Working Dog Boots

A working dog covers ground a pet dog never sees. Stubble, burnt paddock, hot tray metal, bindi patches, gravel roads, and by February, ground that will blister a pad in under a minute. Boots are not about comfort on those surfaces. They are about keeping a dog sound through a season.

What Makes a Working Boot Different

The difference between these and a walking boot comes down to three things. A thicker sole with real tread moulded in, rather than a grip pattern printed on the surface. An upper that comes higher up the leg, so the boot stays put when a dog is turning hard on stock. And a fastening built to be pulled at while wet and full of mud, which is where the cheap ones give up first.

If your dog is on footpaths and beaches rather than paddocks, ordinary dog boots or lighter dog shoes will do the job for less money.

Sizing from the Paw

Size from the paw, not from the dog. Stand him on a sheet of paper with his weight through the foot, mark either side of the widest point, and measure across. A paw spreads under load, so anything fitted to a lifted foot will come up short and rub at the toes.

Front paws are usually wider than back paws. If the difference is more than a few millimetres, buy to the front measurement and accept a slightly roomier back boot rather than the other way around.

Grass Seeds and Summer Ground

Grass seeds are what tips most graziers into buying boots at all. A seed that works into the webbing between the toes can travel under the skin and end up being cut out by a vet, at a cost that buys a lot of boots. Anything that seals above the pastern stops nearly all of it.

Check between the toes at the end of the day regardless, and keep a first aid kit in the ute for the cuts that get through.

The First Wear

Expect a funny walk for the first few minutes. Put them on inside, let him potter around the house in them, then head out and give him something to think about. Almost every dog forgets they are there within a paddock or two.

Working through summer ground? Explore the RPBA range of working dog boots and get a set on before the paddocks dry off.