Friday, February 20, 2015

DoggyStyle: Review of Muttluks Fleece Lined Winter Dog Boots (And a GIVEAWAY CLOSED!) with Fit for a Pit


Living through last year's Chi-beria, and experiencing the deja vu this year, we have been learning a lot about how to keep our pups warm and comfortable during extreme conditions.
Besides asking about dog-gear to fit bigger dogs, our second most-asked question is about the types of boots we recommend.
We know how tricky dog boots can be, and in the past we always referred people to PAWZ disposable dog boots. We liked how they generally stayed on, could last for awhile, and if we did lose a boot they were easy to replace. The one thing we didn't like is that if you did get a tear in the boot, the water collects inside the boot and your pup is stuck with a a cold, water-logged foot.
We had actually tried Muttluks in the past (we still have them, circa 2006!) and I always felt like they were falling off. Though when we were talking with Heather from Fit for a Pit, she thought that maybe we were using the wrong size, and that is why we were having fit issues.
So, she sent us a couple of new pairs of Muttluks to try out, which was perfect seeing that Chicago just had nearly 20 inches in snowfall.
These boots are fancy!
Muttluks is a Canadian company, so they know snow. Their boots come as a long sock; the inside is plush-lined, and they actually have leather soles. One of our favorite parts is they now come in colors: red, purple, or pink, which just so happen to match the pups' Canada Pooch coats perfectly:
I had always just thought that our pups' feet were on the larger size. Though Heather at Fit for a Pit told us how to measure the pups' foot more accurately: make sure they are standing with their full weight flat on a blank sheet of paper and mark from the longest toe nail straight back from the back of the paw.
We were surprised to see Mr. B wears a size Small and Miss M's monster paws are only size Medium. We compared our updated Muttluks with our circa 2006 Muttluks and found that even though the older pair were also a size Medium, the new style is actually a bit smaller and more streamlined to adjust to the foot better.
To put them on, it's easier to fold the sock to the bottom, put on the boot part, and pull the sock up. Kind of like putting on a pair of tights. We also made sure to flex each paw before putting them on the ground so there is a defined crease when they are walking.
We've also heard the key to making them stay is pulling the velcro tight, even tighter than you would expect. It doesn't hurt their feet, but it will help their boots stay on.
And we were off:

What We Liked:
-These boots are high-quality and really well-made. I think they might even be nicer than some shoes I own.
-We like how the sock comes up higher for more coverage and to keep them drier in snowy weather.
-The hard sole creates a defined walking spot so the boots won't twist or move as they walk. It's also sturdier on some of the icy areas.
-And of course, we love how they match their coats!

What We Didn't Like:
-These boots are so nice that our entire walk I was fearful that the pups would lose a boot. During a normally leisurely walk, I spent a lot of time paranoid, checking and re-checking their feet.
-We didn't lose any boots on the sidewalks, but we did have some boots come off in the deep snow. Which to be fair, my boots were also being pulled down by the heavy snow.
Fit for a Pit has kindly offered to give away two pairs of Muttluk fleece-lined boots to two different pups.
There are two ways to enter, and each person can enter two times.
Let us know: What would your pup be able to do with a pair of Muttluk fleece-lined boots?

Congratulations:
#1 is Mr. Socs who is having a tough time with the snow and ice and will use the pair of boots to get back into regular walks, and 
#2 Evie who wants some boots for the cold. Please message or email me so we can get you your boots! And thanks again for Heather from Fit for a Pit for generously donating the boots and offering all of her knowledge about how to find boots, coats, and dog gear for our often hard to fit pups!

1) Let us know by commenting on our blog post here.
2) You can also enter by posting a photo on our Facebook page of your pooch and letting us know what you would do with a new pair of boots.

We will use a random number generator to randomly choose one winner from total blog and Facebook comments.

Details:
-You have two chances to win: commenting on the blog and posting a photo on our Facebook page
-We will use a random number generator to randomly choose the winners
-You have until Monday, February 23 at Midnight (EST) to post your comment or photo.
-Winners will be announced on Facebook and at the bottom of this post. Winners are responsible for contacting us to claim your prize.
-Winners must live within the contiguous United States.

Good luck everyone!

52 comments:

Amy Jo said...

At this point, dog boots would allow our dogs to simply go outside and go potty. It is nearly -30 actual temp today and about 30 seconds of being on top of the frozen snow and the dogs can no longer even walk. They simply stand there lifting their paws until you pick them up and carry them back inside.

vmail said...

My 2 Pittsburgh Pitties would LOVE warm pampered paws on their ventures outdoors in our frigid rural Pennsylvania winter walks.

Kindergarten Kids said...

Walter would love a pair of Muttluks - though his coat is red! RIght now we are posting temps of -24 and just like Amy Jo, it's even hard to go outside just to take care of business let alone have any fun!

Peg A said...

Oh what great photos!!! My pocket pit tie Maizy gets sore toes and sometimes limps through her walks in winter from getting bits of ice and salt in her paws; a pair of booties would make her more comfortable!

Anonymous said...

We live in Maine, (which is pretty much Canada) and have over 80inches of snow this winter. These boots will help my pups take some much needed walks!

Kaitlin Marks-Dubbs said...

We're outside of Philly and _freezing_. My dogs would love to keep their paws off the ground right now.

Unknown said...

My skyy would love to have a pair if she wins We would like pink and we would take alot of selfies

KimberlyJo said...

We've tried a number of bootie options and they've hated them all... would love to try these so my pups could avoid the ache of deicer/salt on their paws!

Unknown said...

These awesome boots would allow us to take our dog outside more than just to go to the bathroom! He loves the snow, but it hurts. It's pretty hard to avoid it will the average snowfall of 180"!

LORAS said...

My Ruby would love these. She is a 13 year old pittie girl who really doesnt like this snow we are having in VA.

ArlGal57 said...

My son's pit Petie is so uncomfortable in the cold weather and snow that he tries to pick up all four feet at once! Well, not really, but he looks so sad with one foot in the air, looking at me as if to say: What's up with this white stuff? The Muttluks would make a world of difference for his outdoor time. And if they don't fit Petie, I'd donate to one of the local pit rescues.

Unknown said...

My family rescued our Pit mix from the city of Milwauee, she had no history. We think she had frost bit feet at one time, she can not go for far walks in the winter. New boot would let her do what she loves to do, walk in the winter wonderland.

Kristen said...

How heavy are the boots? My senior girl is losing muscle in her back end and some times drags her feet a bit. It would be great to have these to protect her paws in the cold MN winters if they aren't too heavy.

Millie and Walter said...

We would love to win a pair of booties. In this deep freeze weather we are having to put booties on every time we go out in our yard. Thanks for having a give away!

HollyG said...

Our older dog Mya tends to hate going outside at all. If it's the lease bit snowy, rainy, muddy or anything else, she would rather stay inside. This winter has been extremely cold however (-25) and she has a really hard time with the cold. If she is standing outside she alternates picking up her feet to keep them from touching the cold ground. A pair of boots would at least let her go outside without freezing her paws! Our younger pup, Roxy, however, loves the snow! A pair of boots would let her play outside longer without cold tootsies.

Unknown said...

I would love these boots so that my dog, Homer, might walk as much as half a mile in this weather! The Pawz are great, but they don't keep his feet warm enough! Thanks!

pittie mama said...

Brawlick says "mom I need some winter boots, my paws get cold and hurt when we go on our brisk morning walk, mine fall off"

OG said...

Petey would love to have such nice boots! Right now it's THREE degrees in NYC! Subzero with the windchill! Even though he very nicely stands still for a foot wash after walks (despite wearing balloon boots there is still residue on his feet) he'd be able to skip this step! Plus more people would admire him :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

My pups Elli and Kaija would love some nice booties that stay on their feet better. Then we can get out and have some serious fun in this Minnesnowta winter!

(Deleted previous post to edit)

casey beth. said...

My Pittie Norma has a best friend named Marla who lives in Rochester NY. This winter, temperatures have hit lows such as -18F! Although Norma now lives in sunny Arizona, she would love to surprise her best pal Marla the German Shep with some winter booties so she can go out and really enjoy the snow! Thanks for the opportunity :)

Unknown said...

Colder than Siberia here in MI this morning! It would sure be nice to have some warm Muttluks for my babe.

devineopine said...

I am always looking for new boots for my pittie Prince. Being a tripod, it is extra important that his one front paw is safe from ice and sidewalk salt otherwise he must stand on his hind legs or balance by putting his head on the ground. It is also hard to find good boots for him because his gait is unusual. Right now we use Voyagers K9 booties for the back two and a Pawz bootie for the front paw. But I still think we can do better. When he is comfortable Prince LOVES to play in the snow, catch snow balls in his mouth and generally romp. A set of Muttlucks would be great for him!

apbunk10@aol.com said...

Mr. Socs is having a tough time with the snow and ice this winter. A pair of boots would be just the thing to get him back to his regular walks.

Nrite71 said...

Lilah could use boots for walks. We have had so much snow that the town has had to put a ton of road salt down. The boots would protect her from the salt. Also the boots would allow her to explore in our yard and prevent her from hurting her paws. Last year she ripped a toenail off in the ice chasing squirrels. This year we have found it very hard to control her and keep her from running after the squirrels and hurting herself again. Thank you for this chance to win the boots and good luck to everyone.

Angela said...

Muttluks would allow little Fizz to spend more than 3 minutes outside! Right now we have to bring her out in waves - once for a pee and then again 10 minutes later for a poop. These boots would eliminate the need for 2 trips every.single.time. she has to potty :)

martinc8 said...

My poor family dog is unable to make the move with my mother to DC because her new place is no pets (which is ridiculous). Over course I am dying to have her live with me, only problem... she's a country dog down south and I live in a tiny apartment in downtown Toronto. Needless to say I've been researching obsessively to take care of a pup in the freezing and the city. This blog has been a huge help, so thank you! Her little paws might make a better adjustment with dog boots!

LolaOlive said...

With these booties our three kids would (hopefully) made it pass our driveway without their "brakes down",refusing to move one more inch in this cold,white,freezing thing. :)

LolaOlive said...

With these booties our three kids would (hopefully) made it pass our driveway without their "brakes down",refusing to move one more inch in this cold,white,freezing thing. :)

Dz Dog Mom said...

I've always wanted to try those boots! We do snowshoeing and skijoring (well not skijoring yet...but we want to!). And for snowshoeing the dogs need new boots.
We tried Ruffwear's boots but although they were great for hiking on lava rock, they hurt Dante's feet in the snow (guess they aren't meant to get wet).

Gina said...

I always wondered if these boots were worth it. My girl loves to play in the snow - for about five minutes before she decides her paws are just too cold. I'd love a pair of boots like these just so we can keep up regular walks in the winter. Unfortunately I have neighbors who don't shovel, and without some kind of paw covering, Abbey cannot last that long in deep snow.

Mirembe said...

My pittie rex would love these!! Our camping adventures would be a lot more enjoyable if he didn't have to deal with cold wet paws at the end of the day! New boots would be perfect:)

Darla's mom said...

A pair of booties would help my pretty pit navigate the ice she so desparately needs to climb to the top of for her pottie break. She has a partially torn cruciate ligament and does not have the greatest balance right now. PS -- it was 4 degrees here this morning when she went out -- LOL!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Good to know. We have bought so many boots and nothing stays on our feets. The Pawz boots were ridiculous to get on. We may have to check these out. We wear them due to allergies
Snorts,
Lily & Edward

Libet said...

My pit Willow doesn't mind her PAWZ disposable boots; I wonder what she would think about nicer ones?! :)

Hannah@Eriesistibull said...

We might actually brave the outdoors?!

Unknown said...

Buddy and I could play outside in the snow :)

zoepheedogs said...

Great review! Those boots look so awesome! We would love to win the boots because Zoe has horrible feet issues and is allergic to the wet grass. She has to wear boots any time it's raining and we live in Oregon, so it's always raining. Her old boots are starting to wear out.

Unknown said...

Wonderfull wrote review, the pictures are priceless.
Zeus is our baby and he would love to have a pair of these awesome boots. It is very cold and snowy here and the boots would help to keep him warm during our walks. I'm sure they would also be a awesome conversation starter with the other dog owners we come across. I would make sure to tell them where we got them of course! ^-^
Big thank you for the chance to win a pair!

Unknown said...

These boots would be amazing for my "Two Pitties in the Country"!! We recently moved to a new home and we don't have a fence yet. There has been an over abundance or snow and subzero temperatures have kept them in the house...which makes them quite a handful!!! I would love to have these boots to take them out on walks to get their energy out!!

bgebbeken said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bgebbeken said...

Our pibble, Willy, LOVES the snow! We are located in the NW burbs of Chi-beria and Willy could not be happier any time it snows. However, as his paranoid mommy, I'm worried that he's so excited about playing that he isn't showing how truly cold he is. He absolutely hates when I make him come inside, a pair of Muttluks would help solve this problem. It's so refreshing to see others preparing their dogs for the snow and taking every precaution to insure their pet's safety!

Rebecca said...

A pair of muttluks would help my little pit Brady get out for longer walks 301in the frigid weather we've been having in Detroit.

chelseaalana said...

My pup would be able to go outside and play around every where without having to worry about stepping in snow melt or cold spots.

Artful Bride said...

Would love some of these for my girl, Shay. She loves to be outside all year 'round to play ball & go for walks. But we are moving from Florida to PA soon & I'm afraid she will go stir crazy if we can't do our morning walks.

Owlmyst said...

My pittie Quincey would love Muttluks. He was found as a stray in a cold January in Wisconsin and has frostbite on his feet. He would live to be able to go outside in winter and not have to hurry right back in.

Beth said...

Love the pictures....they look very cozy....stay warm!!!!

Doggie Mom said...

My boys, Corky and Hooch would be able to run like little maniacs through the deep snow with their Muttluk Fleece Lined Winter Dog boots!

Unknown said...

Lolly, my pretty pittie, would actually stay outside and go on a walk or play if she had boots. Right now she cant get back inside fast enough, even with fleece and jacket on.

Unknown said...

If Raisin win these boots, then he will be able to go for more walks and won't be cooped inside the house. Which then means he won't bark smack at us because he's bored! - Olivia & John, Raisin's parents

Rusthawk said...

Even though he's a cold weather breed, our Malamute could definitely benefit from boots when out in the snow, especially when it's packed hard and very uneven.

Ash Green said...

Wow :)
This is an incredible collection of ideas!
Waiting for more helpful pieces.
You would amazing to read a similar one here-
petcareio

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