Comments From Wolf Packs^® Customers

Below you will find customer comments about our discontinued dog boots. Although we stopped making this item in 2000, we feel this information can be helpful to some so have left it on our web site. If you wish to contact the authors directly, please feel free to do so if a link is provided. Messages are organized by their last names for convenience.

Boots with socks... by Piper Butler, USA
Summer Boots, by David Craig & Matilda, USA
Booties on the Trail, by Brian Frank, Canada
Summer Pad Protectors, by Moira Hahn, USA
Turner's Protected Paw, by David Halpern
Photo and Testimonial, by Marc Hostetter, USA
Summer Dog Boots, by John Maclean, USA
Pad Protectors, by Ann Pritchett, USA
Photo Sent, by John Sagebiel, USA
Received the Order, by Steve Williamson, Great Britain

Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 21:37:44 -0700
From: Piper Butler
Subject: Boots with socks...

I had taken Baylee for a hike and she had hurt her left rear pad. She had torn it almost completely off! After many trips to the vet over a period of a couple of months and putting the cone around her head to keep her from licking and infecting it over and over again, I had a friend recommend your boots. I ended up getting them. Here's what I did. I put her antibiotic cream on her paw, put a baby sock over it, and then put on the boots. The socks kept the cream from getting smeared all inside the boots, and it also cushioned her already tender paws. It worked wonders!! Here's a picture. I have recommended this to quite a few of my friends and they say the trick works for them too.

Thanks!!

Piper Butler

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Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:10 PM
From: David Craig
Subject: Summer Boots

Woof!

I just wanted to tell you about my experience with your Summer Boots. I  am an Australian Shepherd - Dingo mix. I am almost 15 years old. I have had a long and happy life.

Although I am otherwise very healthy, I have developed arthritis and some other neurological problems that affect my rear legs. It makes walking difficult for me. Although I had successful back surgery 2 years ago (which helped stabilize my spine), the problem with my rear legs is getting progressively worse. Now when I walk, I sometimes scrape the top of my right rear foot on the ground.

David, my owner, knew that I needed to protect my foot, but he did not know where to find boots for me. He called several pet supply stores in our area. None of them had dog boots. He even went to a local mountaineering store. They had one pair, but they were too big for me. Then he had the idea to check the world wide web. He searched for "dog boots" and found your company. He ordered right away.

Now when we go walking (2 or 3 times a day), he does not have to worry about me hurting myself if I scrape my foot. Of course, all this scraping wears on the toes and top of the boot, but a little duct tape protects the toe and top.

Thank you for your product. It helps me keep going and enjoying life.

Your friend,

Matilda

*****

Note: The following message was sent by David (Matilda's owner) in reply to an inquiry he received from the message above. We thought it might be helpful information for dogs who drag their paws...

Date: Tue, 28 Sep 99 220815 -0700
From: David Craig
Subject: Re: Summer boots

At first Matilda was only scraping her right rear foot. She was doing what you described - knuckling over and then scraping the top of the toes. They were starting to bleed. The summer boots worked well, although the most wear was right at the toe, where the bottom material and the top were sewn together. At first I used duct tape on the toe portion of the boot. This was only a fair solution. The tape came off too quickly. It was even worse if the boot got wet.

Next I tried shoe patch. This is a rubber-like substance that comes in a tube. This worked much better. It stayed on very well and was easy to repair when it wore thin. It was also waterproof. It was a little stiff, so I only applied it to about one inch of the toe. (Note: ShoGoo, AquaSeal, and silicone gasket sealer all work well for this purpose.)

Matilda also "twisted" her foot as she walked. This wore a circular hole in the sole of the boot. I tried putting the patch where the wear would be, but it was too slick and gave poor traction.

As Matilda got older (and weaker), she started having trouble with her left rear leg, too. I just started using two boots. She didn't seem to mind the boots at all. In fact, when I would let her out of the back door she would wait by the gate for me to put her boots on.

Matilda is no more. She was a great companion. I would recommend trying the summer boots. Although I had to buy about three pairs from the time she started to need them, until she died about 5 months ago, it was money well spent. There is no way she could have continued with our walks without some foot protection. I also believe that the walks and exercise helped prolong her life.

Good luck to you and your pet. I would be interested to hear what you decide and how it works out.

Regards,

David Craig

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Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 17:04:19 -0500
From: Brain Frank
Subject: Booties on the Trail

Hi Linda:

Just back from a 3 hour trail run with Zappa and OD. Zappa was booted x 4 and OD was wearing only his front boots. I used your suggestion and I trimmed their nails prior to shodding them and I also used some duct tape to further secure the boots. (Note: Vetrap works well too, and doesn't stick to dog fur. See our Boot FAQ)

I have to say the boots are great !

Eighteen miles of snow covered trails and not a single complaint or whine about a sore or iced paw from either dog. Zappa is famous for acting like an invalid any chance he can get. I, on the other foot, had lots of snow stuck to my socks. Could of used gaiters or a pair of your XXXL booties for myself.

Dogs had to be careful on the steep down hills, they were literally downhill skiing, as they had no traction whatsoever. They soon figured out how shift their weight in order to semi sit and slide down the hills. Going up hills was just a little slower than usual.

Again thanks for the boots.. and best regards

Brian Frank

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Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 18:21:41 -0800
From: Moira Hahn
Subject: Summer Pad Protectors

We bought your Summer Pad Protectors for our dog, Rocco, about six months ago. He's a big black and brindle Shepherd. The first time we put them on him, he was sliding all over the place. I applied several layers of 'marine goop' glue/sealant to the soles, in tire-tread like zigzags, about 1/4" apart. Now he's got traction.

The boots have seen him through abrasions, blisters, and desert heat. He doesn't get too upset about wearing them occasionally (just to keep the concept fresh even when they're not needed), because he equates putting them on with going to the park, woods, or somewhere fun.

He's certainly a conversation piece every time he shows up at the park shod in neon orange!

Thanks for a great product.

Moira, Mark, and Rocco Hotchkiss

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Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 121259 -0500
From: David Halpern
Subject: Turner's Protected Paw

Hi Linda, and Paul !

Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you an interesting story about how I used one of your products for something other than it's intended use.

Turner was on a Search and Rescue mission, looking for a lost child, and in the back woods, somehow broke off a nail on his right front paw. The bleeding stopped pretty quickly, and it didn't seem to bother him, so I left well enough alone.

About 2 weeks later, I noticed that he would not stop licking the paw and nail, and upon closer examination, It appeared that the nail was not doing well, and the digit was swollen. So, off to the Vet who diagnosed the problem as a really bad infection. The solution was surgery to remove the remaining nail. 2 days later Turner was released from the hospital. The instructions I was given were to administer oral antibiotics twice daily, and change the bandages 3 times daily, putting some antibiotic drops on the wound.

 Unfortunately, Turner would have nothing to do with bandages, and as soon as I had finished wrapping the paw with gauze, he would begin to remove it! I called the veterinarian to see if there was anything he could recommend, and he said nothing but the gauze, and that it was important that I keep the paw bandaged!

Finally I tried something that worked! After bandaging the paw, I put one of your Winter Pad Protectors over the bandages, and Turner has left this alone for a week now! We even worked at the Park Saturday, with one protector on!

Another great Wolf Packs product!

Thanks,

David Halpern

PS, He found the lost child in 22 minutes!!

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Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 225806 -0700
From: Marc T. Hostetter
Subject: Photo and testimonial

Hi,

I'm a huge fan of your company! Both of my Malamutes have Banzai™ packs and the Summer Pad Protectors. The Pad Protectors are a total lifesaver. We end up needing them on just about every hike and both dogs are CLEARLY appreciative.

Recently, before enjoying a three day snowshoe/snowboard trip into the San Gorgonio wilderness I purchased your winter pad protectors. Good move on my part. During our trip, Coho received a wound from a snowboard. She nearly severed one of her dew claws.

After cleaning and dressing the wound I put one of the Winter Pad Protectors on. Instantly, she was her normal, happy self and wore her new "shoe" for the remainder of the trip. Her wound stayed clean and out of harms way.

Thank you,

Marc Hostetter

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 055634 -0800
To: Subject Summer Dog Boots
From: John W. Maclean
Subject: Summer Dog Boots

Dear Wolf Packs,

Sunday, on a California Canine Hiker hike in O'Niell Regional Park in Orange County, I got a chance to use one of the boots on Bandit.   Really happy I always carry them in my pack.

We were about a mile & a half from the trailhead walking down an old unused dirt road with lots of rocks left over from erosion.  All of a sudden Bandit started kicking his right rear leg like something was in his paw.  I checked him over for burrs & thorns & couldn't see anything.  After doing this three times I finally decided to put on one of his boots and abort the rest of the hike.  Much to my surprise, after Bandit went about 30 feet trying to kick the boot off, he settled down and was walking normally.  He walked all the way back to the trailhead with one boot on.  I took it off when I got to my 4Runner & walked him around.  Everything was OK & he is fine now.  Still don't know what happened to him.

Your dog boots really saved the day.  Two friends of mine will probably be ordering a set of these boots for their large Golden Retriever.  They were on the hike also & were impressed with the results.  You never know when you will need them. Everyone also loves Tracks™. I have put on my 4Runner.

Bandit just turned 6 at the end of December.  He gets better every year.   Damn, I love that dog.

Take care,

John W. Maclean & Bandit (My best friend)

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Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 20:34:50 -0600
From: Ann Pritchett
Subject: Pad Protectors

Dear Wolf Packs,

Earlier this year I bought some Summer Pad Protectors for my Border Collie mix. They came in handy about three weeks ago when Bear cut the webbing on his foot. The boots have help protect his foot while it's been healing so we could continue walking. They also came in handy the day he cut his foot. I had wrapped the foot so I could get him to the vet but he still was leave a bloody foot print so I put the boot over the bandage and that helped. My vet like the boot and ask me to use it to keep Bear from chewing on the stitches.

His foot is almost healed and we are still using the boot to protect his foot while walking. Thanks for making such a good product. We also have a Saddle Bag that we use when we go on long hikes. Bear and I hope to be back on the trail soon.

We will send a picture soon.

Thank You,

 Ann Pritchett & Bear

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Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1998 185235 -0800
From: John Sagebiel
Subject: Photo sent...

John

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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 081630 EST
From: Steve Williamson
Subject: Received the Order

Steve Williamson.  :-)

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