a Solution for Dog Slipping on Floor
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- Walkee Paws makes dog leggings with attached boots or socks that won’t fall off.
- We recommend Walkee Paws indoor leggings for dogs that struggle to get around on hardwood floors.
About two years ago, my now 13-year-old golden retriever Jessie was diagnosed with arthritis in her shoulders. At the time, she was managing the hardwood floors in my house without many issues.
Yet as Jessie’s arthritis and age progressed, she started having trouble. Her paws began slipping out from under her as she walked, causing her to stumble at times. Even worse, she’d struggle to get up, often winding up splayed on the floor until my husband or I helped her up.
I laid yoga mats on the floors, which helped, but the indoor dog socks I tried always fell off Jessie. Five months ago, though, I found Walkee Paws Indoor Leggings, and they’ve been so beneficial that I dress Jessie in them every day.
Our review of Walkee Paws Indoor Leggings
Each legging is made of an adorably patterned paw-print cooling fabric with vents for air circulation, and features a stretchy sock with silicon dots on each side for traction. They attach at the top of Jessie’s back through a rectangular piece of soft cloth, and I’ve never had to worry about them falling off.
Once Jessie’s in the leggings, she stays in them for hours, no slipping or sliding on the floors. And when she wants to lie down, she no longer drops to the floor, her bones hitting the floor hard. Instead, she takes baby steps to get down with the socks supporting her the whole way. When she’s ready to get up, the socks give her enough traction to lift herself up.
Although these are designed for indoor use, Jessie has gone outside for a brief moment with them on still, and I’ve had to wipe the socks with a damp cloth. While I haven’t yet given them a full wash, the instructions recommend washing them on gentle cycle and hanging them to dry, something you could easily do at night so that you don’t have to purchase a second pair.
What makes them stand out
I’ve never seen anything else like Walkee Paws leggings, and their design is exceptional. Each legging is a separate piece that connects through a rectangular piece of soft cloth positioned on Jessie’s back. Two holes at the front of the back piece hold the front leggings while the back leggings slip through two holes in the back of the piece.
An adjustable clasp holds each pair together and lets me not only secure them in place but also adjust each one separately for the right fit. This is important because if I don’t allow enough give in each legging, Jessie’s movement will be limited. With the right adjustment, she can easily move around the house and even walk up and down stairs, but if they’re too loose, the socks could easily wiggle off and present a tripping hazard. Sometimes, I even leave the front leggings on at night so she has an easier time getting up in the morning.
The leggings also earn high marks from Theresa Fossum, a veterinarian in Scottsdale, Arizona, and CEO of Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care. “For indoor use, these leggings are great at preventing slips and falls on slick tile or wood floors,” she says. “And I love the fact that the way they’re designed they won’t slip down.”
The cons
Dealing with bathroom breaks is the biggest downside. Because these Walkee Paws leggings are designed for indoor use, I have to take them off whenever Jessie goes outside to relieve herself. In some instances, I’ve let her go out with them on, as long as I shepherd her back into the house quickly so she doesn’t step in something on the grass. Fortunately, though, she doesn’t ask to go out that frequently now that she’s older.
The bottom line
Walkee Paws leggings have been a game changer for Jessie, and I can’t recommend them enough if you have a dog who’s struggling to move on hardwood floors, perhaps other slippery surfaces, too. Jessie wears them every day, and while they’ve helped her daily functioning, they’ve also eased my mind when I leave the house. I no longer have to worry about Jessie splaying and not being able to get up if I’m not there.
Pros: Available in three sizes, machine washable, easy to put on
Cons: Should be taken off when going outside, may require time for your dog to get used to them, currently available only in one pattern