The hint of snow outings in the air has me wondering something about dog boots. What material should I use for conditions that will change from hard packed almost ice to loose Styrofoam on slush in a matter of hours? Is there anyone working on snow with their dogs using boots on this site?

From the little tidbits I find around the web, it looks like a fleece boot or something like it is used on snow. I'm looking for something a little more specific. Like the rating system for Cordura nylon except for fleece. I can't tell what the racers are using from pics or generic descriptions. After perusing sleddogcentral for a while I started thinking we need something that goes up to the elbows on the dogs. Gonna fashion me up the thing that I want. Just need some fabric. "Fleece", is like saying "I drive a van". A little more specific than "vehicle", but not enough to know what van.

I've dealt with a lot of fabric on snow, but not in this application. Cordura seems too stiff for cold temps and lacking in grip on smooth surfaces. The fleece I've worn before still solidifies a bit after some use with the snow sticking more as time goes on. And I wonder about longevity with dog claws climbing angles instead of running gentler ground. Maybe a leather base with fleece uppers? Is there some material out there I'm ignorant of?

Buying boots like the ruff wear ones is out due to cost and the things I've read about them for this use. It's hard to describe. Every time we've headed out into the forest the snow balls up on their feet between the toes, and up to the top of the legs on the back side. Things are so different from one side of a mountain to the next that we just can't expect certain snow types for the day.

I bought Ginger dog booties with 'skins' on the soles. The same stuff you use on skis to climb uphill for traction. It's made out of cordura so it's not too stiff. They're brand new and she only tried them on and when she had them on in the house, she was SO retarded, and kicked them off real quick so we never put them on her out in the snow. We just put musher's secret on their paws and up in between their toes and have never had an issue with snow balling up.

I'll post pictures of Ginger's snow booties later this evening.

Acutally....
http://www.rei.com/product/724155/granite-gear-mush-dog-booties-pair

Heh, you wouldn't know which cordura would you? I have some boots made out of what looks like 1000D and they just won't give under 30 degrees. However, I could see that having good grip if it was JUST the sole and not the whole boot. I think I'm at the number of dogs where I would rather boot em up than wax em up. This is also mainly a Saint Bernard issue. The Malamutes I would take anywhere in snow, Ridik needs protection for anything over four miles in constant snow and Limbaugh's hair is a disaster when there's dew on the ground. I plan on most of our trips to be 60% trailblazing and bushwhacking. Shorter boots just won't stay on when the dogs start plunge stepping.



Edit: Ah, 420D. Thanks. That puts me on a path finally.

I was gonna say I got the fleece booties off dogbotties.com to try this yr.... you can see them on sat. I was also wondering if they will stay on so it will be a test. The site will custom make them longer but maybe I will just pay you to make them once you figure it out.

Alpine Outfitters booties are 330D cordura. FYI.