Boat shoes for dogs?

Phil

Phil

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Feb 11, 2017
332
Morris Annie Haleiwa, HI
We finally got around to getting a new puppy 3 years after our faithful Aussie Cattle Dog Rosie died. Poppy is a mountain curr / terrier mutt mix that we rescued from the pound. Once she's fully potty trained and the winter swells back off I may take her out sailing.

Can anyone recommend some doggy boat shoes that are breathable and provide some good traction?
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,868
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Do not know about boat shoes, but I would keep her nails cut short. Her paw pads give her better traction on fiberglass than her nails.
 
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Foswick

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Apr 25, 2024
719
Fuji 32 Bellingham
My life is centered around my dog. (He is my service dog, so we are pretty inseparable.) I have seen and/or tried just about everything.

First, I can say that there is no such thing as a good dog boot/shoe. There is only "barely OK" and worse. As a rule, dogs don't like them and they are more stable without them. I have seen dogs get used to them but I have never seen them used effectviely to the benefit of the dog. I tried them with my most recent service dog to be warn in the winter in an area where chemical de-icers were used extensively. They were simply to prevent contaminating his paws and having him lick them clean.

For us, that was a non-starter strategy. He would tolerate them for short periods, but that meant I need to put them on when approaching that area and take them off when we got inside. Too much hassle. Would have been easier to just carry him for the half-block (70 lbs).

Of course, every dog is different.

The only one I could actually recommend is this: Dog booties | Protector bootie and its longer version: Heavy-duty dog booties | Protector bootie high

I like this company. They also make one of only a few CFDs (canine floatation devices) that I actually recommend: Dog life jacket | Protector life jacket. None of their stuff is cheap, but it is clearly designed by people with experience who get dogs, which is not the case with 90% of what's on the market.
 
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Foswick

.
Apr 25, 2024
719
Fuji 32 Bellingham
I forgot to mention. Since I said that I don't think booties help most dogs with overall stability, I didn't mention what does. The best thing you can do for a dog is install EVA foam. It is cheap, easy to install, removable without destruction (usually), and nothing is more reassuring to dogs' feet. This goes hand-in-hand with the other important thing - training. Teach the dog where to go and where not to go.

Here's an example of my dog on his second outing on this boat, going where he's not supposed to go:

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He has since learned to go around the cabin - not over. On our boat, he is very safe between the lifelines and the cabin, as long as conditions aren't crazy. We did not need to install any additional traction. If he can't get good footing on the lower deck, it is too rough for him to go forward anyway.

But, my point about EVA foam is that it can be used very effectively for both traction and training - you teach the dog to only walk on foamed surfaces, on the deck - everywhere else is off-limits.

Whatever you do, make sure to introduce sailing gradually. One bad experience can take years to uncondition. For the first 10 trips, or so, try to stay within 15 minutes of home so you can end a bad experience before it becomes an imprinted trauma.

Also, never allow your dog to take the helm. No matter what she tells you, she has no idea how to sail. (Learned that the hard way.)
 
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