Laminate and tiled floors are hard on old dogs. A dog whose back legs are going will spread its feet, scrabble and eventually stop trying to cross the kitchen at all, and the confidence usually goes before the strength does. Socks with a rubber grip printed across the sole give the pads something to hold on to, which is often enough to get a dog moving around the house normally again.

The grip here covers the whole underside rather than a few dots at the toe, so the sock still works when a foot lands at an angle, which is exactly what happens with the dog you bought them for. Each sock closes with an adjustable hook-and-loop strap above the ankle, and that strap is the part that decides whether socks stay on at all. A knitted cuff on its own slides off within a few strides on most dogs.

• Sold as a set of four socks
• Rubber grip print across the full sole
• Adjustable hook-and-loop strap at the ankle
• Five sizes from XS to XL, in black
• Weighs between 32g and 78g per set depending on size
• Packed at 12 x 12 x 2cm

On the word waterproof. These are knitted socks with a rubber sole print. They will shrug off a damp lawn and keep a dressing clean indoors, but they are not wet-weather boots and they will soak through in real rain. Indoors and short outings is where they belong. Size on paw width rather than the dog, and set the strap snug rather than tight.

Who it's for: Older or unsteady dogs on slippery floors, and dogs recovering from a paw injury whose pads need keeping clean indoors.