QUMY Dog Boots Review: Do These $23 Paw Protectors Hold Up on the Trail?

Introduction

Last month, we went hiking on a trail in the middle of summer. The pavement was so hot, I could feel it through my own shoes, right? And Max, my Lab, he was running ahead, and then he started limping. I ran over, and I looked at his paw, and there was a thorn, stuck in his pad. It was bleeding, he was in pain, he wouldn’t let me touch it. I felt so bad, I had no idea the trail was that rough.

And then, in the winter, the roads are covered in salt, right? The salt burns his paws, he licks them, and they get all dry and cracked. I tried paw balm, but it didn’t work, the salt still got in, the thorns still got in. I was so desperate, I needed something to protect his paws. That’s when I found the QUMY Dog Boots. They were $23, they said they would protect his paws, from hot pavement, from snow, from thorns. I ordered them immediately, because I was tired of him getting hurt. After using them for a month, I put together this full QUMY Dog Boots review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.

QUMY Dog Boots: An QUMY Dog Boots Review of Its Design

So, what are these things, anyway? They’re dog boots, right? They’re made of waterproof material, so they keep the water out, and the salt out, and the dirt out. They have a rugged, anti-slip rubber sole, so they give your dog traction, even on slippery ground, right? And they have reflective strips, on the straps, so you can see your dog at night, when you’re walking.

They have two Velcro straps, too, right? One at the top, one at the bottom, so you can adjust them, to fit your dog’s paw, so they stay on. They come in different sizes, too, so you can get the right size for your dog, whether they’re small, medium, or large.

They’re only $23, which is cheap, right? A lot of the other dog boots are $40 or $50, so this was a steal, I thought.

My Story: Putting the QUMY Dog Boots to the Test

When the boots arrived, I was so excited. I measured Max’s paw, like the instructions said, and I got size 8, which was supposed to fit him. I opened the box, and they were these big black boots, they looked like little rain boots for dogs. Cute, right?

I tried to put them on him. And he looked at me, like I was crazy. He stood up, and he started walking like he was on stilts. He was lifting his paws way too high, he was tripping over his own feet, he was looking at me like, “What did you do to me?” It was so funny, I was laughing so hard, I almost cried. He looked like a drunk robot, walking around my living room.

I gave him a treat, and he calmed down, after a little while. He got used to it, after 10 minutes, he started walking normal. I was so happy, I thought, this is going to work!

We went hiking, the next weekend. The trail was rough, there were rocks, there were thorns, the pavement was hot. And the boots worked! His paws were protected, he didn’t step on any thorns, the hot pavement didn’t burn him. I was so happy, this was exactly what I needed!

But then, we were running, right? Max saw a squirrel, and he took off, running after it. And then, one of the boots fell off. Just, popped right off, his paw came out, and he kept running, and the boot was left on the trail. I had to chase him, for 5 minutes, to catch him, and then I had to walk back, to get the boot. That was so embarrassing! There were other hikers, looking at me, like, “What is wrong with your dog?” And I was like, “It’s the boots! They fell off!”

And then, when we went ice skating, once, the boots were slippery. The sole, it was anti-slip, but on ice, it was so slippery, Max was sliding all over the place. He couldn’t get any traction, he almost fell. That was so stupid, why did they say it was anti-slip, if it doesn’t work on ice?

Also, the sizing. I measured his paw, like the instructions said, but it was still a little big. The boots were loose, that’s why they fell off, when he ran. I had to tighten the Velcro straps, as tight as I could, but they still came off, when he ran too fast.

But the best part? They protected his paws. The whole hike, his paws were fine, no thorns, no burns, no salt, nothing. That was the whole reason I bought them, and that part worked perfectly.

What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the QUMY Dog Boots

After using these for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Liked

• They protect his paws: That’s the whole reason I bought them, and it worked. The hot pavement, the thorns, the salt, none of it got to his paws. He didn’t get hurt, at all. That was perfect.
• They’re waterproof: When we went in the rain, his paws stayed dry. The water didn’t get in, the mud didn’t get in, his paws were clean, when we got home. That was great.
• The reflective strips work: When we walk at night, the reflective strips light up, so cars can see us. That’s so safe, I don’t have to worry about getting hit by a car.
• The non-slip sole works, on most things: On dirt, on pavement, on rocks, it works, it gives him traction. He doesn’t slip, on those things.
• They’re cheap: $23 is nothing, compared to the other dog boots that are $40 or $50. Even if they only work for walking, it’s worth it.

What I Didn’t Like

• They fall off, when he runs: If he runs too fast, the boots pop right off. I had to chase him, to get the boot back, that was so embarrassing.
• The sizing is tricky: I measured his paw, like the instructions said, but it was still a little big. A lot of people have this problem, you have to order a size down, to make them fit.
• They don’t work on ice: The sole is slippery, on ice. Max slides all over the place, he can’t get any traction.
• He had to get used to them: At first, he walked like a robot, he was tripping over his own feet. It took him a week, to get used to wearing them.
• They’re not for vigorous activity: If you’re just walking, they work, but if you’re running, or hiking fast, they fall off. They’re not for intense activity.

Is the QUMY Dog Boots Right for Your Dog?

So, are these things right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a dog that likes to walk, around the neighborhood, or go on easy hikes, and you need to protect their paws from hot pavement, or salt, or thorns? Then yeah, these are perfect. They work, they’re cheap, they do exactly what they say.

But if you have a dog that likes to run, or do intense hiking, or run after squirrels? Then no, these are not for you. They’ll fall off, you’ll be chasing your dog, trying to get the boot back.

And if you have a dog that’s going to be on ice, a lot? Then no, they’re slippery, on ice, they don’t work.

Also, if you have a small dog? They have small sizes, too, so that works. But be careful with the sizing, measure your dog’s paw, and order a size down, because they run big.

Common Questions About the QUMY Dog Boots

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.

Do these stay on?

If you’re just walking, yeah, they stay on. But if you’re running, or doing intense activity, they can fall off. A lot of people have this problem.

Are these waterproof?

Yeah, they keep the water out, for the most part. If you go in the rain, or the snow, your dog’s paws stay dry.

Do they work for hot pavement?

Yeah, they protect the paws from the hot pavement. The thick sole keeps the heat from getting to your dog’s paw.

How do I size them?

Measure your dog’s paw, from the tip of the nail to the back of the pad, and then order a size down. Because they run big, if you order the size that matches your measurement, it’s going to be too big.

Can my dog wear these in the snow?

Yeah, they work in the snow, they keep the salt out, they keep his paws warm. But they don’t work on ice, they’re slippery.

My Top Takeaways on the QUMY Dog Boots

At the end of the day, these things work, for what they are. They solved my biggest problem—Max getting hurt, his paws getting burned, or cut, or irritated by salt. That part worked perfectly, the whole time. The boots protected his paws, no matter what.

The falling off part, that was annoying, but it only happened when he ran. If we’re just walking, they stay on, they work fine. And the sizing, once I tightened the straps, as tight as I could, they stayed on, most of the time.

The cleaning part, it was easy, I just wiped them down, and they were clean. The waterproof part worked, too, his paws stayed dry, even in the rain.

It’s not a long-term solution, for running, or intense hiking, but it’s a great solution, for walking, or easy hikes, if you need to protect your dog’s paws. If you’re like me, and you were completely desperate to stop your dog from getting hurt, this is a great way to do it.

Final Thoughts on the QUMY Dog Boots

All in all, the QUMY Dog Boots have been great. They solved my biggest problem—Max’s paws getting hurt, from hot pavement, or thorns, or salt—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The falling off, the sizing, the slippery ice, it’s all a little much for $23, but honestly, it’s still cheaper than the other options.

If you have a dog that likes to walk, and you need to protect their paws? It’s worth it. But if you have a dog that likes to run? Don’t waste your money.

If you’re interested in trying them out, you can check them out here: Check Price on Amazon

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A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.