather; Cornell identifies these as possible signs that a dog is too cold.[1]
Key takeaways
- Measure for the exact boot model. Paw-width, paw-length, and between-size instructions differ.[9][5][7]
- Consider snow buildup, ice, and treated sidewalks when deciding whether to use boots.[1][2]
- Choose boots that go on and come off easily but are not loose enough for your dog to kick off.[3]
- Check and clean paws after winter walks, especially after contact with deicers.[1][2][3]
When dog boots for snow and ice may help
Dog paws need attention on winter walks, but snow alone does not settle the question of boots. Boots can help protect paws on salt-treated surfaces and prevent snow or ice balls from forming between toes.[2] Cold surfaces also call for watching your dog: paw-lifting or reluctance to walk may mean they are too cold.[1]
Avoid heavily treated sidewalks and roads when possible. Cornell warns that salt and most deicers can be toxic to dogs.[1] Salt-based deicers can also dry paw pads and skin between toes and may be harmful if licked from paws.[3] If your dog limps or lifts a paw, stop and check for snow or ice between the toes.[2]
How to measure a dog for boots
Boot size charts are model-specific. RIFRUF’s shoe size guide uses the widest part of the weight-bearing paw pad and excludes nails.[9] The cited GOO-EEZ guide uses a printed chart and measures to the front of the groomed nail.[5] A PAWMART Pretty Paw retailer chart calls for both paw length and width.[7] Use the instructions for the boots you plan to buy, not a measurement or size number from another brand.[4][5][7]
Measure for the model you want
Open its size guide
Check which paw dimensions the model requires. VCA recommends following the manufacturer’s sizing guidance.
Position the paw as directed
For RIFRUF shoes, measure pad width with the paw flat and weight-bearing. For the cited GOO-EEZ printed guide, use a hard surface and align the back of the paw with its marked line.
Check front and rear paws
RIFRUF specifically instructs shoppers to measure front and rear paws separately.
Follow that chart’s between-size advice
RIFRUF’s shoe size guide says to round up. The cited GOO-EEZ guide says to size down for a snugger fit. The PAWMART Pretty Paw chart advises sizing up for wiggle room.
How to choose the best winter boots for dogs
To understand how to choose dog boots, start with your route and the fit. Compare the sole, upper, closure, and care instructions for each model. VCA says boots should be easy to put on and take off, but not so loose that a dog kicks them off.[3] A product description can tell you how a boot is made; check the fit on your own dog before relying on it for a walk.
| Feature | What to check | What the sources tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Boot soles and traction | Read the sole description and watch how your dog moves. | A retailer describes the GOO-EEZ Monochromez as having an anti-skid rubber sole. RIFRUF lists a rubber outsole for Apollo 1.[4][6] |
| Upper and coverage | Check the construction of the exact model. | RIFRUF describes Apollo 1 as having a waterproof sealed upper.[4] |
| Boot closures | Check whether boots go on easily and stay on. | VCA advises boots that are easy to put on and take off but not loose enough to kick off.[3] |
| Cleaning | Read the model’s care directions. | A retailer instructs owners to hand-wash GOO-EEZ Monochromez and hang them to dry, not machine-wash or machine-dry them.[6] |
- Feature
- Boot soles and traction
- What to check
- Read the sole description and watch how your dog moves.
- What the sources tell you
- A retailer describes the GOO-EEZ Monochromez as having an anti-skid rubber sole. RIFRUF lists a rubber outsole for Apollo 1.[4][6]
- Feature
- Upper and coverage
- What to check
- Check the construction of the exact model.
- What the sources tell you
- RIFRUF describes Apollo 1 as having a waterproof sealed upper.[4]
- Feature
- Boot closures
- What to check
- Check whether boots go on easily and stay on.
- What the sources tell you
- VCA advises boots that are easy to put on and take off but not loose enough to kick off.[3]
- Feature
- Cleaning
- What to check
- Read the model’s care directions.
- What the sources tell you
- A retailer instructs owners to hand-wash GOO-EEZ Monochromez and hang them to dry, not machine-wash or machine-dry them.[6]
How to check fit and help your dog adjust
Try the boots on while you can watch your dog. VCA advises following the maker’s chart and choosing boots that are easy to put on and take off, but not loose enough to kick off.[3] If your dog does not tolerate the boots, remove them and ask the maker for fit advice.
During a winter walk, watch for paw-lifting, limping, reluctance to walk, shivering, or slow movement.[1][2] Stop and check the paws if your dog limps or lifts a foot; snow or ice may be caught between the toes.[2] Cornell advises short walks in cold conditions and watching for signs that a dog is too cold.[1]
Winter boot mistakes to avoid
- Choosing by appearance, breed, or weight instead of the exact model’s size chart and paw measurements.[3][9]
- Keeping boots on when they slip or your dog seems uncomfortable. Recheck the fit before continuing.[3]
- Ignoring a limp or lifted paw. Stop and check for snow or ice between the toes.[2]
- Assuming every pair has the same care instructions. The cited GOO-EEZ Monochromez retailer directions specify hand-washing and hang-drying.[6]
After a walk on treated surfaces, wash or wipe your dog’s paws to remove residue. VCA recommends warm water, a cloth, or grooming wipes; its paw-protection guidance also recommends rinsing salt-exposed paws with lukewarm water and towel-drying them.[2][3] Check for trapped snow and paw irritation as you clean.[1][2]
Winter boots to compare
These are shopping options, not tested winners. Compare GOOEEZ ATHLETICAZ All-Terrain Premium Dog Boots, GOOEEZ TRENDZ All-Terrain Premium Dog Boots, GOOEEZ MONOCHROMEZ All-Terrain Premium Dog Boots, RIFRUF Apolo 1 Winter Boots for Dogs, and Pretty Paw 2.0 Winter Boots. Check each listing’s current size chart rather than transferring the cited GOO-EEZ or PAWMART chart to another model.[5][7] Browse dog boots and shoes, or visit Wear.dog home for more clothing guidance.
Boots are not the only option. If your dog does not tolerate them, VCA suggests paw balm or wax as another form of protection.[2] Avoid heavily treated routes where possible and clean paws after exposure to deicers.[1][3] For help with other clothing decisions, return to the Wear.dog homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog walk strangely in boots?
Check whether a boot is slipping, twisting, or pressing on the paw, and remove it if your dog seems uncomfortable. Do not dismiss a limp or lifted paw as a reaction to footwear: VCA advises checking for snow or ice between the toes when a dog limps or lifts a paw.[2]
Do dogs need boots on salted or treated sidewalks?
Boots can help protect paws from salt-treated surfaces, but avoiding heavily treated sidewalks is also sensible.[1][2] Salt-based deicers can dry paw skin and may be harmful if licked from paws.[3] After exposure, wash or wipe your dog’s paws to remove residue.[2][3]
When should I take my dog’s boots off?
Take them off and check the fit if they slip, twist, or seem to cause discomfort. Stop a walk to check a limp or lifted paw for trapped snow or ice.[2] Contact a veterinarian if you find irritated paws or cracked pads.[2]
Sources
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Keeping your furry friends safe during winter weather
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Four strategies for cold weather paw protection
- VCA Animal Hospitals: How to Keep Your Dog’s Paws Safe in Winter
- RIFRUF (manufacturer product page): Apollo 1 Dog Boots
- Goo-eez size-chart PDF hosted by a retailer: GOO-EEZ size chart for Monochromez
- Greenhawk USA (retailer product page): Goo-Eez Monochromez Dog Boots
- PAWMART (retailer product page): Pretty Paw - Crimson ROUGE 2.0 - Winter Boots for Dog
- VCA Animal Hospitals: First Aid for Torn or Injured Foot Pads in Dogs
- RIFRUF: Dog shoe size guide