Reddit reviews RC Pets Sport PAWks Dog Socks, Indoor/Outdoor Paw Protection, Large, Charcoal Heather

I have a super-long email thread with my SO about exactly this for our pitt-mix because she also has sensitive feet, and I refuse to spend more than $25 on things for her. She's just going to lose/destroy it anyway! Here's what we've found that works for her:

1) RC Pet Sport Pawks + shoelaces:
I cut up some old shoelaces and wrapped them around her ankles over the sock (above the dewclaws), then folded the top of the sock over the laces, which keeps these in place. Otherwise she just walks out of them. Some other people use velcro straps for this, but I didn't have any on-hand.

Pros:

• Cheap
  
  
• Easy to fit: literally just measure their feet correctly and you're good to go
  
  
• Easy to replace
  
  
• The only thing effective at keeping deep snow out
  
  
• Lasts about a season if used daily on pavement
  
  
  Cons:
  
  
• Got annoying to put on
  
  
• NOT waterproof: if water touches the part that isn't wrapped in silicone, they soak up
  
  
• Not great for traction on ice
  
  
• Keeps snow off of the feet, but snow clings to the sock material and melts=soaks when they come in
  
  
• Machine-washable (delicate), but not dryer-friendly
  
  
• Takes about 12 hours to inside-out air-dry
  
  
  2) PetLeso Waterproof Pet Shoes:
  These are what we're using right now because we actually have four of them!
  
  Pros:
  
  
• Cheap enough
  
  
• Keeps the feet dry
  
  
• Provides some traction on ice
  
  
• Much easier to put on than socks
  
  
• Amazon Prime = she loses one, and a replacement comes quickly
  
  
• Dries up in about 2 hours (air-dry): they're not water-proof like galoshes or those disposable balloon-slipper things, but they have a dual-lining that keeps the water from soaking through
  
  
• The built-in wrap-around velcro helps keep them on...
  
  
  Cons:
  
  
• They're huge: the velcro has to be pulled very tight, which doubles over the fabric a bit, but they stay on. I'm pretty sure my dog thinks she's walking in clown-shoes because they're not dog-foot-shaped by design.
  
  
• If the snow is deep enough, it will accumulate in the ankle of the boot until it melts, but it won't go inside because of the velcro barrier.
  
  
  Haven't tried to wash these yet, and they didn't come with washing instructions/recommendations. Will probably gentle-cycle in a mesh bag, and air-dry, and I expect them to be okay.
  
  3) This random pair I got for $14ish at Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods that I can't find anywhere on the internet:
  These are our favorite of the three, but she friggen lost one.
  
  Pros:
  
  
• Easy to put on
  
  
• Velcro strap keeps them securely on her foot, if you pull them tight enough
  
  
• Keeps her feet dry
  
  
• Dries up quickly (like 2 hours, air-dry)
  
  
• Does OK on ice
  
  
• Fits well on her feet
  
  
• Machine-washable (delicate), air-dry
  
  
  Cons:
  
  
• Also doesn't do well in deep snow: accumulates in the ankle region
  
  
• Having a really hard time replacing these since they're a seasonal item and I really can't find them online. Planning to buy out the store come next winter.
  
  Suggestions we have not tried yet:
  
  
• These if you anticipate going through deep snow a lot. We don't get a ton of snow all at once, and our dog also needs booties for contact-allergy issues, so we didn't think these were worth getting for her needs. They're out of stock right now, but keep an eye on it if you're interested. They were around $40 last I saw.
  
  
• This is next on our to-try list. They're higher and have an extra strap that we hope will better-guard against higher snow. My two concerns are: (1) is the material towards the top going to dry out quickly or take forever like the socks? (2) shipping is a month's wait, so she better not lose one.
  
  
• We also want to try these, but these would really be more for walking on fairly well-shoveled/salted sidewalks and roads because they're really short.
  
  Tips
  
  
• Booties work best when they fit the dog properly. The closer you can get to your dog's exact measurement, the better luck you will have. Measure carefully, and don't be shy about returning or exchanging if they're too big. If they're too big, they will walk right out of them or the booties will spin around on their feet. But also don't forget to accommodate if he has long nails!
  
  
• The front paws are usually bigger than the back ones, so base your order off of the FRONT paw measurements. You can measure front and back, and use that info to perfect your dog's set of booties AND get an extra set for just-in-case.
  eg) Our dog needs Mediums of the in-store-only pair from above, but since they were all out of Ms when she lost one, I got the last pair in Small and we only put the smalls on her back feet. We also did this with the Sport Pawks. You can use colored thread to sew in indicators for which-go-where if the booties are all the same-looking.
  
  
• Read through the reviews. You may notice that I suggested some low-rated stuff. A LOT of people don't measure carefully and then blame the shoe for being too big/small. It's your money, so just use your best judgment.
  
  
• Pull really tight around the ankles to keep them on. I pull on her bootie straps until I'm afraid I'm going to cut her circulation, but she's always fine, probably because the booties are pretty thick. I trust that she'll put up a fuss if she's in pain or uncomfortable, and we can just adjust accordingly. We have yet to argue about it.
  
  
• If your dog hates booties, you either didn't give him enough time to get used to walking in them before going out, or he really just hates booties and you should consider something like Musher's or Vaseline.
  
  Good luck! =]
  
  [edit1] formatting issues
  [edit2] clarification