Toughening Up Feet

[imchestnut]

I was wondering if anyone had tips for toughening up a dogs feet around the house. The area were we run bears is rocky and my dogs run once or twice and their feet are flat tore up. Anything I can do around the house to toughen them up so they don't get so sore?

[pegleg]

this can be a issue with chaining houndsthat aren't run often. pea gravel in a kennel works well if the kennel is large enough to incourage walking and running. then the most important aspects keep their feet and the ground in the kennel dry, wet ground and urine both soften pads. and the most important thing is road them on the same type or rougher ground then you hunt and often.

[Dale T]

3/4 crushed rock in there kennel, around there dog house or where ever they are cept you can get small ammounts from most landscape shops and before the season opens road on gravel roads if you can.

[plottpappaw]

another choice maybe mixing equal parts iodine,blue lotion and diesel. i have a friend who uses that method and i've never once seen one get back to the truck limping or sore. maybe that will help you out. just mix that well and dip to the beginning of the front pasterns.