Dog Shoes 101: What You Must Know Before Buying Dog Shoes

Finding the right shoes for your dog can be challenging. Here are the five key factors to consider:

1.Be clear on your "why"
2.Know your dog's paw shape
3.Take accurate measurements
4.Understand your dog's breed-specific needs
5.Prioritize comfort—it's the key to success

________________________________

1. BE CLEAR ON YOUR "WHY" – DOES MY DOG REALLY NEED SHOES?

We focus on making shoes for dogs that truly need them—whether for medical reasons, mobility issues, or paw protection. Fashion is fun, but function comes first! If your dog doesn’t require shoes, there’s no need to get them.

Common reasons dogs need shoes:
a) Protecting paws from injuries, inflammation, and cracks
b) Shielding knuckles and claws when a dog drags its feet
c) Preventing burns from hot pavement
d) Guarding paws against cold winds, dampness, snow, and ice
e) Protecting against harmful chemicals like pesticides and de-icers

________________________________

2. KNOW YOUR DOG'S PAW SHAPE

Dog paws come in different shapes, just like human feet. The most common shapes are:

a) Oval (longer than wide) – Whippets, Labradoodles, German Shepherds
b) Oval (wider than long) – French Bulldogs, Bulldogs
c) Round – Pomeranians ( Also some French bulldogs have round paws )

The problem with traditional dog shoes is that most brands use a one-paw-shape-fits-all approach, which leads to shoes that are too tight in some areas and too loose in others. The result? Dogs walk awkwardly, like they’re wearing oversized clown shoes—no wonder they’d rather go barefoot!

________________________________

3. TAKE ACCURATE PAW MEASUREMENTS

Not all dogs love having their paws measured, but this step is essential to ensure comfort and a proper fit. Most traditional dog shoes are uncomfortable simply because they wrong in size. Here's our guide: How to take the paw measurements right.

Did you know?
Hind paws are usually 15-20% smaller than front paws, so don't buy the same size for all four paws!

Remember how awful ill-fitting shoes felt on your feet? Your dog shouldn’t have to go through that either!

________________________________

4. UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG'S BREED-SPECIFIC NEEDS

Every dog breed has unique paw characteristics that affect how shoes fit.

Dew Claws & Carpal Pads:
Did you know that dew claw and carpal pad positions vary by breed? Most dog shoes fasten with a strap, and if it's positioned incorrectly, it can cause discomfort or even pain.

A well-fitting shoe isn’t just about length and width—it’s also about strap placement for maximum comfort!

________________________________

5. COMFORT = SUCCESS!

If dog shoes aren’t comfortable, your dog won’t wear them. It’s that simple.

Stubborn dogs will never tolerate uncomfortable shoes. The better the fit, the higher the chance they’ll actually wear them!

70% of dog shoes end up unused or thrown away because they don’t fit properly—what a waste of resources! Custom-made dog shoes eliminate this problem.

Common reasons dog shoes fail:
a) Wrong shape → too tight or too loose
b) Incorrect measurements → shoes don’t fit
c) Poor design for breed → strap placement causes discomfort

________________________________

CONCLUSION
With custom-made dog shoes, you have the highest chance to enhance your dogs quality of life and success in protecting your dog's paws.

a) MORE COMFORT
Custom dog shoes are designed to your dog's breed and therefore fit better
b) MORE MILES
More comfort equals to longer walks

Custom shoes are also the most sustainable choice—no more wasted shoes that don’t get used!