Gear: Dog boots protect your pooch’s fab four

Your dog may eagerly scamper wherever you do, especially on vacation, but his paws can become cracked and infected, especially on surfaces such as hot pavement or sand.

That’s where Alcott’s Adventure Boots can be your dog’s second best friend. These tough booties (four to a package, obviously), have thick rubber soles for protection and traction, and double Velcro closures with reflective accents for nighttime visibility.

Your dog will take to these like … well, like a dog takes to boots, so you’ll likely need some patience and practice to get canine cooperation. My Australian shepherd was not an easy sell, but finally relented. (The steady supply of treats helped.)

Alcott Adventure dog boots come in three sizes: small (2 1/4 -inch boot width), medium (2 1/2 -inch width), and large (2 3/4 -inch width) in subtle gray.

Info: The boots cost $44.99 and more info is available online.

-- Judi Dash