Now, don’t make fun of my greyhound in his little red boots! It’s not a fashion statement, dog boots are a necessity in the darkest pit of the Canadian winter.
Paw protection is especially important for the short-coated dog breeds like greyhounds, and especially when the weather is as brutal as it’s been here lately — we’re talking about -28°C, with a windchill factor that makes it feel like -40°C (that’s the same as 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, for my American friends). The snow squeaks when you walk on it, and exposed skin can begin to freeze in less than one minute!
So, my latest sewing project has been to sew up some new polar-fleece dog boots. These are quick to make and easy to put on the dog, but they don’t shake off very easily. I’ve made these boots with non-slid vinyl soles, elastic at the ankles, and Velcro fasteners, and the dogs don’t hate them too much.
I based this pattern on an old set of store-bought dog booties that I borrowed from a neighbour, and used some scraps of fleece, elastic, and Velcro that were left over from other sewing projects.
Feel free to use my pattern to make your own dog boots — just right-click to save the image to your computer. It’s not very fancy, because I just sketched it out on a piece of scrap paper, but it works just fine! And you can size the pattern up or down on your printer, to fit the size of your dog’s paws.
For the large male greyhound, I printed out the pattern so that it was 4½ inches wide, measured across the sole. Those large boots fit the Golden Retriever, too, while 1½ inches was plenty wide for boots for a mutt of vaguely Beagle-Chihuahua ancestry.
I love fleece fabric for dog boots because it sews up easily, keeps the paws as warm as possible, doesn’t stain too badly, and dries quickly to be ready for the next outing. For large size boots, I used ¾-inch Velcro and the same width of elastic. For smaller boots, obviously, you’d use a narrower size.
Sewing Instructions:
• Place the “toe” of the pattern on a fold of fabric and cut out around the boot shape. When you unfold the fabric, you’ll have a sort of hourglass shape. Don’t sew up the sides until you’ve done the next steps!
• Following the marks I’ve put on the pattern, place a circle of vinyl or other non-slip material on the sole of the boot and sew it in place.
• Sew on a piece of Velcro at the ankle position, using the softer fuzzy half, and catching a piece of elastic underneath it, as shown. The stitching for the Velcro will hold on the elastic.
• Sew the other half of the Velcro strip (the part with all the tiny hooks) securely onto the free end of the elastic. Make sure that the hooks are facing down when you’re looking at the sole of the boot.
• Finally, fold the boot in half with the right sides together (so that the vinyl sole is inside) and sew up the sides. Turn it right side out.
Because I knew that I was going to sew my dog boots from fleece fabric, which doesn’t fray or ravel, I didn’t add much of a seam allowance to the pattern — about ¼” around the edges — so you might want to count in an extra bit of width for seam allowance if you’re planning to use a woven fabric like a waterproof nylon or such. The other thing I did that’s different from the pattern is adjust the height of the boots — ankle boots are of limited use for a country dog, so I extended the tops up a little bit to better handle the snow-softened farm lanes where we like to walk.
To put the boots on the dog — just turn the boot so that the sole is to the back of the dog’s leg, and slide his paw into the boot. Wrap the elastic around the front of the leg, as shown, and fasten the Velcro. (If your dog has never worn boots before, see also How to Teach a Dog to Wear Boots.)
This lazy greyhound was napping in his crate and refused to get up to model his boots, in case I was going to make him go out in the cold, so this picture shows the view you get when a dog is lying down… but you can get the idea…
So there you have it: my pattern and instructions for sewing dog boots. Feel free to use it as you like!
Oh, and I’d love it if you could let me know if you come up with any improvements to the design. I’m thinking, for example, of making an even taller pair (with two fasteners) for when the dogs are walking in a real bit of snow…
{ 178 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much for this very easy and useful project. I made them for my Doberman, they are great!
Hi anonymous, thanks for stopping by to tell me!
It seems to be the bit of a taper at the ankle and the use of the elastic that makes this pattern work better than other styles I’ve tried…
I’m so glad that you and your Dobie found these booties useful!
Thank you for the free pattern! I’m going to give this pattern to my mom, who is a seamstress-goddess, and who could, if asked make her own galoshes! So, my idea is to have her make this pattern but out of water-resistant material. It is mud season here, otherwise known as spring, and I’m thinking I would love to keep these booties by my back door for my dog’s nature calls instead of having to wash off his feet each time he comes back in the house. I could just quick slip some booties on his feet before he goes outside and then quick slip them off again before he comes back in leaving his muddy “boots” on the back porch just like the rest of us. :-) Thanks for the great idea!
Elizabeth, I’m so pleased you can find a use for these. Dead easy to sew, your mom could whip up a pair in her sleep. I’d love to see a photo of the “rain booties” sometime – if you get a chance, email me a pic?
Absolutely! She has many projects going these days but she said she will try her best to get my project moved to the front of the line! If anything, it’ll be the thought that counts, right? Thanks again!
Hi. I don’t have access to a sewing machine. Do you provide a service whereby you could make them and post them? The fleece boots are ideal for home use. Thank you.
Hi Anonymous, sorry, no, I’m not making the boots for sale – but you could probably sew by hand without much trouble, as fleece is so “forgiving”… or, if sewing isn’t your thing at all, do feel free to take the pattern along to someone who does clothing repairs or sewing in your area; they could probably whip these up in no time at all.
As a matter of fact, if anyone wants to use this pattern to sew up dog booties for sale online – go ahead, I don’t mind a bit! – though a link back to http://domestikgoddess.com would always be appreciated… ;-)
Thank you for giving free access to your pattern. I made them out of waterproof fabric for my daughter`s beautiful boxer, Lexxi. ( my grand – pup ) Lexxi has lost the outer shell of her nails and is now recuperating from surgery on her paw, as she had testing completed to pinpoint why her nails are damaged. Your pattern is a real lifesaver for Lexxi`s spirits as she can venture outdoors for brief periods with her booties on. I have tried several patterns , but yours are the best. For deep snow and trail walking I am going to make another pair for her and will attach a knitted cuff before sewing completely. Thank you for your kindness in posting your pattern.
Joanne, you are very welcome — I’m so glad my pattern has worked for poor Lexxi — and your idea of adding a knitted cuff is quite brilliant. I’m going to do that for The Furry Wimp‘s next pair of winter booties!
Very helpful! I’ve been looking all over for dog booties for my Australian Shepherd. We go snowshoeing quite a bit and the booties at the store just don’t work for us. I’ve taken your pattern and added a “gaiter” going all the way up to my dog’s armpit. She looks pretty funny, but I think it’ll do the job!
Leslie, I’d love to see your Aussie going in her tall boots! The next pair of dog boots I make will have an extended cuff. After several winters of very little snow, Atlantic Canada has more than our share this year – short booties don’t quite do it for our off-road adventures!
Domestika,
Thank you for your inspiration and posting your ideas about paw protectors on the internet. I have been searching for boots for my little puppy (7 lbs) and I couldn’t find anything nicer. I just stopped at the fabric store on a mission to design my own.
I can’t wait to try the pattern.
Sue, these soft boots should be easy on those little puppy paws… Good luck with your sewing! Oh, and if this is his/her first pair of footwear, you might want to read How to Teach a Dog to Wear Boots, too!
:)
Thanks so much for this pattern! After spending 1/2 hour removing the snow & ice bits from my dogs legs each time we romped outside last weekend, I thought ‘there has to be a better way!’ The other dog boots I’ve seen are too short and do not stay on. I made some with your pattern and extended it to go about 1/2 way up my dogs leg with 2 rows of velcro. (She has long hair and just gets COVERED with ice and snow all the way up her legs.) I also used a layer of fleece covered by a ‘waterproof’ layer. She’s tried them out a few times and isn’t crazy about wearing them but doesn’t mind too much if we don’t laugh. I LOVE them! It’s wonderful to just come in the house and take off the boots – no sitting on the floor and picking at ice chunks forever. And when spring gets here…bring on the mud :)
Thanks for posting this! I’m going to try it-my dogs run in our wooded backyard and their paws become caked with mud during the winter (NOW!!!:(. I’m hoping I can make a waterproof/mudproof version for them. Any suggestions?
Also, any suggestions on helping them become used to wearing something on their feet?
Thanks!!!
With temp is single digits & wind chill of -25 … my poor dog had frozen toes after a few minutes – did not want to go out to do business – I was desperate for dog boots!
Found your pattern & whipped up a set in about 15 minutes. I had fleece and used wide ridge heavy duty elastic about 2″ wide – like for men’s PJ waist or skirt cut into disk and applied with ridges going side-to-side on sole for traction – outside is also very icy and did not even have any rubber/vinyl to try. They work great – ridgy elastic on sole seems to give great traction – will see how it wears. After about 1 minute of “reluctance” on dog’s part he figured out how great they were … and he had never had any type of boots on before. thanks
@Kathie, yes, taller is better, I think that’s what I’ll do next time I make a set of these. And I found the same thing, that other (store-bought) dog boots just don’t want to stay on — these seem to work better because the boot itself is soft and the elastic-velcro combination makes them easier to fit to the leg. Glad it worked for you!
@Janai, thanks for leaving a comment! One of the other readers had a great idea to make the boots with a double layer — fleece on the inside and a waterproof outer layer — so that might work for you with the mud. I made up a bunch of boots and just keep throwing them in the wash when they get filthy, but we have more of a snow problem than a mud problem here in Atlantic Canada so you might want a waterproof nylon or some fabric like that on the outside. Don’t forget to put a non-slip sole on, though, because nylon is so slippery.
@Mitch, I am so pleased to hear my dog boots pattern worked out for you! Thanks very much for your idea for using elastic as the non-slip treads — Should wear okay in snow, and even if youhave to do some repairs later on, at least your dog has toasty-warm toes now! Dogs are smart, aren’t they? If it’s a choice between freezing the feet and wearing boots, they do tend to figure out that boots are the better option! :)
I made these booties for my mini schnauzer. We live in Alaska where it gets very cold in the winter -40 or more. There is no problem when you take her out with the booties on. I lined my with flannel material for extra warmth. Thanks so much for free pattern. These are easy to sew.
@Norma, thanks so much for stopping by to let me know this pattern worked for you – cold enough here in Atlantic Canada, but an Alaskan dog deserves nice flannel-lined boots, for sure!
My old labrador has trouble negotiating slippery steps. I can’t wait to try your pattern using a grippy fabric for the sole.
Keri, that sounds like another good use for dog boots! When my old Shiba was getting on in years, he lost muscle tone in one of his back haunches and his leg kept sliding out from underneath him on slippery smooth floors – wish I’d thought of giving him a grippy little non-slip bootie for that foot!
For Norma Trai.
Do you think you could e-mail me your boot pattern?I also have a min.schnauzer
and would like to try out the size you made.Mine is still a pup right now but come winter he will need something.Thanks for sending if possible.
Ann, you can also just measure around the widest part of your dog’s paw, and use that measurement to size the pattern up or down. Remember the widest part of the dog’s paw will need to fit through the narrow part — the “ankle” of the bootie, so that’s the one really important measurement, but less so if you use a semi-stretchy fabric like a fleece.
Just found this pattern — I’m very excited! I have 2 Italian Greyhounds that manage to remain in their “we’re absolutely freezing to death” states even when it’s 75 degrees in the house and 105 degrees outside! I also have a retired racer grey that sometimes has difficulties on my hardwood floors, a greyhound mix that refuses to potty in the rain because her feet get wet, and another retired grey that manages to track mud all over the kitchen even during times when it hasn’t rained for months (from where does the mud come?!)!
All 5 of them would benefit from some form of boots, and I’ve been avoiding shelling out $100 (or more!) to buy boots for any of them. This is a pattern I can easily and effectively adapt for all of them — Thank you!
If the boots turn out well, I’d LOVE to carry them in my online store (I currently only make martingale collars & leashes for sale — I’m planning to branch out.) If I do I’ll definitely note the pattern came from you, http://domestikgoddess.com! I’ll also send you the web address of my store (new website under construction).
Thanks, again.
I just found your site and noticed that the pattern I designed from a photo last year for a customer is almost the same pattern. I use several layers of fabrics and do more reinforced stitching but the shape is very close. I do offer them on my site and have helped many. I am having issues with the durability of fabric choices and the older ” big guys ” walking outside, but they work great on my allergy girl that can not come in contact with the outside world. They allow her to walk the neighborhood again.
Thanks for offering the pattern for those who are creative and I will post a link to help inspire others and their poochies.
Barbara, thanks for visiting: I’ve become an instant fan of your soft sculpture animal dolls — and your Tacky Boots look like a great design! (Is there somewhere that we can find your prices listed?)
For dog booties, I’ve found that the only really durable boots are Muttluks, which are a bit on the stiff side – the dogs don’t so much enjoy wearing them, although of course they can be trained to it – and take a bit of fiddling to put on.
So the goofy greyhound pictured above has a pair of Muttluks for really bad weather and/or long hikes, and then I keep a batch of these cheap-and-easy homemade fleece booties to pop onto his feet for those quick “business trips” outdoors. If a big front claw starts to poke a hole, I usually just darn it up and keep on going… unless I’m feeling too lazy! One pair of fleece dog booties will get us through the winter, but I like to have two pairs so one pair can be used while the other pair is drying out.
Thank you very much. My price depends on size of dogs paw, the need for bootie [outside/inside] use, and fabric used. I also require more measurements. I just found a great waterproof fabric with fleece backing and a new non-slip sole material and do need to try a set for my girl. Then we can walk in the rain.
thank-you so much for the pattern I am going to make them for my yorkie. the great thing is I can make a bunch of different colors to match his diffrent clothes at a cheap price. thanks
This is great. Thanks for the pattern. I’m thinking of making some up for my sister’s dog for Christmas.
Also, I saw these how to’s for making non-slip slippers (for humans) and think maybe it could be adapted for the dog boots too.
It was really kind of you to post the pattern. Margherita is 8 years old and has never worn boots because I couldn’t find any to fit – and haven’t had time to be domestic and make them. In the past a quick fix buying the smallest baby socks was the best I could do. This pattern is so great as it is very simple. She will stay warm and look like quite fashionable also. Margherita thanks you also. Saskatchewan winters can be brutal. I will have fun with this as I can experiment with a variety of fabrics & colours (although the fleece sounds practical and comfortable). I wonder if I could make a pair that look like Uggs?
Sincerely,
Leanne
Barbara, I haven’t forgotten that I’ve got to send you a note – it’s on my list, honestly!
Sharyn, great links – thanks for sharing! I think I’d be inclined to go with the non-slip method at the vamantaknits site, myself: the finished result looks a little less clunky, and you’d want to keep the dog boots as lightweight and flexible as possible. Of course both of the methods do involve using semi-nasty chemical products, but I can’t think of another good alternative. Must look into that….
Leanne, starting with baby socks sounds like a good idea for helping a dog begin to get used to wearing boots – and if you make a pair of booties that look like Uggs, I want to see a pic! :D
I have read via net that the product in white fabric paint is the same as the tiny white bumps on the non-slip fabric. But I don’t think it will hold up to be used outside. It works great on inside use.
The non-slip fabric I am experimenting with right now for the sole is medical grade and works good outside on sidewalk and street surface, however the ” water resistant ” fabric I used for the boot itself wore through in the toe box with one use.
I will try another pair with a different design on the sole to cover the toe box also.
Barbara
Has anyone tried these booties on dachshunds? I am curious if they stay on those tiny legs?
Oh, Thanks so much for posting this pattern-and for free!! It is a life saver…literally, for both Scout, my Teddy Bear (part Bichon part???, breeder does not tell) and for my husband. He just laid new wood floors and our 14 year old Scout has been slipping and sliding and needed help. My husband needed help as he had worked so hard laying the floor and was going crazy fearing scratches. Scout has also had trouble with his back legs just sliding out from under him due to his age. I used the non-skid stuff that you put down to keep rugs from slipping on the bottom and it is great as it helps maintain the soft flexible feel of the fleece.
I had tried the baby socks and they came off in seconds. I had investigated the various boots for sale and they are expensive and mostly made for outdoor use rather than for the purpose of stopping the hardwood floor skidding.
I made ten socks in a few hours so that I have them on hand as dirty ones are washing. Scout is currently sleeping peacefully with his comfortable and lifesaving booties on. I am so happy as both of my guys are happy with the results of these fantastic booties.
Thanks a million!!
Thank you for this awesome pattern! I can’t wait to make thses for my chihuahua! He can’t even get off the porch before his little toes are frozen it has been so cold lately here in Maine. I will try to send you some pics if I can figure out the size as his paws are only about 1″ across. I am going to make them to match his new coat (possibly reversable like his coat as well!) Thank you again!
This is fun, isn’t it? Such a simple little pattern, but we’re all putting our heads together to figure out ways to make it work for different dogs in different situations… Loving it!
Peggy, I’d be really happy to see pictures of your chihuahua in boots! As for size, measure across the top of his feet and add a margin for your seam — that should give you a “close enough” size. I’d err on the side of too-big to start with because you can always take them in if they’re too wide… and the height doesn’t much matter, as long as they aren’t any longer than his little short legs. :)
I hear you about the cold weather lately, too, for sure — I’m just a jog north of you, up in NB, and poor Casey the WonderHound was trying to “do his business” yesterday with all four feet off the ground. Definitely time to get the dog boots back out! (For a greyhound, at least — Cinder the furry-toes Golden Retriever should be fine until we get on into those brutal days of February.)
I have a terrier mix of some kind, I think there is mostly Italian Grey Hound in him, but he has very small thin feet. At the moment it is -13 F Here in my part of Wisconsin and he can’t make it long enough in the snow and ice to finish his business. By the time he comes back inside his feet are all red and he can hardly walk. So I have been frantically looking for a pattern to make him boots before he has to go outside again. When I am done here I am going to try and make him a set of boots. We don’t have any Velcro here at the moment but hey duct tape works just as well until I can get something else. Thank you for posting this pattern.
Thanks for the pattern!
I have sewn up 4 of these for my golden retriever, Sierra.
She acted funny when we put them on. but doesn’t mind them now.
My problem is I have lost 2 so far on our daily walks. So I have had made 2 more.
Thinking about about making them about 3″ taller and adding another velcro strap. I’ll give them a try and let you know how it works.
As someone who sews from time to time, I have fleece scraps so the fabric isn’t a problem to experiment with.
I found this site also, but recommend booties out of cordura.
http://www.uberpest.com/booties.html
Just thought I’d pass that along too.
Thanks, Karen
Thanks SO MUCH for this pattern!!!
I just adopted a retired greyhound and realized (this evening) that his paws are VERY sensitive to the snow. I was getting ready to purchase a set of boots for $35 — then I thought, “wonder if I could make these…?”. I saw your pattern — I’m going to try it tonight :) Your pattern looks so much easier than the boots for sale (easier to put on AND easier for the dogs to wear).
Thanks again!
These taller ones work great!
2 straps are the way to go for me.
I uploaded 2 photos if you’d like to see, this should work…
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/karenp2/IMG_1453.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/karenp2/IMG_1452.jpg
It was 2 degrees F this morning and Sierra pranced in the snow with her booties and matching neck warmer (we use a metal pinch collar for walks)
The booties stayed on great and when we got home and took off the booties her feet were actually pretty dry too.
Thanks again for great pattern to start with, I just added about 3 inches to the top and another velcro strap.
Karen
Karen, thanks so much for the pictures! Sierra is a beautiful colour (I’ll bet she has a face as pretty as those legs!) … and the high-top version of the booties looks perfect for keeping snowballs from clumping on the “feathers” on the back of her legs. Now that I’m living with a Golden Retriever as well as a Greyhound, I can extra-appreciate the advantage of keeping snowballs out of the house! It’s great of you to take the time to share photos, for anyone else thinking of making a taller boot with two straps.
the full outfit…
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/karenp2/IMG_1469.jpg
Update,,,
we lost a new bootie again rippin’ around the back yard, so I’m off to sew another before I go hunting around the yard.
Thank you, these are over $50 for a set at the pet store………….
Yes, Yes I will say thank you for you Fido Woof Woof
a
I live in the midwest and am off to try and make some for our little doxie…Will let you know. Thanks so much for your site
Meg, I hope you’ve got your greyhound all booted up now – my big guy is certainly sure that it’s boot weather outside (what a wimp! LOL)
Alison, I hear ya – it just kills me to think of paying pet-store prices for booties and then maybe losing one in a snowbank! These little fleece one, you can make a whole batch on the cheap, and even double up layers in really cold weather if you need to…
Sherry, I’d love to hear how you make out – and links to a picture, maybe?
By the way, Rose Ann B just posted a whole bunch of pictures on her blog of her dog Belle in winter jacket and boots with the boots made from this pattern – too cute, check it out!
Thank you so much for this pattern, it is definitely a paw saver. I am fostering a greyhound (newly off the track), who has been licking his one paw raw. I have tried bandaging it with vet tape, putting it in a sock, etc. Then I decided to try to make something myself. My first attempt was a failure — then I got smart and decide to search the internet for dog boot patterns. I found your pattern and using bits and pieces I had in the home (a strip of one of my hounds fleece dog blanket, a piece of elastic from some old underwear, and some ancient velcro I found in my sewing odds and ends) I had a boot sewn in no time at all. And better yet, it has been an hour and he still hasn’t been able to get it off. I didn’t have any antislip material (didn’t think of using a non-skid piece from a “rubber” jar opener until just now), but since it is just one paw and I am watching him, I think it will be okay for now. Hopefully we will be able to get an appointment at the vet sooner rather than later — but for now, maybe it will have a chance to heal.
Jane
p.s. this was so easy to make, I might make some to sell at our annual greyhound reunion picnic (for everyone who has adopted through Team Greyhound). The proceeds will go 100% to caring for and finding homes for retired racers.
Jane, I love the idea of these booties helping to support your greyhound adoption group — http://www.teamgreyhound.com, is it? — and Casey loves the idea, too!
Good tip, too, on using the rubber jar opener stuff for a non-skid surface. Yes, that probably wouldn’t stand up long to outdoor use, but should be excellent for your purpose — or for anyone with a greyhound that’s fresh off the track and trying to learn how to walk on slippery hardwood or tile floors.
Thanks so much — and all the best to you and your grey’t foster dog!
Yes, that is the correct website. Desi likes his new boot — it gives him a break from having to wear his muzzle with the stool guard. He appears to have a bit of a problem with his other paws so I am making boots for all of them (I have gotten some anti-slip material from the fabric store). Not sure if it is atopic dermatitis or something worse (like lupus). We are waiting for an appointment at the vet (they have been on vacation and it is not enough of an emergency to go somewhere where they charge us a lot more). I have modified your pattern slightly by making the top a tiny bit narrower (my fleece has enough stretch in it) so there is not as much material bunched up under the elastic. I have also made a “mud” boot by using “pleather” lined with fleece on the bottom 2/3 of the boot (just below where the elastic attaches). I have cut a little U shape out of the pleather on the top side of the boot to allow it to breath a bit (i.e. the boot has pleather sides and bottom but a bit of the top of the boot is just fleece). He has been wearing this outside since it has been warmer lately and things are thawing out. It is not totally waterproof but keeps the dirt off of his bad paw. Inside he gets to wear the fleece ones (as long as I can watch that he doesn’t pull them off to lick his paws). He prefers them to the muzzle any day. I have also made some out of old socks. I make the foot part slightly smaller (so the heel is at the back of the paw) by sewing across the toe. I then split the side so I can sew the antislip material on the bottom easily. Then sew up the side and add the elastic. It makes a very quick and cooler cover for inside use.
Glad you and Casey like the idea of selling them to others to support Team Greyhound. I will also make some for the foster dogs when they arrive from the track with bad paws.
Thank you Thank you Thank you! Your dog boot pattern was just what I needed. I adopted an older border collie this past spring, very much in need of a good home. She just turned out to be my little shadow. It has been extremely cold here in So. Dak. so far this winter and lots of snow. With these below zero temps I noticed her not wanting to go out. The other day I was sitting in my easy chair and my husband had just let her in with him, we were talking and all of a sudden she flinged a pretty good sized snowball right on my lap. Plus her feet were pink and frozen, so I new I had to get her some boots. This morning I got online to see what I could find for pictures of boots for dogs and I came across your pattern, so I headed out to my shop, ( I started a sewing company about a year and a half ago, I designed a hunting chest protector that is lined with kevlar, among other hunting vests ) and sewed up her a set. I lined them with fleece, used a lightweight waterproof nylon for the exterior and put cuffs on the top. I didn’t print out your pattern, just had it in my head, But I used her as a pattern since she goes to work with me everyday, but after reading your article on what would make a good flexible boot sure made sense to me. She did real good tho letting me try them on her. When I got all four on her, (took some treats) she was outside climbing on the snowbanks. She looked “stylin” in her pink knitted neck warmer (I made two weeks ago) and brown boots. Thanks for letting me ramble on. So glad I found your site. Terry
I just printed this pattern out and will make them up today. I have a little Cairn Terrier who’s getting frozen tootsies and I think that these will fit the bill. After reading other comments, I will make them longer to go up her leg with several rows of Velcro. Another thought I had was to use suede for the soles. I happen to have a set of suede elbow patches that will be used.
Quick note for Playpalmom,
I used sueded leather for my first pair, I think they will hold up nice but my sewing machine didn’t like sewing suede and fleece very well, I had alot of skipped stitches. Just an FYI
Karen
I did e-mail a response to your comment but I will also add it here. I had thought of the problem of sewing suede on the machine but I have some heavy duty needles that I can shove through that suede, but by hand. That’s ok. Thanks.
I’m sewing these!!! So simple and quick ! I love the idea of muddy weather golashes……………next on my ‘to sew’ list.
oh, thank you so much thank you we are going to a trip to north carolina this friday and we are bringing my dog. i was thinking what about booties?and i found this it was so easy!even for me, just an 11 year old!once again thank you soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =-] =-] =0] =0] =-p =-p =-p
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes i finish chelseas first bootie she loves it!i love it! everyone loves it!!!!
every single day until friday i will make one bootie.thank you maybe i will give this patten to my aunt who has a dog too!
elana
Elana, wow, good for you!!
I’m so glad you like the pattern, and glad to hear it’s working for you! :) Please let me know how you make out as your sewing goes along, and how Chelsea likes it when she has all FOUR booties on her feet!
haha, yesterday i made 2 booties!im working on my third bootie.chelsea sure loves it.one question though,..is there any other material besides fleace that dries quickly?
elana
p.s.i will probally finish the 4 one today=-],gettting ready for north carolina.
i finish all her booties!im so excited when tommorow i go to north carolina.yesterday i foung chelsea trying to rip the booties off her paws hahahaha she dosn’t like it on her back paws.
anyway thank you soooooooooooooo much!the booties are unbelieveable!
elana
Congratulations, Elana! You should be very proud of yourself for making Chelsea a set of boots!
If you put them on her right before you go out, and take them off again when you come in, that will help her to get used to wearing them – especially if you keep her really busy when you’re outside, too busy to think about what’s on her feet. :)
I hope you have a really good trip, and that Chelsea’s little toes stay warm!
I used your idea on how to make these booties and made our dog a set. They turned out great. Thank you. I have pictures and a ‘story’ to go along with them here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=70671&articleId=281474977568245&nav=MyGather
Thank you again.
Thank you so much. I’ve been looking for something quick, easy & functional. I needed something warm that could be replaced cheaply since I live in Alaska & we go between mud & freezing snow pretty often. I’m going to have to scale it down quite a bit though for my Yorkie. Thanks!
how smart ! thank u so much ..you completely saved my cresties little feet !!
Thank you for this fabulous pattern. We are RV’ers in southern California and these boots are the best for protecting little feet from hot surfaces and stickers down here. We’re from the northwest and my guys wear their boots in the cold and wet too.
We were at the Vet’s yesterday and the doctor thought they were the greatest thing. I am going to share your website and the pattern there, I hope you won’t mind.
Smiles, Barb
Absolutely, Barb – feel free to give it to anyone who can use a boot pattern to help protect their dogs’ little feet! Anyone want to use my pattern to make booties for sale to help raise funds for animal rescue groups and shelters, etc.? Go ahead and do so, with my blessing – whatever helps to make life easier for our pups! :-)
I keep thinking of making boots with something like the mitten minder strings we force toddlers to use to keep them from losing their mitts. Have a track on the topside of the jacket that it can run through/attach (requires use of a jacket obviously and then attach the strings to the top of the boots so if it falls off it can’t be lost (my biggest booty problem as we are always walking in the dark). Also would reduce the chance of the booties falling off in the first place/.
Simone,
If you come up with a “idiot mitten” string that works please post it here for the rest of us to try. I too walk mostly in the dark.
I had been thinking along those lines myself, but still not sure how to make it work so Sierra won’t totally rebel, she isn’t happy to put the booties on, but will.
Thanks
Karen
Thanks alot! I’ve been looking at how to make booties for my 8 month Yorkshire Terrier and your instructions are really good!
Well, I’ve tesetd them on my dog but she keeps on trying to chew them. Do you know what I could do?
Angela, this may help:
How to Teach a Dog to Wear Boots
:)
Thanks! :D Unfortunately I cant test them on her now as she is at her mums place because we’re going on vacation tommorow. But I think I’ll treat her when she comes back…:)
Great article & tip! I actually live in a place where the ground BURNS my dogs paws, LOL. So, even in the evening when the air has cooled off, the asphalt/concrete is still upwards of 90+Farenheit! I hope to make these out of a light, breathable material for outdoors, and to give my aging dogs better traction on our new slippery flooring (just switched to laminate from carpet)! I’ll let you know how the training goes! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this great pattern and website.
I make my puppy (17 & 15 year old chinese crested powder puffs) boots for hot weather to prevent burned feet and to stop stickers from getting in their feet. We are RVer’s and spend a lot of time in the south. And when we’re in the cold, rain or snow they are priceless.
I share your website with everyone that ask about the boots. I make them for those who can’t sew but care enough to want to try them (I try to teach them how to Hand sew a set).
I even make in the house bootys out of flannel with non slip soles so they can get around better on the tile floors.
My golden is a pet therapy dog and I have been looking for a pattern to make a soft bootie for his front paws. He loves to put his paws on people and hug them and I worry about some of our older friends with thin skin. I am excited to make these to protect our elderly from his enthusiastic hugs. Thanks so much for creating and sharing your pattern.
Finally, found a pattern for boots. My Sheltie is 14 years old and has some hip problems, so getting up on his feet because of the hard wood floors really caused him trouble. I made my own pattern which is similar to yours, but I used the rubbery stuff you us to keep rugs from sliding I cut it to the same size as the paw portion, maybe 2 inches or more and then put the two pieces together and sewed the seam. Therefore I did not have the problem getting the rug stuff sticking to my needle.Turn it inside out and then apply the velcro and elastic. He looked at me kind of funny, was able to get up the first time he tried, Thank you so much.
Carolyn Steenson, Sewsincerely@yahoo.com, Dallas Ga
I can hardly wait to make some for my aging Goldens. We have laminate and ceramic floors and he has trouble keeps his feet under him so I will make the boots with bottoms that are made of something that will prevent slipage. Thanks for the pattern and idea.
Thank you for the pattern! I had made the most adoreable coat for my new grand-dog in New York City (Dark grey fleece with a red fleece lining) and was able to make a set of matching bootie to send off with it. They really only take a few minutes. Thanks also for the suggestion to make some extras, I don’t think I would have thought of that. They’d better send me a picture pronto! ; )
These are great – What I would like to find a pattern for is a half coat pee coat to stop my afghans making a mess of their legs every time they wee – does anyone know wherer I could get such a pattern?
i love your pattern it works and its cute i have a little chihuahua who really likes being warm and in the middle of winter in montana is no walk in the park lol i have a tip for those who take there dogs for a walk after dark with the booties and no coat because while the weather might call for the boots but not nessasearly the coat (hot california) take some glow in the dark fabric and make your own little patterns on the just make sure to keep them in a well lit place before hand!!!
Thanks for the pattern. This pattern can be use also where it is to hot for the dogs to walk on the sidewalk.
Will make my mom some for her dog.
Your dog looks very stylish in those boots. Any way who cares how you look when it it is that cold. Staying warm is the more important then fashion.
My miniature pincher wont keep them on,….any tricks???
I plan on using 100% worsted wool for the booties and soft glove leather (old used gloves) for the sole. (Too bad none of the men in my life have an old suit or overcoat to donate to the project!) The wool will be warm when wet and should shed snow. Nothing beats wool for warmth when wet, nothing. I plan on buying black wool, black elastic, and black velcro. My daughter’s vizsla’s should look very elegant when walking in Minneapolis. If this first set works, I plan on making the next pair from a printed worsted. Worsted comes in fantasic plaids and stripes and these booties require just a third of a yard.
You all live in cooler climates than I do . . . Chicago! But snow and rain make for very sharp and cold walking surfaces so I decided boots were the only option for my little rescue guy, Hairy (a miniature schnauzer/yorkie or silky mix). I can’t wait to get home to make a set tonight! I will be making them longer as he too brings in hundreds of tiny snowballs on his legs. He is helpful though as he likes to eat the frozen treats as I remove them from this legs. I’ll let you know how they turn out once I get them done and test drive them this weekend. Thanks everyone for your comments, input, ideas it’ll certainly help when I go to make my own set of booties.
I just had a brain-flash! What if you used flannel-lined oilcloth (like for tableclothes) and to make them non-skid simple painted the bottoms with a washable glue (or fabric paint). Any comments, suggestions????
I’m going to make your booties for my dog, but I’ve been looking at coats and I like the one your greyhound is wearing. Did you make it also and if so, would you share the pattern? Thanks.
I’m ecstatic I’m not the only one who’s come upon this idea for easy to make booties! I’m currently making a deep freeze pair out of microfleece towels (Sold at the local gas station for a little over a buck) for those cold canadian prairie winters.
I justs didn’t think of shaping the booties to fit my pup’s feet. D’oh!
Regarding something with grip for the bottom of booties: I’ve had great success with green, plastic dish scrubbing pads. I cut them to fit the boot, sew them on by hand and so far the things have lasted a winter and a half with great success. I’ve even thrown them in the drier and had no problems. They do make the bottom of the booties a little stiff though, and some dogs may not like it. Aaerro, my Italian Greyhound/Whippet cross, finds her toes stay warmer in these boots and they’ve provided excellent grip for those days where the sidewalks turn into skating rinks.
Thanks a ton for the page!
What material do you suggest? My border collie shreds all booties I have bought or made. We bought dense nylon that he gets maybe 2 wearings out of if I am lucky. I am plum out of ideas. THANKS!!
Hooray!!!! Sewed up three little boots for my little dog Scruffy last night and took him out walking in the snow today. Why three? Because I haven’t finished the fourth yet.
Anyway —- prior to this I’d bought and lost about $100 worth of boots that took about 45 minutes to get on him and less than 45 seconds for him to lose. I’d been trying to take him walking without boots and he absolutely hated the snow, ice and salt. So — found your pattern and sewed my way through Law and Order last night.
All three boots stayed on him. He got used to them almost instantly, and finally enjoyed his walk in the snow. The only time he started hopping and limping was pain involved the one paw that wasn’t wearing a boot (#4). i will finished the last
boot before we go out again.
So…..THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of Scruffy’s paws!!!!!!! Yay!
Wow I am so excited about your pattern. I need some boots for my 16 year old mutt that needs help getting up and down and walking in the snow and ice. I also am looking foward to adding them to my website http://www.alittleunique.com to go with my cozy coats. I will add your link for those who want to make their own.
Hi, We have had snow here, not quite as bad as you describe but enough to bring misery to a long haired 6 month old German Shepherd pup. I sat up into the night last night after finding your pattern on the internet. I made some longer style boots with the 2 velcro straps so they come half way up her leg. I made them out of an old wet suit my sons used to use for surfing ! Anyway they are absolutaly great, lightweight, flexible, waterproof, warm and naturally non slip. Cassie came back from her test run this morning snowball free much to my and her delight. I would deffinately recommend them. I am writing this from Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom so I think you can confidently say your pattern has now gone INTERNATIONAL ! Congratulations on a brilliant idea and thanks for being there just when we needed you most. Dinah & Cassie x
Aaaargh! I’ve now made my second set of boots since Dec. 30, 2009. The first set last all of 4-5 days before there were holes in all but one of them. The second batch has only been outside for two days but seem to be a little better. 1. I didn’t use any elastic but lengthened the soft part of the velcro so it would wrap all the way around the leg (apprx. 1.5 times), 2) I put to pieces of the hood (rough) part of the velcro on the boots – 1 in front and 1 in back – getting better connection and strength this way, 3) I made them a little longer (almost too long in the front), and 4) I put a layer of Washable (Aileen’s) glue on the bottoms for grip/traction. But there it ends. I can’t keep the front boots on. He’s got short straight front legs and I just can’t keep the two fronts on for an entire 10-15 min. bathroom excursion. Any suggestions? I think I’m going to try idiot-string to either got over his neck/shoulders or . . . HELP?!?!?!
Just a thought,
Get a cheap kids / babies jacket approx his size with a zip up the front .
Cut down the sleeves and attach to top of boots.
Put the whole lot on him then zip up over his back.
You would need to trim off the collar or hood if it was in the way under his chin.
He will look a bit strange but might work.
Hi I went to Joanne yesterday and bought tight grip which is used for the bottom of children’s sleepwear for the feet. It has the little rubber slip dots and is waterproof. I made my Kisha a set of 4 she hates them so far but has been able to get up on her own with out me using a towel underneath her to pick her up. At 60lbs they are a lifesaver especially with our wood and ceramic floors. you can see her picture on my site at http://www.alittleunique.com under my happytails page. I will be added them very soon to purchase. I need to find the tight grip in black. I used the tight grip on the entire bottom of the hour glass with the fleece under it .
Chicago Karen, the problem with keeping your dogs boots on may be that you didn’t use elastic. The reason for using elastic as well as velcro is that it helps to keep the boot on snugly as the dog walks, but doesn’t cut off his circulation and lets his foot move naturally without forcing the boot to slip down and off.
Pat, I’m delighted to hear that you’re using my dog boot pattern to make them for sale on your site. All the more doggies get a chance to have warm toes this winter, right? :-) p.s. Have a look at my post about training your dog to wear boots, if your Kisha is really hating the feel of something on her feet.
Dinah, I like the idea of remaking a kids jacket for a dog coat. I’ve done something similar with a man-sized fleece sweatshirt to make a spring-and-fall jacket for my greyhound, but the dark-coloured long coat he’s wearing in the picture is just made from corduroy fabric I had lying around and lined with fleece. The basic cut on that is just like a horse blanket, with a tie underneath the belly. For playing in the snow and really bitterly cold days, however, he has a lovely Canadian-made nylon and fleece “ski jacket” I ordered from http://ChillyDogs.ca – wonderful workmanship and a great design. The “Long and Lean” line is proportioned especially for greyhounds, too.
Chicago Karen… actually, just thinking about it, your “idiot string” idea may have some merit! :-D
I made a coat for my German Short-haired Pointer this winter. It is like a horse blanket, and he loves it, but I used a dark blanket felt and couldn’t see him in it when we walked at night. So I took the back portion of a safety vest (they’re held together with velcro) and sewed that to the coat. I cut off one of the belts that kept the back of the vest attached to the side and left the other one (the one with the sticky velcro hooks) on the vest. This now works as the belly strap for the coat. And now I can see my dog and motorists can see him, too.
I’m going to make the dog boots today. We could have used them a couple of weeks ago when it was -38C, but I certain he’ll be grateful for them now. I read the “training” suggestions; my dog is so treat motivated that I suspect it will take about four treats and 2 minutes to have him prancing in his booties.
Thanks for all the great suggestions and a fun site.
The tall booties I made last year I’m still using!
I’m starting to replace the foot portion as we are getting wear thru and some toenail holes.
I’m not that fussy about color etc, just looking for function this time of the year!
here is a set I cut the foot off of and replaced…
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/karenp2/IMG_1809.jpg
I also made a sets for my sister and my niece, for their labs.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/karenp2/IMG_1807.jpg
That’s my model Sierra, she is so good about putting on booties.
This is great pattern and I’ve been passing the word to friends and family about how nice booties are for the dogs and us, their feet don’t get packed with snow and I don’t have the mess in the house either!
Thanks
Thanks,
These really helped my puppy not get ice in between his toes. I also used an old umbrella to keep them a little more waterproof.
lovely boots. just right for my lovely shih tzu. thank you so much for this idea.
i won’t have to buy expensive booths but rather personalized them according to my taste. :) muah.
Just replaced our old carpeted floors with hardwood. Must to our dismay, our older dogs, Sadie and were having a terrible time getting around because they were slipping on the floors. Sadie has hip displaysia and would slip into the splits injuring her hips! Ordered some non-slip booties online, but we found they were very stiff, and at $50 a pair, a little pricey. Made the booties using a light weight fleece for indoor, and added an iron on product called “Grippies” to the soles to prevent slipping. They work wonderfully!!! Immediately the old gals realized that they were able to get around without slipping. Thank you Domestik Goddess for your pattern and inspiration! Those interested can find iron on “Grippies” at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond. I made another heavier pair for walking in the snow. Not sure how the grippies will hold up outside, but at only $6 for 24 Grippies, they are replaceable at a reasonable price. Let me know if anyone trys this and has made better modifications!! Thanks again!
To find the “Grippies” at bed bath and beyond, here is the web site…
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/search/search.aspx/grippies-iron-on/?order_num=-1&sstr=grippies+iron+on&dim=1&nty=1&
They sell them here for $4.99 for a 24 pack. The iron on works better for heavier materials.
by the way, my other dogs name is Shadow! Hope this helps
Karen, thanks for sharing the lovely pictures of Sierra – what a beautiful dog! Cutting off the worn-out boot bottoms and replacing them is a terrific idea – so glad you mentioned that idea! I hate sewing Velcro, to be honest with you, and it makes such good sense just to re-use that top part instead of throwing out the whole boot just because of a hole or two (dog toenails and pavement can be rough on footwear!). And from the picture, your two-toned booties actually look like they were designed to be that way — a doggie fashion statement!
Annette, that’s a fantastic tip – thanks very much for giving a link for somewhere to find those Grippies! And I’m so glad to hear the booties are helping your dear old Sadie and Shadow. My greyhound (Casey) is now almost 11, and his “sister” is a 14-year-old Golden Retriever, so I totally get the concerns about older dogs accidentally doing the splits on slippery hardwood floors – especially in the winter when there can be wet spots from melting snow when they first come in from outside.
Annette, I sure understand about slippery floors, I replaced the carpet in one room and both Sierra and I slip around on the laminate.
I know there are Paw pads, little grippy things that stick right to their paws.
http://pupgearcorporation.com/Products/Paw-Pads
I know Sierra chew them off pretty fast. She tip toes thru the room right now.
I worry about this as she gets older.
I don’t know if I’m willing to do the whole house with laminate like I was first thinking. Making some light weight booties might be a good alternative, if we do.
Another alternative for slippery floors, if you want to save the booties for outside, is Paw Wax. I wrote about it back in 2006, when a friend first introduced me to it — When Dogs Hate Hardwood – Paw Wax, Anyone? — and can tell you it’s come in handy from time to time.
Just used your pattern to make two booties for my Golden Retriever Pet therapy dog. We often visit older friends at the hospitals and nursing homes with very thin skin. My dog is a paw puppy and loves to put his paws on his friends. I have worried about him tearing or bruising their tender skin. I made the booties out of simple soft, tee shirt material and they work great! He can be a paw puppy without his nails accidentally causing harm. Thanks so much.
Thank you for this wonderful pattern! Our chocolate lab is horribley allergic to grass and these booties have saved her paws! She knows she has to wear them EVERYtime she goes outside, so it is no problem putting them on. Thank you again!
Thank you so much for posting this. I was dog sitting for my mother’s elderly german sheppard. He has a hard time with his back paws slipping on my wood floors since his hips are not as good as they once were. The slip pads on these worked out great. I can’t thank you enough :-)
Thanks so much for this pattern. I need shoe’s for my cocker spaniel for totally the opposite reason. We’re originally from alabama but we spent the last 5 years in washington state and just moved to oklahoma. we took the little guy to petsmart and soon as he gets out the car he starts crying. we quickly realized his paws were burning. been in cold washington long enough to forget you can fry an egg on cement in the south.today was especially hot over 100. He wouldn’t even potty outside it was so hot. I’m tight on money its like 40$ for dog shoes so I’ll be going thru my fabric stash to find something suitable.
Thanks for the dog bootie pattern, I need to make a new set for my greyhound who also has corns (on three paws). I have been treating them (with duck tape seems to work the best as does hulling the corns) but the pavement and gravel aggravate his condition. I am planning to line the boots and insert a gel insole between the fabrics. I will send you a pic when they are done.
Domestik Goddess,
would it be ok to use the bootie pattern of yours to make and sell some booties as a fund raiser for our Dog Park?
I want to check with you before I mention anything to anybody.
Karen, what a wonderful idea! Yes, please do feel free to use this pattern to make booties for your Dog Park fundraising – I’m always happy to be able to support a good cause, especially if it makes life better for dogs! :)
Just found your web site. How nice of you to have this nice pattern. My sister has a very old 16 years old cocker spaniel and she has trouble slipping this will help a lot.
I am using your pattern to make fleece mitts for my little human kiddos! Ill let you know how they turn out!
Hi Domestik Goddess!
I found your site when I did a search “how to make muttluks at home”!! I’m actually using your pattern for my 15-year old pug. He recently was diagnosed with bad knees and surgery is out of the question at his age. He takes an occasional anti-inflammatory, but I figured if he could wear a non-slip boot inside (and outside), then he’d slip less on the wood floors. Well, I made your pattern to a T and his hind leg doesn’t slip anymore, causing his knee cap to dislocate!! What a wonderful thing, and thanks so much for offering this pattern, it really works well as long as you have the right tension on the elastic!!! :)) My pug thanks you too! :)
…I should say, that he doesn’t slip anymore, so his knee cap DOESN’T dislocate! And I wanted to add…I made the indoor set out of cotton/polyester fabric, and I used that stuff you put under the rugs for the non-slip material!
I’ve got a little Chihuahua who’s going to get a new pair of boots! Thanks for the design…I’ve bought fabric but was struggling at getting a pattern put together. I’ll let you know how it all turns out!
Just finished a set of high tops for our foster golden, Lance.
had to copy Sierra’s pattern by 110% to fit his big feet.
Great pattern!
Thank you for the tutorial. I just found out that I am taking my Bichon to the mountains for thanksgiving and She will be in the snow for the first time!
just moved to Denver from Las Vegas, these are just what I need for my rescued Shepherd mix. Thanks so much!
great idea … I did find my pooch boots for $14 on Ebay so I am not complaining – but this is a good one to keep just in case. My Chihuahua is only 2.38 pounds and I have the issue that nothing is ever small enough for him.
Girls use dots of Fabric paint for socks and slipper grips like grippies but a bottle goes a long way. write pups name on the bottom. ha ha I haven’t made these boots yet but intend to. I have a golden retriever who loves the boys, he’s 18mo. learned last season that cold will not bring him in if everyone is fishing, hunting etc. Wish me luck and send all the adivce you may have. I looked at vinyl but would like to use neophrene ??? I have an old pair of water ski trunks to use.
I just wanted to thank you for this tutorial. I made a pair as a gift for a dog who now loves to wear them in the snow. Here are some photos: http://coatswiththemost.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-dogs.html
Lovely! Thanks for sharing your photos, Melissa!
wow! thank you so much. people like you with your blog are what help the world make progress, and everyone to become self-sufficient.
I would like to have access to tea-cup size puppy clothes. All I was able to get was a bootie pattern. Thank You!
THANK YOU for the pattern!!! I bought some of these years ago and never used them until last night when my it was 0 degrees out and they had just salted the streets and my pup ran out and immediately sat down and lifted both her paws up in pain, ouch. I dug out the fleece booties, put them on her and VOILA, no pain! However…. she lost one so I want to make her some. Many thanks again!
I also made some polar fleece booties for my Dachshund, who wears them reluctantly, but I think she appreciates not freezing her little feet. After I had them all sewn together, I placed them on a paper bag and applied some regular clear silicone sealant to what would be the bottom of the bootie. Just using a popsicle stick and smearing a thin film over the fleece helps with waterproofing and with the wear on the fleece as well. On the next pair, I think I will do that to the top and bottom, and seal the side seams too. Just let the sealant dry in between if applying to both sides…works great!
Thanks for the pattern. I take my 25# mutt cross country skiing (skijoring) in a local park. She loves it but is constantly laying down in the snow to chew off snow balls between her toes. (I don’t think warmth is an issue, but I have plenty of fleece from various projects) This booties will really help! Thanks again.
Shannon, thanks – sounds like a great idea to put clear silicone on the bottom of the dog boots to give them serious anti-slip traction. I’m trying that with my next pair, for sure!
Thanks so much for posting this pattern! I am excited to try making some for our “hard to fit” little beagle/Jack Russell. It’s hard to be a dog with big, sensitive paws and small ankles in a cold, salty winter world!
I have to say thank you! I have 5 dogs all of them have very short hair. My Boxer Luda has prior nerve damage on his feet from being dumped in the middle of winter when he was only 6 months old. He does not go out if there is snow on the ground except to potty. We do have a wool coat for him which helps. But now I am making him his own boots! Now maybe he’ll actually want to go out and play. I just finish the second boot(hand sewing my sewing machine is broken) and he already doesn’t mind wearing them around the house. I used DAP Kwik Seal Foam(make them waterproof): http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=10 and Super Grip Non-Skid Fabric Coating(No slip) for the bottoms: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=24206&catid=699 When we ripped up the carpets to exposed the beautiful hard woods under them our daughter kept slipping when wearing socks, after many scrapes and bruises I found this stuff and sprayed it on all of her socks. Worked wonders! So I think I will make every one their own snow boots! When I printed the pattern for my two Dogo Argentinos and Great Dane I had to use two pieces of paper! Thats going to be a lot of fabric! Thank you again!
You know how, in winter, there are days so cold that your dog tries to “do his business” without actually letting his feet touch the ground? :D We’re in the middle of a real cold snap like that, and I’ve got to say that I’m grateful every day that I got off my butt to sew up a new batch of these little dog boots. Between all the dogs’ various trips outdoors into the snow to pee and their walks, having a few spare pairs of dog boots around means I’ve always got a dry pair to put on those paws.
Here’s another quick tip — I’ve been finding some really good-quality thick fleece to sew into dog boots by checking the bins at the local used clothing store. Look for baby sleepers and baby receiving blankets, especially : the soft thick fleece that high-end baby gear is made of seems to be more water resistant and warmer than most of the fleece used for blankets and clothing for grown-ups. And since you don’t need much fabric for making dog boots, you can easily get what you need from a small garment like that – very good stuff, very cheap!
omg im so glad i found this site! I bought a pair of guardian gear boots for my 3 1/2 lb yorkie/chihuahua mix i got them in the mail yesterday, and the bottoms were TOO stiff!! he doesnt weigh enough to bend the material! It was actually kinda funny watching him tip-toe trying to walk, i put them back in the bag and wont try them again! they were relatively cheap since i had a gift certificate BUT the return policy at the website sucked! 15% restock fee plus you have to pay return shipping! All i can say is THANK YOU!! i tried to make my own once but they looked like bags and wouldnt stay on lol GREAT pattern ! im going to try to make some tonight! thanks again!
found your pattern on allfreesewing.com and definitely intend on making them. Is there any chance you could share the instructions for the coat your puppy is wearing too? We have a great dane/lab mix and while he’s not a ‘horse’, evn thinking about putting him in, say, an XL store bought dog coat would be laughable … would truly appreciate it. Thanks for sharing!
Robin, funny you should mention “horse” – that coat I made for my greyhound was basically modelled on a horse/pony blanket that slips on over the dog’s head and ties under the belly. I didn’t use a pattern, though I suppose I might be able to scrabble something together… maybe… :D
In the meantime, I can at least tell you what I did, because it’s pretty quick-and-easy for even people who aren’t keen on sewing – as long as your dog will stand still for a fitting!
What I did was just drape an old sheet over the dog’s back and used a marker to mark on the sheet where to cut for length and sides and neck. Then I cut the sheet along those lines (erring on the generous side) and tried it on again until it was right. Then I laid a piece of fleece fabric on a piece of corduroy (because I happened to have some corduroy lying around), hand-basted the two layers together with some quick long stitches that are easy to pull out later, and then laid the sheet “pattern” on top of the fabric and cut out the shape. One seam up the centre of the chest, a band of fleece for a collar, bind the edges (to keep the fleece and corduroy layers together), sew on a couple of ties to fasten the coat beneath his lower chest (if I were doing this over, I’d put on a broader band to keep his chest/belly warmer and use velcro to fasten)… and you’re done!
Thank you so much for the idea. I just whipped up a pair for my American Hairless Terrier and he loved them! I thought I would get some funny video of him when we first put them on……nope…..he was like “this is what I’ve been waiting for”.
OMG! Have we had a winter or what this year! It was -17 @ 7 am and for my dogs last trip outside last night, it was -13!
My rescued little 10# mutt who is probably poodle mixed with cocker (NO SHEDDING :-D) experienced the attempt @ pooing without putting his feet on the ground (love that description!). I live in Colorado and we get tons of snow and bitter cold, being a mile from sea-level! Last year we were really buried in snow and was over his head nearly all winter! So I went to the second hand store and got him a toddler sized fleece hoody and a pair of britches (just cut out a wide area at the bottom so he can use his “wizer” :-) for the hoody I simply pulled the waist area up, cut off the excess and put a cute snap on the back; the front (or chest) has a zipper so easy off and on, I also put snaps on the hood, folding it back so it can lay on his head or just cover his neck.
But I couldn’t find anything for his very hairy feet which got tangled with snow balls which I had to use warm wash clothes to get them off, which was stressful for both of us. So I tried baby socks, which fit well but the rubber band to hold them on were too painful. By the time I found your booties, winter was over.
We started off with an unusually mild winter so I thought he wouldn’t need them this year then SURPRISE! So I sat down and made them for front and back feet the very night he was standing on his tail to poo and wouldn’t even walk to me, so painful were his feet. NO MORE procrastination! He doesn’t love wearing them but like his hoody, he will understand he needs them.
Oh and wanted to add, Scotch Guard is a fabulous spray for any fabric; moisture runs off like on somthing plastic and yet the fabric remains supple. HSN OR QVC sell a great product called Blox which works very well, too. And thanks to all about the Grippies info as I had never heard of them; my next purchse!
HUGS TO YOU AND ALL AND ESP OUR CHILDREN CALLED DOGS!
Thank you so much for the instructions, I made the booties without the sole and they work perfectly, now my neighbour wants me to make some for her dog.
Hi there fellow dogs lovers.
I’m so glad I’ve found this site with the dog bootie pattern. I have 3 cocker spaniels and they have BIG HAIRY FEET. This last week, we had record snow fall in Okla. and more to come this week. It’s not that my “kids” don’t like going outside, they LOVE IT. It’s even hard to get them in at times. But I know their feet get cold and and the snow balls on the feet are hard to get off. Mom and son have such long eyelashes, they had little snowballs on them.
I’ve had an idea for awhile of what I wanted to make them out of, but the pattern I wasn’t so sure about. This one will be easy incorporate the material I want to use. For gripping on the bottom I have some left over rubber type shelving material. It’s great for gripping for jars, bottles, etc. I found some waterproof type fleece lined vinyl. I have extra fleece “corners” from all of the no sew fleece blankets I’ve made. Was saving them to make a patchwork blanket, but I think I spare a few pieces. I definitely will be making these taller to help cover up some of their hairy legs. This will really help when the snow starts melting or when it’s rainy out. If I can’t catch them well to dry off their paws, they can make a mess of my floors inside.
Thanks so much, Cathy, Delilah, Samson and Spats
Thanks for the pattern. I have wanted this for a very long time. Now I can make them for my toy poodle. Winters are cold here in Pa.
Thank you for the pattern. I have one of those “designer” dogs–a Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Daschund). I’ve been wondering about going outside after we get moved to where they have snow and cold, wet weather. Now, I’ll just whip out several pairs of these. I think I’ll get some of those little clips that are used to clip mittens to children’s coats and clip the boots onto the coat. That will keep the boots on for sure! Maybe! LOL
Thanks, again.
Thank you for this great pattern! Our winters aren’t very cold here in Oregon, but try telling that to my Chihuahua…she HATES stepping on the cold, frosty grass to go potty. These boots are a lifesaver!
Thank-you for the pattern. My Cairn has no issues with snow and cold here in Ottawa. However, the Condo Corp decided to use Salt this year instead of Grit on our stairs and walkways. He is in pain within a minute of venturing outdoors. I’ve bought 2 sets of booties for him and although he allows me to put them on, invariably 1 falls off each time we go for a walk… no matter how carefully I secure them. I’ve tried size small and X-small without much success. I will be making these booties… 2 or 3 pairs as soon as I get the supplies together. Be nice to dust off the sewing machine. Thanks again. Sue and Axie (Accident)
I have a new puppy that LOVES to jump up and scratch at my legs. I have a
condition and it hurts me a lot. not wanting to hurt her, I had thought of foot coverings for her front feet. I plan to make a few pairs for her, hopefully by the time my pup is trained not to scratch me she will like her fashion statement.
thank you for this pattern.
Thank you. I had been designing my own boots, but they just didn’t work too well! My doggy is a G. Dane mix, so she’s pretty large, so I just enlarged what you designed, with one difference; I lined the toenail area with Naugahyde so her nails wouldn’t tear through very quickly. Thanks again!
Thank you, I have just come accross your website for doggie socks, I can’t wait to get started on a pair, my elderly dog has difficulty standing up on my sons wooden floor, and she won’t come into my kitchen any more unless there is a mat there.
We live in Great Britain I just hope I can buy a suitable anti slip fabric, love some of the other idears, double wrapped, and waterproof. The price of some of these bootees are horrendous. Thanks again Maralyn UK
Hi Maralyn, maybe a product like Fiber-Lok Rug Backing would be helpful, if you can’t find a suitable fabric. I haven’t tried it myself, but it seems like a reasonable solution to try, and it’s definitely available in the UK because it’s listed on the Amazon UK website: http://amzn.to/zZgdYW – just a suggestion to think about.
Let us know how you and your old girl-dog get on?
Just found your pattern and I can’t wait to try these. I bought some Muttlucks at our local Pet Expo for a great price of $10 but they are really hard to get on. I also have an old pair of leather gloves that I will take apart and use the leather for the soles. Thanks for sharing with us!
I see you first posted this in ’07, but here I am 5 years later! I have a small older dog that has spinal arthritis, so her back legs keep slipping out from under her on my wood floors.
I wanted a small bootie with a non-slip sole and Google sent me to you. I bought some grippy shelf liner at the 99 cent store and used that as the little pad. It worked great!
Thanks for writing this in ’07 and keeping it alive for me to find it now!
Jennifer, you are so very welcome. It gives me great pleasure to think of all the dogs that this simple little boot pattern has helped over the years. Thank you so much for your kind comment. I hope your dear little dog stays on her own back feet for a very long time yet!
Hi, thanks so much for your pattern – its wicked. My wee dog has arthritis and often over licks her front paw till its red raw. Just made a neoprene booty from your pattern so she can’t lick plus gets some padding from the neoprene. Absolutely stoked :)
I am disabled. I have two chihuahuas. My nephew came and moved us to Ogden in November. I can’t afford to buy them so I came on line to see if I could find a simple pattern for socks and boots for them. I have memory problems because of a wreck. Would you help me so they don’t suffer next winter. I can be reached at Google: Aunt Jennifer 68 @gmail or Seymour_Jennifer at Yahoo.com. Thank you in advance if you can send me a pattern.
I was so pleased to see your pattern for the boots ,I have a hairless Crestie and he is not used to the Melbourne cold weather as he comes from Cairns ,his little feet yesterday were like ice ,so I will be busy making boots today ,Thank You for putting this pattern on the web
I’m planning on making these for my Standard poodle service dog because the pavement is so hot here in TX and to protect his paws from escalators and such. I think I’ll just add a bit more of the non slip stuff to it covers the toe more and up to the velcro part. Kind of like the front toe on a running shoe where it comes up to cover the front of the toe.
Thanks SO much for the easy pattern! My 12.5 yr old Chesapeake “Lucky” has been fighting terminal liver cancer for 1.5 yrs and now I suspect he is symptomatic of DM (Dygenerative Myelopathy (sp?). The DM causes loss of function in the rear legs first due to loss of the animal being unable to feel where they are placing their legs. We have hardwood floors in most of the house and no carpet on the stairs. Lucky and I live with my parents right now and have the upstairs to ourselves. This is an awesome arrangement except when it’s time for him to go out…and down the stairs. He can’t get any traction with his hind legs on the stairs! With me holding him up with a rear harness, we look like we’re doing a drunk wheelbarrow race, haha! I plan to sew him some boots with grippy rubber shelf liner on the bottom and see how that does. My budget is way too tight to risk buying booties that he may HATE:) Thanks again for sharing this pattern!!!
Aw, Gretchen, you made me get all teary-eyed… Dear old Lucky. I hope the booties help him have a little more mobility and safety on those slippery stairs.
I LOVE to hear about the dogs who get boots from this pattern, as well as all the “customizations” their clever owners make to suit their own needs.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to leave me a comment.
I have an Australian Shepherd that has one front foot that he constantly wants to lick due to allergies. In the house I have been putting a sock on his foot held in place by Velcro straps, but needed something I could use outside. I tried to create a pattern myself a few days ago and came up with something that worked, but not good. So I went online and found your pattern. Made him a booty today out of Sumbrella material (used for boat awnings and sail covers). Works wonderful, keeps the ground dampness off his foot and when I take it off I can shack the dirt off. Thank you so much for an easy pattern.
Hi from New Zealand,
I have been trying to figure out how to make boot/socks for my very tiny Chihuahua (4 yrs old and weighing in at just on 2 pounds) as she gets very cold. I have already made her lots of pyjamas but they still leave her feet cold. I am determind to make her some boots so that she can enjoy being outdoors with the rest of our “Muttley Crew”! Now I just need to figure out how to make them to fit…her paw measures 1cm at its widest point!
She will be needing them more than ever in a few months as we are heading to Saskatchewan just in time for Winter LOL.
Many thanks for the pattern and all the hints and tips from your other fans :)
Cheers
Terry
Hi Terry!
First, you’re going to Saskatchewan for winter?!?!? lol
Chihuahua feet have to be just about the tiniest dog feet out there, as they’re narrow as well as small, so that will be some very tiny sewing you’ll have to do. I wonder if you could do something with the fingertips of gloves? I haven’t tried this – just got the idea – but what if you get a pair of fleece gloves from a bargain store and cut the fingers off, then sew your velcro-and-elastic onto those? You could even do rubber washing-up gloves for rain boots, I suppose. At the very least it would give you a way to try different finger/boot sizes on her to get a good sense of how small her boots need to be. Since she doesn’t have fluffy fur to help keep the boots on, a good fit will be important.
Hope you get a chance to stop back and let us know how you make out – there are a lot of Chihuahuas out there who can use boots, so their owners could benefit from your experience. :)
Cheers!
LOL yes, we are heading to Saskatchewan to live as my hubby has a job there and we are immigrating, We had hoped to be there already but the immigration process is taking longer than anticipated. However, it seems things are finally moving ahead so we are going to be heading from a NZ winter into a Canadian winter lol.
Gloves! What a great idea, THANK YOU! Her feet are soooo small and her legs so skinny, that I was wondering how to do the velcro/elastic bit too. I think it will take some fiddling with but Iwill keep you posted so other “Wee Chi” mums & dads can learn from my mistakes lol
My church is sending supplies to Afganastan to solders and their dogs. I would like to make dog booties for them, but have no idea how and what material to us. Would you please help me with this. I’ve sewn for years.
Thanks
pour avoir une botte quasi inusable il faut faire la semelle avec une chambre a air c’est tres solide et impermeable!!!
Les bottes avec chambre à air dans la semelle … pour les chiens, cathy?
Katie, I’m not sure what information I can add to the pattern and the instructions in my post, along with all the helpful comments and suggestions that others have contributed… I’m not familiar with the conditions in the Middle East or what specific needs the dogs there might have. Your best bet would be to get in touch with whoever is organizing the drive for dog boots and ask them what would be most appropriate for dogs in Afghanistan.
On the tiny chi paws i found that you need to scale down the thickness of the fleece fabric to maybe a micro-fleece or I have had success with two layers of interlock knit fabric fused together and top stitched.
For the elastic in the strap I use a woven cotton fabric and made a sleeve for the elastic, the fabric sleeve is longer than the elastic so when it is scrunched onto the elastic there is some play in the adjustment of the fit or tightness of the strap.
It is tough to estimate the amount to use but i make a sample leg out of a toilet paper roll so i have the wrist measurements available all the time when tweaking my straps.
I do hope that is clearer than mud?
Thanks so very much for this pattern! My very old Siberian has horrible hips, and is beginning to lose the “righting” reflex in both hind legs (ie/ they don’t fip over quickly, and the tops of the toes drag). He also has very little feeling in both hind feet. Because of this he is starting to develop a sore spot on the top of each foot – I’ve just thrown together a quick pair of booties with materials I have on hand, with some extra material added over the toe for cushioning and wear protection, and will probably pick up and use some (bicycle) tire tubing over the front of the toe to help protect the fleece and his foot from the friction – the tubing should provide enough slip that his foot can still flip over. I am so appreciative of you providing this pattern – and believe me, if *I* can sew it easily, *anyone* can – sewing does not come easily to me!
Hi!
I’m taking over two dogs in january 2013, and yesterday I went to visit them, and to play outside in the snow. That wasn’t much fun for anyone, it took about 5 minutes before both dogs were sitting in the snow, crying, because their paws were cold! I went back home, and started searching online for a pattern for dog booties, and these are truly the best I’ve found :D Going out to buy some fabric today, and then I’m gonna try to make these :)
They’re going to be invaluable for me and my dogs, seeing as we live in Norway, and the winter season is pretty tough here!
Thanks again, Lucky and Cita sends a woof too :)
Hi Terry,
Regarding making chihuahua boots? I have a chihuahua and have discovered that when making the jumpsuits/pyjamas for him I add boots to the bottom of the legs.
I say to him “Trousers on” then he knows he’s going out and needs to stay warm I tried making the jumpsuit and boots seperately, but discovered he walked the boots off his tiny little 1cm feet! so I add “boots” to the bottom of the pattern and cut out the material to include them and use the plastic glue you can buy to dot on the bottom of slipper socks. If you prefer to have your boots seperate, if you sew a little bit of an elastic loop to the top of the boots at the back and a button to the bottom of the jumpsuit legs you can “button” the boots onto the suit so they stay in place when he/she walks. Hope that helps :-D
I have three chihuahua crosses in the house, my son’s little one is less than three pounds and very thinly furred. Living in the “icy tundra” (my military son’s description) of the Dakotas she has absolutely no fun on cold mornings and now that we have our first snow of the year, there was total anarchy this morning when it was time for the potty run (Dad DOESN’T do boots unless requested!). With hard wood floors I found that the grippy type shelf liner is easy to sew to the booties and is replacable.
…..that nice pair of gloves you got your husband for Christmas, and he lost one the first day…..well, don’t throw the other one away. Cut the fingers and thumb off to make booties for your Chihuahua (4 plus a spare, for if she looses one). Be creative; lace-ups, velcro, elastic, or any combination of these, for a snug and stylish fit.
hi, I just wanted to thank you for this pattern I found yesterday. I had bought muttluks, but they wouldn’t stay on my dogs feet, so I went out and bought black and pink solid fleece, made the boot the same but 6″ up the leg to catch on the elbow bone, then before I put the velcros on at ankle and one at the top of leg, I put a piece of pink fleece on the top of foot up about five” and then black rib cuff on top. Then I added velcros and sewed together. I have two little shihtzus, so I had eight to make, but they work great. I wish I could send a pic, but I don’t see a place to attach, if I figure that out, I’ll send. Thank you so much
I would love to have your picture e-mailed to me if possible. I have a toy poodle that I’d like to make them for plus I day care 2 other toy poodles and a chihuahua/rat terrier mix that I’d like to make them for also. Heard about these boots from a lady who was walking her Yorkie and had made her boots. Thanks!
We just got a dog named Circus last weekend, and even though he is a big tough looking boy, he is not a huge fan of the single digits (Farenheit) weather we’ve been having, nor of the snow, ice, and salt that are plaguing the sidewalks around our condo. I already had to make him a dog-jacket so he isn’t shivering when we get home from our walks. I’ve also been having to cut our walks SUPER short, because he will start limping if we go as long as we would both like. I did a quick search for dog booties, and your page was by far the best pattern I found! I plan on digging into my stash and making him up a set tonight.
On behalf of Circus and myself, thank you! :)
I just took in a rescue Chinese Crested hairless. He doesn’t seem to mind the weather, but he has a PJ on plus a coat, and I was worried about his feet. 14 lbs., long legged, but feet are small. This should be interesting. I think I’m going to try a longer pair and possible fasten as you have plus fasten up the leg again to have some leg covering. I was also toying with the idea of some of that rubberized material that you use to open lids or use as shelf liner. The non-skid stuff as the sole to the foot. Doesn’t the vinyl still slip some?
Yep, on that packed-down icy snow, it does still slip a bit – maybe a couple of days out of the winter – but there’s a texture on the vinyl I used (hard to see in the photo) so it isn’t really as slick as you might think.
Shelf liner rubbery stuff has worked well for me but it depends if your pup will be walking on pavement a lot, as the rubber stuff wears down and/or tears off when it gets too much use on a rough surface.
Do have a read through (OKay, maybe *skim* through) the comments here – so many great dog owners with so many great ideas to contribute, I know they’ve improved on my original concept a dozen times over!
Also, blessings on you for taking in a rescue dog. :)
My sons coyote hunting dog “Nuts” cut his pad. He needed a breathable shoe/sock. I saw this pattern and whipped it up in no time. I have a pic but don’t see where to include. Thank you for the ideal idea!