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Pug wearing red shoes in the snow Credit: Getty Images

The Best Dog Shoes of 2023

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Pug wearing red shoes in the snow Credit: Getty Images

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Product image of Bark Brite All Weather Dog Boots

Bark Brite All Weather Dog Boots

Thinner and more flexible than some other dog shoes, the Bark Brite all-weather dog shoes are made of neoprene with a treaded rubber sole. Read More

Pros

  • Flexible
  • Work on narrow paws

Cons

  • Hand wash only
  • Thinner than others
Product image of Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots

Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots

The Ruffwear Grip Trex dog shoes include Vibram soles and are well regarded for their comfort and quality. Read More

Pros

  • Vibram soles
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Expensive
  • 2 shoes per pack
  • Limited sizing
Product image of QUMY Dog Boots

QUMY Dog Boots

Sized 1 through 8, these dog shoes come in a pack of four, and sizes are easy to pinpoint with the available size chart. Read More

Pros

  • Lots of color choices
  • Durable

Cons

  • Stiff
  • May not work for small dogs
Product image of Expawlorer Waterproof Dog Shoes

Expawlorer Waterproof Dog Shoes

Affordable and comfortable with a soft lining, the Expawlorer waterproof dog shoes come four in a pack with sizes available from 1 to size 8. Read More

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Soft inner

Cons

  • Only come in black
  • Not for deep snow
Product image of Ultra Paws Water Resistant Dog Booties

Ultra Paws Water Resistant Dog Booties

These Ultra Paws booties are a great lightweight shoe, making them perfect for older dogs or dogs with mobility issues. Read More

Pros

  • Good for dogs with mobility issues
  • Come in three color options

Cons

  • Not as durable as others

Keeping your pet safe is an important part of being a pet owner. As someone with a couple of highly active dogs, I know that minor inconveniences can often turn into bigger problems. One of the most common injuries is damaged paw pads.

While we can’t protect our pups from everything life throws their way, there are a few helpful outdoor products for dogs that make it easier to keep your dog safe and happy. Dog shoes are one of those things.

Easily strapped onto your dog’s feet, dog shoes are a great way to keep your furry friend’s paws protected from hot pavement, sharp seashells, or icy conditions in the wintertime. They can also be helpful for senior dogs with limited mobility on slippery surfaces.

After researching dog shoes and combing through thousands of user reviews, these are our choices for the best shoes for dogs.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Bark Brite All Weather Dog Boots
Bark Brite All Weather Dog Boots

Thinner and more flexible than some other dog shoes, the Bark Brite all-weather dog shoes are made of neoprene and include a treaded rubber sole. Coming four to a pack, these dog shoes are great for narrow feet. This makes them good for dogs like greyhounds that might normally have issues finding a good fit. The Bark Brite All Weather Dog Boots come in sizes from small to XXL.

Due to their thin build these dog shoes may wear more easily than others. Despite that, one reviewer was more than pleased with their quality during a fourteen thousand foot mountain hike with their puppy. We like these dog shoes because they offer good quality at a lower price than some others. Plus, there’s no need to worry about comfort since they’re flexible.

Pros

  • Flexible

  • Work on narrow paws

Cons

  • Hand wash only

  • Thinner than others

Product image of Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots
Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots

If you’ve ever worn shoes with a Vibram sole, you know that there’s something different about their comfort and overall quality. The Ruffwear Grip Trex dog shoes include Vibram soles and are no exception. With that added perk is an added price tag and these two-to-a-pack dog shoes are more expensive than others.

Limited sizing from 1.5 inches to 3.25 inches might make sizing tough, however. These shoes are made with tightly woven air mesh that keeps dirt and debris out while offering a comfortable ventilation for all day wear.

Wide openings make these shoes easy to get on and the hook-and-loop cinch closure system ensures a snug fit. If your dog encounters size issues, a boot liner is available and might make for a better fit.

Larger dogs may have trouble wearing these boots because they sometimes interfere with dewclaws so you’ll want to pay close attention to make sure that your dog’s feet aren’t rubbing and you’ll want to measure carefully before you decide on a size.

Pros

  • Vibram soles

  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Expensive

  • 2 shoes per pack

  • Limited sizing

Product image of QUMY Dog Boots
QUMY Dog Boots

The QUMY dog boots come in six colors, including leopard print for little fashionistas. Available in sizes 1 through 8, these dog shoes come in a pack of four. Sizes are easy to pinpoint with the available size chart. When sizing, you’ll want to use width as your primary guide and weight as an additional asset.

Wide split seam openings and two adjustable straps make these shoes easy to put on and an anti-slip sole ensures that your dog won’t have issues running on slick floors or pavement. These shoes are so secure that according to one person, one of their dogs tried to pull the shoes off of their other dog to no avail.

If you have a dog that doesn’t know when to stop, these shoes offer great protection from sharp rocks along trails due to their thick soles. That said, some mention that they worry that these shoes might actually be too stiff, so keep that in mind.

While these shoes come in a variety of sizes, the QUMY dog shoes seem to work better on larger breeds and hold up well over time. Reviewers make note that the reflective velcro straps are helpful when walking at night and help in making pets more visible.

Pros

  • Lots of color choices

  • Durable

Cons

  • Stiff

  • May not work for small dogs

Product image of Expawlorer Waterproof Dog Shoes
Expawlorer Waterproof Dog Shoes

Affordable and comfortable with a soft lining, the Expawlorer waterproof dog shoes come four in a pack with sizes available from 1 to size 8. These dog shoes are waterproof and include a non-slip sole, making them great for rainy day walks or winter adventures. These are also a great pair of shoes if you’re worried about extremely hot pavement temperatures.

Good for multiple seasons, these dog shoes are said to hold up over time. Do be sure to use the size chart to ensure the correct fit, but keep in mind that these run small so if your dog is between sizes you may want to size up for a proper fit.

Overall, these are a great shoe for dogs, but due to the closures they may not be a good fit for walking in deep snow.

Pros

  • Affordable

  • Soft inner

Cons

  • Only come in black

  • Not for deep snow

Product image of Ultra Paws Water Resistant Dog Booties
Ultra Paws Water Resistant Dog Booties

Ultra Paws booties are a great lightweight shoe, making them perfect for older dogs or dogs with mobility issues. Water resistant, these dog shoes are perfect for protecting your pet from harmful chemicals and extreme temperatures, whether you live in the desert or the mountains.

Said to run small, we would suggest sizing up if you think that your dog is in between sizes and you’ll want to be sure to use the available size chart to determine the best fit for your dog. With a large variety of sizes from two to eleven, these are a good option for any size dog.

These dog shoes are said to be easy to get onto your dog with a little practice, and while they aren’t as durable as some others due to their light weight, there are no complaints of them coming off during use. The Ultra Paws shoes come in green, black, or red.

Pros

  • Good for dogs with mobility issues

  • Come in three color options

Cons

  • Not as durable as others

What To Look For When Choosing Shoes For Your Dog

You may be asking yourself, do dogs need shoes? While dogs don’t necessarily need shoes, they can be a helpful assist in protecting your dog’s paws.

Paw pad injuries can ruin your dog’s day but luckily they don’t usually require a vet appointment. With time and some attention most paw pad injuries will heal. In the meantime, a pair of dog shoes can be useful to avoid damage or aid in healing.

Consider your own experiences walking around outside barefoot. Maybe you also have a glaring memory of walking over hot sand at the beach, cringing at each piercing step as you made your way to the shoreline. Dogs can experience this same sensation.

During warmer months, asphalt can easily reach temperatures up to 140 degrees, which can easily cause harm to an animals’ feet. Air temperatures around 85 degrees mean that the concrete is sitting at about 105 degrees, while asphalt temperatures sit around 130 degrees.

On top of safety concerns, some dogs have issues with certain types of surfaces and can run into issues as they get older. A pair of sticky dog shoes can be a big help for some dogs in simply getting around.

How To Measure Your Dog’s Feet

Getting the right fit is important when choosing the best shoes for your dog. A secure fit will ensure your dog is comfortable and can spare you the hassle of them easily slipping out of their dog booties. In order to choose the correct size and style of dog shoe you’ll want to carefully measure your dog's feet. Luckily this isn’t as hard as it might sound.

One easy way to measure your dog's feet is by simply grabbing a piece of paper and having your dog stand on it. It’s important to make sure that your dog is putting some weight on their foot so that their foot is spread as if they were walking.

Next, you’ll want to mark where the bottom of their paw pad sits, the tip of their longest toenail, and each side of their paw. Using a tape measure or a ruler you’ll be able to find the correct dimensions without having to get your dog to stand still for longer than they’d like.

Before measuring you may want to trim your dog's nails to the proper length so your measurements are accurate.

Meet the tester

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer, Search

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Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

See all of Ceara Perez-Murphy's reviews

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