THE BEST SHOES FOR WALKING THE DOG

Muck Boots was born from the realization of a universal problem: muck. Wet, slushy, muddy, dirty muck. We were determined to find a solution that would keep our feet warm and dry through it all.  

More than two decades later, we can look back on an extensive product portfolio that has been developed for a variety of conditions and activities, and is available in a range of heights, materials, and colors to suit every taste. 

Nevertheless, we are always asked the same question: "Which boots are best for me?"  

Knowing what you'll be using the boots for can narrow down the choice, but there's one activity as diverse as hardly any other - dog walking. 

In Europe, dog ownership has always been high, and in recent years, especially during lockdown, the number of dog owners has soared, as many people yearned for companionship during their daily visits to the outdoors. Studies suggest that the consistent repetition of an activity is more likely to become a habit than a trend, and that applies to many of the activities we started doing because of lockdown. Spending time outdoors is good for our physical and mental health. If you can enjoy this experience with man's best friend, not only do you get fresh air every day, but it's also a lot more fun.

So far, so good... but which boot is best for walking your dog? 

Just like our boots, there is a wide variety of sizes, colors and athletic abilities among dogs, and we walk them in a wide variety of environments - gardens, parks, fields, the outdoors, forests, mountains and valleys. 

The best way to start is by thinking about how much time you'll be spending in the boots and what kind of ground you'll be on. 

Often our boots are mainly used in a specific environment - someone who raises sheep needs boots that can withstand open fields, dairy farmers spend much of their time in the barn, yard or milking parlor. 

Dog walks are often dismissed as "low intensity activity," and sometimes, of course, they are. However, a dog walk can take place in varied terrain and often in unpredictable weather. Walking a dog twice a day, seven days a week, can mean covering many hundreds of kilometers over the entire life of the boots.  

If you're walking a Springer Spaniel over hills and fields for 2 hours a day, you'll probably need a different boot than if you're taking your pug to the park around the corner. 

If you regularly walk for an hour or more over uneven terrain, grip is more important than insulation - here, the ARCTIC SPORT, MUCKMASTER or APEX would be ideal. If you're walking your dog in the park for 20 minutes in the dead of winter, good insulation might be more important to you - good choices would be the ARCTIC WEEKEND, ARCTIC ADVENTURE or ARCTIC SPORT II. 

The variety of activities and terrain in which you walk your dog can make a simple choice much more complicated.  

So which boot is best for dog walking? - the simple answer: all of them. The practical answer: you should carefully consider how you will use the boots, and then use the online product descriptions to make an informed decision. 

Related categories 

The best boots for dog walking

The best boots for dog walking in mud

Women's boots for dog walking

Men's boots for dog walking