You have probably already put something down. A runner in the hallway, a bath mat where the tile starts. Nobody taught you that, you watched him hesitate and worked it out.
Here is why it happens, and the full list of what changes it.
What is actually going on
A dog grips the floor with the pads of his paws. Pads have texture and they deform slightly under weight, which is what creates friction.
When nails get long enough, they touch down before the pads do. The dog ends up walking on four small hard points instead of four textured surfaces, and hard points on polished tile slide.
That is why trimming often fixes slipping on its own, and why it is the step people skip, because it is the least satisfying to buy.
Rugs and runners
They work, and they are free if you already own them. The problem is that they move, and a rug that slides under a dog who is already unsure is worse than bare floor, because now he does not trust either surface.
If you use them, tape them down. Then keep in mind you have solved one hallway, not the house.
Socks and booties
They give grip and most dogs hate them. A bootie covers the pad completely, which removes the sensory information he uses to place his feet, and a lot of dogs respond by high stepping or refusing to move at all.
They are genuinely useful outdoors in winter. Indoors they solve slipping by creating a different problem.
Nail length
Do this first, before you buy anything. If you can hear his nails clicking on the floor when he walks, they are long enough to be part of the problem.
If you stopped trimming because you cut too far once, a grinder takes a little at a time instead of one committed cut.
Paw grips
Small textured pads that stick to the paw pad itself. Ours are anti-slip paw grips in seven sizes. They add grip without covering the whole foot, so he still feels the ground and does not change how he walks.
They wear down. On a dog who walks on tile and pavement daily, expect about three weeks. Run a thumb across the tread: if it still catches on your skin you are fine, and if it feels smooth it is done.
The order that works
Nails first, then grips, then rugs where he needs them most. Doing it the other way around is how people end up with a house full of runners and a dog who still slides.
AlongPaws makes four things for the moments that get harder. See what we make, or reply to any email with his measurements and we will tell you which size.
