While we shouldn’t treat dogs like fashion accessories, there are instances where dogs’ shoes are beneficial. If the dog has a problem that needs protection or if you live in extreme climates, a vet may recommend protective shoes for dogs. Extreme temperatures can lead to infections, cuts, and paw damage and that is why equipping your dog with comfortable shoes is beneficial to maintaining healthy and happy dogs. If you are wondering how to make it happen, then you are in the right place. This blog seeks to offer step by step guide on how to make shoes for dogs.
Read on for more!
Step #1: Choose tools and fabrics
Remember that to a dog, shoes are strange and unnatural, and so you need to choose the right fabric for your dogs’ comfort. Also, choose the fabric that suits the current weather. Suede, wool, and denim are ideal for colder climates while mesh and fleece fabrics are ideal for hot weather.
Besides, you will need to buy suede fabric in any color to use as the war pad at the bottom of the shoe. You may choose fabrics in any color or print depending on your dog’s personality. Also, for this project, you will need Velcro strips, and you can buy them in any size, but you will need to cut them into ¾ inch wide horizontal stripes. Most importantly, you need to have a sewing machine.
Bottom-line
With the right tools and fabrics, you are more likely to come up with a comfortable shoe for dogs.
Step #2: Customize the Size
To effectively make shoes for dogs, put a piece of paper on a flat surface like a tabletop. After that, place your dog’s paw gently on the piece of paper and trace up its leg to where you want the shoe to reach. A taller shoe offers more warmth to the dog during cold climates. After tracing the exact shape of the dog’s paw, you need to add a ½ inch around the outline. You will use the extra fabric for sewing since it creates a custom fit.
After measuring and marking the outer edges of the pet’s foot on a paper, you then measure the length and width of each leg with the use of a ruler or a tape measure. After that, record these measurements. If you are not sure about the measurements, repeat to be sure on accuracy.
Bottom-line
Shoes are strange to dogs. The right size gives the right comfort when the dog wears the shoe.
Step #3: Preparing the materials
The outline needs to be half of the shoe. You should fold the material and put your pattern of choice along the fold that is close to the “toes” end of the dog shoe. Carefully cut out the pattern from the fabric to come up with a bow tie shape. Make sure you do so with every dog shoes.
You need to come up with a fitting wear pad to put at the lower side of the dog shoe. The wear pad is great for adding traction and shoe durability. Make sure the wear pad fits a dog’s actual foot size.
Finally, cut four pieces from the Velcro fabric with not less than 2 times width, if the thin part of your pattern is one inch less than the flare at the top.
Bottom-line
Preparing the materials correctly means that the end product will be effective and beneficial to the owner.
Step #4: Sewing the shoes
To begin, you need first to sew the dog’s wear pad that will go to the foot area. A straight stitch around the material’s perimeter is enough. If your dog has a big foot, you may need to stitch across the wear pad to prevent tripping. When the dog wears the boot, the placement should be below his foot.
After sewing the wear pad, now it’s time to strap of the boot in a thin part on the shoe fabric right above the shoe’s wear pad. By doing so, you will place the strap in the thinnest part of your dog’s leg. You may choose to create a box area using a straight stitch and a single diagonal stitch.
After that, you can tightly fold the Velcro strap and put it away to give room for the final sewing. Roll the fabric at the edge of the toe to make sure the wear pad and the shoe strap remain in the inner side of the shoe.
Sew all along the single edge from the flare to the toe fold. I recommend you stitch on a straight line in less than a ¼ inch in from the edges. Reverse your machine about one to a half inch and sew to lock the edges. After that, cut the thread, turn over the shoe and similarly sew other seams. Repeat the process with other shoes.
Bottom-line
Your dog’s feet will easily fit into the shoes. Any shoe can go into any foot as long as your measurements were correct.
You should no longer prevent your dog from playing or walking on the snow. Just follow the above steps and have a happy and healthy pet!