Grit, salt and cold wet pavement are hard on small paws, and a dog low to the ground has its feet in whatever the street happens to be carrying. These four boots put a layer between the pads and the pavement without the bulk of winter footwear, which is what makes them wearable in spring and autumn rather than only in deep cold.

The soles are rubber with a textured tread, and that grip is arguably more useful indoors than out. An older or arthritic small dog skating about on laminate flooring gets a lot of confidence back from a boot that holds. A drawstring at the top pulls the cuff closed around the leg, and that is the whole battle with dog boots: one that is not cinched properly comes off in the first fifty metres and is never seen again.

• Set of four boots
• Rubber soles with a non-slip tread
• Drawstring cuff pulls closed around the leg
• Soft lining and a breathable upper
• Camouflage prints in yellow, blue, grey, pink and red
• Numbered sizes, starting at No 1

On sizing, and do be careful here. Measure the paw at its widest with the dog standing and its weight on the foot, then send us that figure and we will match it rather than guess. Boots slightly too big fall off, slightly too small is worse, and most dogs need a few short indoor sessions first.

Who it's for: Small dogs walked on gritted, wet or hot pavements, and older ones losing their footing on hard floors indoors.