Do Dogs Like Wearing Socks on Their Feet?

Dogs have a love-hate relationship with socks. They love to chew on them, but when it comes to wearing them, not all of them are on board with the idea. Dog owners, however, treat their furry friends just like their babies. They want the best for their pups and they love trying out new, exciting things with them, like using speech buttons, doggles and grip socks. While some of these things are more fun than functional, doggie socks have proved reasonably practical, especially for senior dogs.
Just like human babies struggle with keeping their shoes on for the first few years, canines also take their sweet time getting used to something covering their toe-pads. But that doesn’t mean training a dog to love their little socks is impossible.
IS IT NECESSARY FOR A DOG TO WEAR SOCKS?
Not all dogs are instantly on board with the idea of wearing something on their feet. Unlike humans, dogs don’t have the innate requirement to cover their feet. In most cases, dogs don’t need socks or shoes, and you shouldn’t force them to wear socks just because TikTok told you so. If you try to put socks on your pup’s paws forcibly, you may end up hurting them.
Although socks aren’t essential for most dogs, some dogs definitely need them. For instance, if a dog remains indoors most of the day, its toe pads can become incredibly soft. Due to this, they end up scratching themselves quite often when they have to walk on terrain. Similarly, your dog may burn their feet on walks if you live in a hot region where pavements run hot.
So, as a dog parent, you have to decide whether your dog needs socks or not, depending on their lifestyle and routine activities.
WHEN TO USE DOG SOCKS
Since every dog doesn’t need socks, you have to determine when your furry baby absolutely needs a pair. Below are the reasons why people use grip socks for dogs:
To help senior dogs
Most senior dogs develop mobility issues, like canine arthritis or hip dysplasia. Using dog socks gives such dogs the extra traction they need to walk properly.
Slippery floors
Many dogs have trouble walking on shiny, slippery floors like laminate. Wearing grip socks provide dogs with the stability and confidence to walk on different types of flooring.
Protect hardwood floors
Sometimes it is less about them and more about you. Nobody likes ruining their hardwood floors because it is time-consuming and expensive. By making your dogs wear socks, you can protect your hardwood floors from nail marks and scratches.
Heat, cold, and allergens
If you live in an area with harsh climate conditions, you may want to protect your dogs’ feet from the weather. Besides protecting their toe pads from extremely hot and cold surfaces, grip socks also provide a barrier against allergens.
Wound protection
Some pups just won’t stop licking a wound that needs to be set. So, cover their paws with comfortable socks to minimize the damage.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
Although your furry friends may not be the biggest fans of covered feet, they can get used to wearing little socks on their feet. In fact, some dogs become so attached to their socks that they think the floor is lava and won’t step on it unless they’re wearing their socks. You may have to witness a few awkward walking incidents, however, before they become fully accustomed to wearing socks.