Keep them clean

Even though we might not see it, there’s plenty of stuff on the ground that can get stuck in the paws or the hair between the pads. Rinsing the paws with water or mild dog suitable soap will clear any irritants and loosen up anything that’s stuck in between their little pads. 

Trimming nails and fur

Dogs' hair and nails can grow very quickly and can cause discomfort if left unattended. If you bring your dog to the groomers regularly they will trim the nails and hair around the pads for you. If you’re doing it at home…good luck! Seriously though, nail trims can be tricky with some dogs so if in doubt bring them to the vet or the groomers and they’ll do it for you.

Keep an eye

This is perhaps obvious but you should check the paws from time to time just to make sure there’s no cracks, splits or anything that could lead to something more serious. Use paw balms such as Snout & Paw from Holistic Hound, it's all natural and it works wonders on cracked or dry feet.   

Surfaces

In the summer the surfaces can get extremely hot and can end up hurting their paws so make sure you check the temperature of the surfaces your dog walks on. In general, if the asphalt / concrete is too hot to keep your hand on it for more than 5 seconds, then it's too hot for your dog. Also, be sure to keep them off sharp gravel because we all know those surfaces are not comfortable to walk on.