Muttluks Original All-Weather Dog Boots

Muttluks Original All-Weather boots come in a set of four. They have a nylon upper, treated leather soles and self-tightening straps, and Muttluks says they suit hot or cold weather.

Who it suits

Dogs who need protection from snow, ice and road salt, and small dogs who need a close fit. Testers found them less breathable than mesh boots, so they are a better fit for cold than for hot days.

Key facts

• 4 boots per package, with treated leather soles and self-tightening straps (Muttluks)
• Nylon exterior that Muttluks says is ideal for hot or cold climates, protecting paws from hot pavement or sand, burrs, ice, snow and salt (Muttluks)
• Machine washable; retreat the leather after each wash (Muttluks)
• To size, stand your dog’s front paw on paper with full weight, mark the heel and the longest nail and measure between them; choose the size that fits the whole paw including the nails (Muttluks size chart)

What reviewers say

CleverHiker scraped and poked them with razors, knives and needles without any punctures, and found them one of the few boots that fit small feet without leaving a lot of extra room. Some scuffing showed on the toe after five to 10 miles, and with only one adjustment point, measuring before you order matters.

Whole Dog Journal named them its best dog shoes for winter and liked the quality, light weight and flexible sole. It warns that the ribbed cuff rides a little high and can chafe at the wrist, that they are easy to overtighten, and that they are less breathable than the other boots it reviewed, so it would not use them in the heat. We did not test them ourselves.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Light, with a very flexible sole and upper (Whole Dog Journal)
• Pro: Resisted punctures in CleverHiker’s sharp-object test
• Pro: Fits small feet without much extra room (CleverHiker)
• Con: The ribbed cuff rides high and can chafe at the wrist (Whole Dog Journal)
• Con: Easy to overtighten (Whole Dog Journal)
• Con: Less breathable than other boots, so Whole Dog Journal would not use them in the heat; only one adjustment point (CleverHiker)

Cautions

• Measure your dog’s front paw length standing on paper, including the nails, and use the Muttluks size chart.
• Do not overtighten the straps; check the cuff for rubbing at the wrist.
• Do not leave boots on an unsupervised dog, and take them off when your dog is resting (Whole Dog Journal).
• Check your dog’s paws, and the fit, at every rest stop. Rubbing, limping or licking at a paw means take the boots off; see your vet if a pad is red, blistered, cracked or bleeding.