Z-Control
Skid Boots
Leg armor for gonzo dogs; comfortable protection for stops and dew claws
Border Collie Tested
Z-Control Skid Boots combine comfort and protection for your dog with convenience for you.
Serving
the
USA, Canada, the UK, France, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands, South
Africa,
Australia
and Japan!
Since
2003
Dogs in *Z* News
Do you have an incredible, extraordinary or just plain awesome dog?
New!
Add a tug
to your
Z-Control Skid Boot order for only $7.00.
Tugs are 3-strand braided 200 weight polar fleece, approximately
40”
long.
History:
Z-Control Skid Boots were born out of my frustration with other methods of skid protection. Wrapping with Vetwrap was tricky and time consuming, and was a constant source of worry at busy tournaments... "Only four races in between... Do I dare leave him wrapped, or will his feet wind up swelling? And if I DO leave the Vetwrap on him, will he shred it as soon as I turn my back?" There had to be a better way.
Next I experimented with the two-strap, leather skid boots. Better. Easy on, easy off. But the boots tended to rotate on the leg after skidding, and had to be constantly checked and repositioned. Adding darts to create more of a cup around the stop helped some, but didn't solve the problem entirely. And when I gave a pair of leather boots to a teammate whose dog had dew claws, I was horrified to discover that the lower strap could work its way under the dew claw, forcing it up and outwards. Back to the drawing board.
After that I began experimenting with different combinations of neoprene and velcro. Comfortable, easy to put on and take off, but not durable. An habitual power-slider could burn through plain neoprene in a single race. Leather reinforcement over the stops solved that problem without compromising flexibility. And the strapless, one-piece design was safe for dogs with dew claws.
Let’s
Build Your Boots!
Right
now, you’ll have to make note of your options and send me
an e-mail. I am working on adding a
Shopping Cart to the site to make the whole ordering experience easier. I appreciate your patience!
ü
Standard
boots are 4
½” tall. The top of the boot should be
at least 1” above the top of the carpal pad or stop.
Taller is fine as long as it’s not impinging
on the elbow. If you need custom cut
taller or shorter boots (add $3.00 per pair), let me know how tall you
want
them.
ü
Let me
know your
dog’s boot size, or, if this is the first time you’ve ordered, give me
your
dog’s wrist measurement taken like so:
ü
Choose
your neoprene
Standard
2mm Neoprene
$14.00/pair
Z-Max
3mm Neoprene $17.00/pair
First Place Blue (royal blue)
Lime
Green
Relay Red
Hot Pink
Perfect Pass
Purple
International
Orange
Go Green
(forest green)
Tennis
Ball Yellow
Snowblind
(white)
Camouflage
Wolf
Gray
Leopard Print
Basic Black
Puppy
Pink (pale pink)
Tequila Sunrise
(fluorescent salmon)
Little Boy Blue
(pale blue)
Basic Black
ü
Now add
your options:
o
Wrapped
leather – In
this variation, the leather reinforcement at the back of the book
extends all
the way to the bottom of the boot and wraps under the lower edge,
protecting it
from fraying. Add $3.00/pair.
o
Dew Claw
Shielding –
Extra leather added to the interior of the boot to prevent protruding
dew claws
from puncturing the neoprene body of the boot.
Add $3.00 per pair.
o
Custom
Detailing – Add
hand painted flames, your dog’s name, hearts and flowers, flaming
skulls. Add $5.00 - $10.00, depending on
the
complexity of the design.
For
the little guys:
Wee
Zees – Height dog boots in soft, flexible 1mm neoprene.
Available in black only, your choice of
leather colors.
About Your Dog's New Boots
For maximum protection, Z-Control Skid Boots should fit snugly. Loose boots will ride up the dog's legs as soon as he dives or skids. You should have to stretch the boot in order to close the velcro.
You'll notice that the boots are marked "left" and "right" (or "L" and "R"). That's your dog's left and right. Put the boots on the correct leg, with the lettering at the bottom. After closing the velcro, check to be sure the leather patch is positioned over the dog's stop. If you put your boots on the same way each time, within a few wearings the boots will stretch slightly, and shape to your dog's legs. That's the reason they're marked.
As with any new experience, some dogs adapt easily to their new boots, and other may need a little time to get used to them. Odd gaits, including "high stepping", are not uncommon when you put the boots on for the first time. As with any new piece of equipment, it's best to try them out in practice first. Most dogs forget all about the boots when distracted by a tennis ball or frisbee.
For longest life, store your boots with the velcro closed.
Allow sweaty or damp boots to dry completely before sealing the storage bag to avoid stinky boots.
The boots are easy on, easy off AND easily chewed up. Don't leave your dog unattended while wearing his Z-Control Skid Boots.
Just the FAQs, Ma'am...
Zane sports skid boots in
Tennis Ball,
customized with a hand-painted flame motif.
Add custom detailing to your boots for $5 - $10 per pair.
(Depends on the complexity of the design)
Gift Certificates
Looking for a holiday gift for your favorite flyball fanatic, or a raffle table item?
How about a gift certificate for Z-Control Skid Boots!
For further information or to place an order: khhfm@charter.net
Z-Control
Kathleen Hansen
715 Brickingham Drive
Saint Peters, Missouri 63376
636 541-2135
Other Stuff:
Recipe for Homemade Liver Treats
Adoptable Me - Available Performance Dog Prospects