There are many reasons to use indoor boots. While it’s funny as heck the first time your pupper goes slippy-sliding across the hardwood floor, dogs can easily get hurt when they slip on smooth surfaces. Disabled dogs with a loss of balance can fall and damage aging joints, which is a big no-no when caring for them.
Fortunately, indoor dog boots and indoor socks are an actual thing! They are super cute and help your dog with traction and keep them from slipping on ceramic, hardwood, acrylic, and painted floors.
So, if you’re ready to help your doggo avoid slipping and hurting delicate pawsies on your floors, you’ve made the best choice in getting them a set of indoor boots or socks. And we’ve got you covered with the best tips and guidance and a selection of the five best indoor dog boots or socks.
What Are Indoor Dog Boots or Socks?
Indoor socks or boots for dogs do precisely what the name suggests – they cover the dog’s paws in a sock or shoe-like pocket with a rubber sole to prevent the dog from dragging their toes, slipping, or stepping on a cold and hard surface.
Each manufacturer has their own design, which creates a unique fitment requirement. So before you buy, study their size chart, take the appropriate measurements, and then select the best boots or socks for your dog.
How to Measure Your Dog’s Paws for Indoor Boots and Socks
Start by placing your dog’s paw on a sheet of white paper and outlining their paw print. Measure across the widest part of the paw and around the front of your dog’s paws.
Then, measure your dog’s wrist diameter, then take a final measurement across the top of your dog’s paw, and you’re good to go.
Reasons To Use Indoor Boots: Why Dogs Need to Be Booted or “Socked” When Indoors
In addition to the excellent fashion statement, dogs benefit from wearing shoes or socks indoors. Older and disabled dogs begin to lose joint mobility, creating balance and safety issues. There are several reasons to use indoor boots.
So you’d choose to boot or sock your dog in the following instances:
- To provide stability and prevent slipping on indoor floors
- To protect their paws from dragging on the edge of floors, such as when going down steps
- To prevent scratch marks on your floors from dog nails
- To help forward motion when your dog’s in a dog wheelchair (gripping with rubber soles for traction)
Buyer’s Guide to the Best Indoor Dog Boots and Socks
With so many different dog boots and socks available, getting as much information as possible is always best. An expert take on what works and what products may be best for your dog’s indoor mobility assistance is ideal.
I’ve created a buyer’s guide to help you make up your mind when shopping so you don’t just get dazzled by cuteness (and let’s face it, these booties and socks are devilishly cute!).
Fitment and Comfort
Dog boots and socks won’t work if your dog doesn’t want to wear them. Comfort and fit are the two most obvious reasons why they may not like to be booted up.
So check that the product offers ample soft padding, a convenient fitment method (because your dog won’t like a five-minute struggle per paw to lace up some fancy boots), and overall design stability.
Design and Practicality
The design needs to be practical and relatively easy on the eye. While having your dog run around the house in Wellington booties may be an adorable overload, it won’t necessarily be the best design or the most practical for a dog to wear.
Choose a design that lets your dog easily step into their boots, helps you secure it comfortably, and ensures that no undue strain is placed on their joints. This means the fastening method needs to be convenient and practical.
Materials and Washability
The boot or sock must be made from easily washed and cared-for materials. Your dog will likely need a few pairs, so you can pop one set in the wash and have another drying out while they have one to wear.
The material of the boot or sock needs to wash easily without pilling or pulling, and it needs to be air-dry friendly. Most of these boots won’t recommend drying in the dryer as the rubber soles won’t handle the heat well.
Durability
I always choose a product that’s long-wearing and durable for my pets. My dog’s boots and socks are no different.
The seams must be durable, while the rubber soles must offer good-quality craftsmanship. The fasteners must be strong enough to last, and the decorative elements should stay put and not come off with a few licks.
Cost
We’re all on a budget, so buying the best quality shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg (and a kidney). I don’t mind paying for high quality, but some real bargains on the market will also work. Don’t get blinded by a brand name.
The 5 Best Indoor Dog Boots and Socks for a Happy Dog
These are five of the best indoor dog boots and socks you can seriously consider getting for your dog to keep them warm, protected, and safe. As always, remember that it’s still down to what works for your dog’s unique build and needs.
1. YAODHAOD Dog Shoes for Winter
These super cute winter booties are ideal for keeping your dog’s paws warm on cold floors, and with the non-slip dots, they will have excellent grip to prevent sprawling slides. While these shoes are rated for outside use, they can as easily be used indoors as they are soft enough not to damage your hardwood floors or leave unsightly prints.
With the soft padded inner, your dog’s sure to have a soft and comfortable time wearing these. Order them in one of three colors (black, red, and pink) for the fashion statement that’s sure to make your dog the envy of your neighborhood bark squad.
Pros
- Available in three sizes
- Easy fitment with a simple drawstring closure
- Soft inner is cuddly for cold weather, helping to warm up a temperature-sensitive oldie
- The extra padding helps protect toes from bruising when your dog drags their back legs due to injury or disability
- A full measuring chart is available to help you make the right choice
Cons
- The drawstring closure works with a bead closure, which can become a chewing hazard
2. Walkee Paws New Deluxe Easy-On Dog Boot Leggings
My oldest dog, a senior German shepherd called Karma, has a problem with calluses forming on her legs from lying on my tile floors due to hip dysplasia. She has a perfectly comfortable dog bed, but she insists on following me everywhere, and the rough skin patches are the result.
I love these boot leggings as they protect her paws and legs, helping prevent callus formation. They are available in seven funky patterns, and Karma and I are simply addicted to them.
Pros
- Available in six sizes, from extra small (short) to large
- Rubber foot section for extra grip and durability
- Funky four-way stretch fabric to make slipping a leg into the boot easier
- Padded inner boot to ensure comfort
- Each boot is labeled for the matching leg, which ensures the boots fit perfectly
- Suspender style fittings to secure the boots and ensure these never get lost or caught on anything
Cons
- Much more pricey than other boot styles
3. Wildopolis 4 Pairs of Anti-Slip Dog Socks with Adjustable Straps
These socks are absolutely adorable, with the matching paw prints printed in rubber on the bottom for extra grip. The elastic fastener will ensure your dog never hides a sock again.
Your dog will love the knitted outer and the elasticated cuff for a more comfortable fit.
Pros
- Available in three sizes: small, medium, and large
- It comes in black with white paw prints
- Hand wash preferred
- Made from knitted cotton for breathability
- Get four pairs per order (that’s right—four pairs!)
- Full measuring chart available online
Cons
- It can be machine washed, but the rubber dog paws can pull the knit, ruining the design
4. DOK TigerToes Premium Non-Slip Dog Socks for Hardwood Floors
One problem with indoor dog socks and even some dog boots is that they twist around the dog’s paw, especially when your dog is busy grooming. If the grip is on one end only, they slip when getting up with twisted socks. However, these TigerToes socks fix that problem in a fun and funky way.
Each sock has rubber tiger stripes, which provide an accurate grip no matter how twisted the socks get. The sock has an excellent fitment system to help keep your “tiger’s” toes where they belong.
Pros
- Available in five sizes, ranging from extra small to extra large, for better fitment
- It only comes in gray and black, but the color doesn’t show dirt as quickly
- Made from elastic cotton fabric and rubber
- Senior and active dogs will enjoy the grip and non-slip features of these socks indoors and even outdoors
- By limiting slipping, these socks help disabled dogs avoid further injury
- Elastic fit ensures that all four paws fit evenly
Cons
- Dogs with thick nails may pierce holes in the socks, even if the nails are kept short, but sort this with a little vet wrap
5. AblePet Dog Boots Waterproof Shoes Breathable Socks
My little Yorkie has issues slipping on the tile floor. While it’s charming to watch him run in place like the Road Runner, it does cause problems with his joints, so I opted for these AblePet dog boots.
They give him an excellent grip, and the overall effect makes him look a bit like a happy goat as he hops around.
Pros
- A combination of boots and socks with a booted bottom
- Knitted upper with a bear design
- Closes with an elastic top and Velcro fastener
- Available in three sizes, primarily for smaller breed dogs
- The non-slip boot helps your dog get up, find traction, and avoid getting wet when you mop the floor
- The silicon boot section is perforated to allow airflow to hot paws
Cons
- Not available for larger or heavier dogs
FAQs
What’s the difference between an indoor and outdoor dog boot or sock?
Indoor boots are usually not waterproof, while outdoor dog boots typically are. Outdoor boots have thicker soles than indoor boots, with more grip to help your dog navigate rough terrain. Indoor boots can be made with softer fabrics as they won’t be dragged through mud or water.
What type of dogs should wear socks indoors?
Disabled dogs with a balance problem benefit from wearing indoor socks as these give them more grip so they don’t slip as easily. The boots or socks also protect the dog’s paws from dragging. Old dogs appreciate the extra protection from a hard floor.
What’s the difference between a dog boot and a dog sock?
A dog boot usually has more structure, with a shaped sole, while a sock may have a soft shell rubber sole or rubber dots for grip. Socks can also be made from softer material or knitted.
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The Final Dog Boot
My dogs love their indoor dog boots, while my oldest girl enjoys romping around the lounge floor in her dog socks. The extra boost of having some grip on my slipper floors helps prevent ouchy accidents and slips. The boots and socks are comfortable additions that my dogs love, and they help the older girls keep up with the younger ones during an evening of fun playing around the coffee table.
Have you found your perfect indoor dog boot or sock yet? Please share in the comments and let me know why you chose the pair you did.