How To Avoid Leaks In Your Dog Walking Boots

There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of money on a decent pair of leather dog walking boots and the leather cracks and they start to leak! As we all know, it doesn’t matter if your leather boots are leaking, your dog still demands a walk!

Leather is a durable and flexible material that, with a bit of tender loving care, will last for many years. Leather is a common material that can be used for many different products. From purses, handbags, clothing and footwear different types of leather, including buffalo, goat and ostrich skin have been used. However, today most dog walking boots are made from cattle skin.

A bit of care is needed to maintain the natural features of the leather. Over time changes in temperatures and humidity, exposure to water and soil, dust buildup, and pollution all have an impact on the leather. Without proper care the leather will start to crack, split and become really uncomfortable to wear, especially if exposed to rock salt, farmyard muck or peaty mud. Such chemicals can degrade the leather uppers.

Caring for your Dog Walking Boots

It doesn’t have to be time consuming or laborious to look after your boots. By following these simple “do’s and don’ts” steps below it will help to preserve the leather, keeping your dog walking boots waterproof, breathable and comfortable to wear.

Do’s

• Allow your boots to dry before cleaning
• Use a soft brush or sponge to remove dirt from the leather
• Take extra care to remove mud from around the stitching
• Remember to clean around the eyelets and remove the laces
• Use a footwear cleaning solution such as Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel to clean off mud and to maintain breathability of the leather
• Apply a waxy waterproofing treatment for boots to ensure the leather remains waterproof

Dont’s

• Dry your leather boots near a radiator or fire as this will dry out the leather too quickly
• Use normal soap to clean your boots as the chemicals will dry the leather
• Leave wet laces in the boots
• Put your boots in the washing machine

How to clean the inside of your dog walking boots

From time to time it is necessary to clean the inside of the boots. As your feet get hot they sweat. A small amount of salty sweat can clog the breathable membrane in the boots. Follow the steps below to clean the inside membrane of your boots:

• Remove the insoles and clean with warm soapy water
• Use a soft washcloth with warm soapy water to clean the inside of the boots
• Stuff newspapers into the boots to draw excess water
• Allow the boots to dry naturally i.e. away from a heat source

Following these simple steps when cleaning your dog walking boots will help to preserve the life of them and keep your feet comfy too!

Have a great time outdoors!