Top 5 Best Dog Hiking Boots

All dogs need the best dog hiking boots if you want to take them hiking with you. If you love camping and own a dog, there’s a good chance you’ve brought your dog with you on a camping trip, or at the very least, thought about it. Bringing your dog camping can be a lot of fun for both you and Spot, but going hiking isn’t like taking a normal walk. Just like you need safety gear, so does your dog. To protect your dog’s paws, you need to find the best dog hiking boots before your next trip. Keep reading for dog hiking boot reviews and ratings so you can pick out the right pair for your pooch!

The 5 Top Dog Hiking Boots

A fun day of enjoying nature can quickly turn for the worse if your dog wears out his paws running on rough terrain. If you would never dream of leaving your hiking boots at home during a camping trip, your dog should have some, too. Hiking boots for dogs are a must, but there’s a lot of different types on the market. If you need help picking the best set of dog shoes for hiking, please continue reading. I have compiled a list of the top 5 best dog hiking boots so you have a safe and fun camping trip with your best friend.

* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.

Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes

The My Busy Dog Shoes Water Resistant Dog Shoes have a thick rubber sole with traction groves similar to human sneakers. If you will be camping with your dog in a location that has rough or icy terrain on the trail to the campsite, this paw saver will be a necessity.

These hiking boots also have adjustable straps for a customized fit. The straps are even reflective, so they’re ideal for spotting your dog at night. And as the title advertises, these boots are waterproof, keeping paws dry on adventures through creeks, snow, or rain.

RUFFWEAR – Grip Trex Dog Hiking Boots

The Ruffwear Grip Tree Dog Shoes are made to stand up to serious wilderness adventures. The mesh fabric is breathable, keeping your puppy’s precious paws comfortable in different temperatures. RUFFWEAR also makes socks designed to wear with the shoes, which can prevent dogs from rubbing their paws raw while they run.

These boots can be purchased in a set of either two or four boots, so if you want to try them but aren’t sure if your dog will tolerate them, you don’t have to invest in a full set. Helping with the comfort, these boots have a wide opening. This makes it easier to get the shoes on and off an excited dog.

Kurgo Blaze Cross Dog Shoes

The Kurgo Blaze Cross Dog Shoes are ideal for training a dog to get used to wearing boots if they have not worn them before. These boots are best suited for city dogs who need their paws protected from road salts in the winter and hot pavement in the summer. They would be a great choice for daily walks around a suburban neighborhood. 

The Kurgo Blaze Cross Dog Shoes are available is multiple colors, some of which the other boots listed in this article are not available in. If you love the environment, you will be happy to know that these dog shoes are made with environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials. The fabric and materials these boots are made with are very flexible, which is ideal for dogs who are learning to wear shoes.

FLAdorepet Large Big Dog PU Leather Sport Shoes

The FLAdorepet Leather Sport Shoes are great for walks in cold, wet, and muddy terrain. These boots have a zipper and a velcro strap; if your dog tends to kick off boots as they run, these secure fittings can help. 

When wearing unlined shoes or boots, many dogs experience raw paws from boots with abrasive interior fabric or interior seams. These boots have a fleece lining, which keeps paws warm in the winter and eliminates the need for socks.

Bark Brite All Weather Reflective Neoprene Dog Boots

The Bark Brite All Weather Reflective Neoprene Dog Boots are ideal for puppies because they feature a larger opening, making them easy to put on. Their flexible fabric also helps a puppy learning to wear boots adjust to walking in them. These boots are made of neoprene and mesh, making them easy to dry quickly.

These boots are made of lightweight fabric and do not have a bulky sole, giving puppies the ability to walk more naturally when wearing them. The opening is on the back of the boot and runs for the length of the boot, making them simpler to put on than boots with a smaller opening.

Important Dog Hiking Boot Features to Consider

By purchasing shoes for your active dog, you do not have to worry about them pushing their limits and sustaining injuries. Alternatively, if your dog is adjusting to a higher level of activity, their paws may not be able to withstand going any significant distance. By having them wear shoes, their tender paws will not impede the planned activities. Here are some of the benefits the best dog hiking shoes will offer to your pup:

Heat Protection

If you cannot hold your hand against pavement, cement, rock, or sand for five full seconds, it is too hot for your dog to be walking on. Owners walking their dog in the city may be unable to walk their dog without putting shoes on their paws due to high temperatures. If you enjoy hiking in deserts or on trails with lots of rocky surfaces, your dog’s paws are susceptible to painful burns. If your dog injures their paws badly, they may be unable to walk back to the car and need to be carried—and may need a trip to the vet. The hike will end early and neither of you will have fun.

Fortunately, you can prevent this by looking for the best dog hiking boots before your trip outdoors. By introducing hiking boots to your dog, you ensure it can stay safe and the two of you can have fun outdoors.

Cold Protection

Dogs who enjoy playing in the snow or wet weather when temperatures drop can sustain injuries such as frost bite or discomfort as snow balls forming between their toes. When walking across ice in the winter, a dog may be unable to walk without dog walking shoes with a textured rubber sole to help them get traction.

Chemical Protection

In the winter, roads and sidewalks are treated with chemicals to prevent ice. In the summer, grass and gardens are treated with fertilizer. Since dogs clean their paws by licking them, they could easily ingest the chemicals that were in their environment, and these chemicals have the potential to be toxic. A set of dog walking shoes protects the dog’s feet from being directly exposed to chemicals.

Your Dog’s Health

Some dogs are born with disabilities that make it difficult for them to walk and carry their paws normally. As dogs get older, their arthritis may cause them to drag their paws instead of picking them up. If dogs with these disabilities do not wear dog walking shoes, they could sustain sores or other injuries to their paws. Additionally, if your dog recently sustained an injury to their paw, wearing dog walking shoes could prevent them from attempting to lick their wound. Just like using a dog food travel container and collapsible dog food bowl can help you keep their food safe, the best dog hiking boots can keep their feet safe.

Mess Prevention

You may have cancelled your dog’s regularly scheduled walk due to a muddy walking route. I can’t blame you—no one wants to spend their life cleaning up after muddy paws. By putting dog walking shoes on your dog, you eliminate extreme paw cleaning from your to do list.

Training

By training a dog to wear shoes, dogs can learn to have their paws handled. If your dog does not appreciate their paws being touched, activities like nail trims become difficult. Teaching them that they wear shoes when they do something fun, like going for a walk, can help them associate their paws being handled with positive experiences.

Does My Dog Really Need Hiking Shoes?

If you have not purchased boots or shoes for your dog before, you may be wondering if they really need shoes or boots. While they may seem like an unnecessary purchase, there are many legitimate purposes that shoes or boots serve for dogs.

A dog with shoes can go the extra mile. Active dogs put their energy before their physical ability. If this sounds like your dog, you need to buy best dog boots before taking them hiking.

Your dog may love running alongside your bicycle, jogging for miles, or running up rocky terrain. But can their paws go the planned distance? Most humans would never consider running barefoot over rough terrain because they know they would sustain painful injuries. Understandably, dog’s paws have similar limitations. Some dogs will not slow down even if they are injured.

How Do I Select the Right Shoe for My Dog?

Choosing the best dog hiking boots is as important as choosing the best portable dog fence for camping or dog camping crate when it comes to keeping your dog safe outdoors. First, you need to know what activity your dog will be participating in. For example, if you will be hiking with your dog, the best dog hiking boots will have a thick sole similar to a sneaker to protect their paws from rocks, be comfortable to wear for a long period of time, and be made out of a thick material to protect their paws and legs from thorns.

Next, take into consideration the size of your dog. Much like human shoes, dog shoes come in different sizes, and you’ll need to learn how to properly size your dog’s paws before you buy. If your dog is exceptionally large or small, you may need to seek out specialized shoes designed for extra-large or extra-small feet.

Another important consideration when buying even the best dog hiking boots is whether your dog has dewclaws on their rear paws or not. A dewclaw is a claw on the side of the paw located between the front and back pads of its paw and oriented towards the dog’s body. This claw can make wearing dog shoes painful if the shoes aren’t designed for dogs with dewclaws.

Conclusion

All of the hiking boots for dogs featured here are great choices for one reason or another, but if I had to pick my absolute favorite for best dog hiking boots, it would have to be the My Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes.

These shoes are a fantastic choice to go along with a dog hiking harness for taking your dog camping because they’re just as tough as the terrain, and they’ve got grippy soles so he doesn’t slip. The reflective straps are also a nice touch for hiking at night, or even just late-night walks at home. I also love that a portion of every sale goes to the Paw for Paw program to help dogs in need. I definitely call myself a dog lover, so I love seeing these types of things.

The My Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes have a lot of great features to make them the best dog hiking boots, but if you do choose to buy these for your dog, be sure to pick up some socks as well—especially if you plan on having them on your dog for an extended period of time. Socks provide extra protection, and when it comes to a dog’s feet, there’s no such thing as too much protection.

The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.