How to Make Homemade Dog Shoes

Many dogs enjoy going for walks. Taking your dog for regular walks can help to keep it healthy, as well as happy, by providing the dog with a regular source of exercise. Unfortunately, walking your dog is not without potential negative side-effects, including damage to the soft soles of your dog's feet. Walking along cold surfaces can make your dog uncomfortable, while particularly rough surfaces can damage the sensitive tissue of your dog's feet. A pair of dog shoes, or booties, can help to minimize the negative effects of walks.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Image editing software
  • Printer
  • Fabric
  • Pins
  • Shears
  • Velcro strips
  • Thread
  • Needle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose the appropriate fabric for your dog's walking needs. Consider making multiple sets to meet all possible walking situations. Use fleece if your dog will be walking through the snow. Use denim if you will be walking the dog along hot surfaces. Use corduroy for walks on rough ground. Use polypropylene as an all-purpose shoe for when none of the other conditions are a concern.

    • 2

      Find a dog shoe template and save it to your computer.

    • 3

      Measure the width of your dog's feet, and enlarge the template so that it is one to one and a half inches wider than your dog's feet, then print off the pattern.

    • 4

      Fold the fabric of your choice in half, position the marked side of the pattern against the fold, and pin the pattern into place.

    • 5

      Cut out the pattern. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 three more times, creating one shoe cut-out for each foot.

    • 6

      Measure the diameter of your dog's ankles, and cut a piece of Velcro for each shoe, which is one to one and a half inches longer than the measured diameter.

    • 7

      Fold the shoes along the fold line, and place a piece of Velcro inside each folded pocket, with the Velcro side of the strips facing inward.

    • 8

      Sew the shoes shut with a seam up each side of the shoe, leaving the top open, and sew the Velcro in place around the very top of the shoe.

    • 9

      Turn the shoe inside out, so the seam is inside and the Velcro is outside, to complete the shoe. The shoe will slide over the foot, and the Velcro will allow it to remain in place as your dog walks.