As dog owners and pup parents, the daily stroll is a part of all our lives and our dog walking boots are a key piece of our walking kit. It’s essential to have a durable, comfortable pair that can carry us through mucky puddles, slushy snow or across sandy beaches – wherever our four-pawed pal may lead us!
To learn what to look out for in a pair of quality dog walking boots we’ve created this blog post with help from one of our partners, The Original Muck Boot Company.
We’ve pulled together a few suggestions for each of the seasons – including stylish lightweight trainers for summer and snuggly fleece-lined boots for winter, so you can step out in comfort.
Discover our pick of the best dog walking boots for spring, summer, autumn and winter in our guide below.
Spring
At this time of year, the sunshine begins to filter through the clouds, migrating birds return to our shores, and vibrant bluebells are in bloom on roadsides and verges.
With the chilly weather of winter creeping away, springtime encourages dog walkers to return to country lanes, forest paths and rocky coves. While the temperature may heat up, there’s still wet weather to contend with too so your dog-walking boots need to deal with both hot days and dreary ones.
If you’re thinking of taking a holiday this year with your best pup pal, take a look at our guide to the UK’s best dog walks to help you plan.
Outdoor conditions:
Shallow puddles and light rain, lush grasses that might stick to your shoes, light mud at parks, in fields and along country lanes.
Type of dog walking boot
It’s a good time of year to leave the hardier, heavier boots at home and pull on a lighter pair of dog walking shoes. Make sure you still pick out a waterproof pair though so you aren’t caught out by April showers or dewy wet grass!
Summer
The season of BBQs, colourful flowerbeds and lots of sun cream! When dog walking in the summer, it’s important you reach for light, breathable dog-walking boots and shoes that’ll protect your feet whilst keeping them cool.
Conditions
Sun-baked mud banks, mown grass or wild weeds to stomp through, dunes and dog-friendly beaches with wet sand and grit for shoes to contend with.
Type of dog walking boot
Pick out something lightweight with breathable material as you’re less likely to be protecting your feet from the cold and more likely to be venturing out on hikes in the hot sun. Waterproof shoes are always useful and great if you’re planning beach walks on wet sand or navigating rock pools.
Autumn
The return of the mud. Red, orange and yellow leaves create new interest on old walking routes but those beautiful crunchy leaves quickly turn into mucky puddles after a night of rainfall.
The autumn rain, chilly weather and longer nights all mean it's time to upgrade your boots for extra security and warmth on your daily dog walks.
Conditions
Puddles for paws and feet to splash through, piles of fallen leaves to kick and jump into, lots of slushy mud!
Type of dog walking boot
It’s at this time of year when quality becomes paramount for protecting your feet from the wet and cold. A cosy, warm boot lining and waterproof materials are essentials for autumnal dog walks.
Winter
Nothing beats the peace and beauty of a dog walk in winter. Frost dusts the quiet landscape each morning and in the evening, star-spangled skies offer a tranquil backdrop – due to the tilt of the earth, stars actually look brighter in the UK during these colder months!
Even the time spent wrapping up in a big coat, and pulling on soft gloves and cosy fleece-lined boots can feel like a welcome ritual before heading out into the chilly air. When it comes to these cold ventures, have you thought about what your furry friend could wear? Our recent Best Dog Coats guide walks you through the most popular and practical poochy apparel for all seasons, especially winter!
Conditions
More rain, more mud and perhaps slippery ice and slushy snow to contend with.
Type of dog walking boot
For your winter dog walking boots, you want durable, cosy shoes that will protect your feet so you can head out for a brisk refreshing stroll, be it rain, wind or snow outside. Fleece-lined dog-walking boots are perfect for keeping toes warm and snuggly while out and about, while good grip is important on icy mornings when the ground is hard and slippery.
Quality dog walking boots for all seasons
We haven't even touched on the wonderful range of footwear Muck Boot has on offer. They have shoes for gardening, stylish commuter footwear, and hardier boots for farm work too.
Get an exclusive discount code from The Original Muck Boot Company when you sign up to our Canine Club! You can pick out your own pair of shoes to match whatever dog-walking adventures you're planning on getting up to.
Try out your new boots!
If you’ve already discovered your perfect pair of quality Muck Boots for dog walking, it’s time to try them out. Head to a beautiful corner of the UK with your doggo for walks with amazing views or rugged coastline where you can wear in your new shoes.
We have pet-friendly cottages in wonderful walking destinations – from the summits of the Peak District to the idyllic heathland of the New Forest – so you can try out your boots on a dog-walking holiday.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.