Dr Buzby's ToeGrips Review: The Cheapest Fix for Slippery Floors
A Dr Buzby's ToeGrips review: how nail grips give traction on hardwood, correct sizing and application, how long they last, and when socks work better.
Rubber rings that sit on the nail tip rather than the paw, and the application step people get wrong.
The verdict: Buy them if your senior dog skates on hardwood, tile or laminate, hesitates at the edge of rugs, or has started avoiding rooms with hard floors, because losing confidence on slippery ground is one of the fastest ways an old dog's world shrinks. Skip them if your dog will not tolerate having their feet handled, if the nails are too short or badly damaged to hold a grip, or if the real problem is that the back end is giving way rather than sliding, which is a veterinary question first.
Dr. Buzby's Dr Buzby's ToeGrips for Dogs, Large, 20 Grips
~$40
Rubber rings that grip the tip of each toenail, acting like a cleat where the nail meets a hard floor. Developed by a veterinarian and sold in sizes by weight.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| How they work | Fit snugly on each nail tip so the GripZone contacts the floor like a rubber cleat |
|---|---|
| Pack size | 20 grips in the pack reviewed; 16 are applied to a dog |
| Sizing | By weight; large is stated as suiting dogs whose ideal weight is 40 to 74 lbs |
| Origin | Developed by a veterinarian |
| Reach claimed | Manufacturer states over 250,000 paws helped |
| Application | Wet the grips in isopropyl rubbing alcohol, press onto the nail tip, work into place until the nail tip is exposed |
| Fit | Manufacturer describes the correct fit as snug, not sliding on loosely |
| Contact with paw | Nothing touches the paw itself, only the nails |
Specifications above come from Dr Buzby's published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Nothing touches the paw, which is why dogs tolerate them when they will not tolerate boots or socks.
- They work on the actual mechanism of the problem: a hard nail on a hard floor has no grip, and a rubber cleat on the nail tip does.
- They stay on through the house all day and do not have to be put on and taken off, unlike socks.
- Sized by weight with a published chart, so getting the right size is straightforward.
- At around $40 they are the cheapest meaningful intervention for a dog losing confidence indoors.
Where it falls short
- The application matters and people rush it. The maker's instructions call for soaking the grips in isopropyl alcohol and pressing them on so the nail tip is exposed, and grips put on dry or left too far down come off within days.
- They need nails long enough to hold them. A dog whose nails have just been cut very short has nothing for the grip to sit on, and dogs with brittle or damaged nails are poor candidates.
- They fall off and get lost. Expect to replace some, and check the floor for shed grips if you have a dog who eats things.
- They do nothing for a dog whose back legs are collapsing rather than sliding. Traction helps a slipping dog, not a failing one.
- Dogs who hate having their feet held will make this a fight, and forcing it teaches them to hate it more.
What owners report
Reviews for nail grips split cleanly along one line: whether the owner followed the application instructions. Owners who soaked the grips in rubbing alcohol and seated them properly consistently report them staying on for weeks and describe a visible change in how the dog moves across hard floors within the first day. Owners who pushed them on dry report them coming off almost immediately. That is an unusually clear pattern and it is worth taking seriously before blaming the product.
The second recurring theme is nail length. Grips need nail to hold, so a dog whose nails are kept very short is a poor fit, and several owners report better results after letting the nails grow slightly. Keeping nails at a sensible length matters for gait anyway, since overlong nails change how a dog loads the foot.
Traction is only half the job. Our dog socks vs toe grips comparison covers when fabric works better, and our tile vs carpet comparison covers the cheaper structural fix of laying runners along the routes your dog actually uses. If nails are the sticking point, our Dremel PawControl review covers keeping them at the right length without cutting into the quick. And if your dog is not sliding but buckling, stop shopping and speak to your vet, because that is a different problem.
Who it suits
- Senior dogs sliding on hardwood, laminate or tile.
- Dogs who have started avoiding hard-floored rooms or hesitating before standing up on them.
- Dogs who will not tolerate socks or boots, since nothing here touches the paw.
- Households where laying rugs everywhere is not practical.
Who should skip it
- Dogs whose nails are kept very short or are brittle and splitting.
- Dogs who cannot bear having their feet handled, at least until that is worked on separately.
- Dogs whose back legs collapse rather than slip, who need a veterinary assessment and probably support equipment.
- Households with a dog who swallows small objects, unless you are prepared to check for shed grips.
Alternatives worth considering
Dr. McHenry's Dog Toe Treads Dr. McHenry's Dog Toe Treads, Set of 24
~$40
Adhesive pads that stick to the underside of the nail rather than rings that grip around it, supplied with a cleaning brush. Worth trying for dogs whose nail shape will not hold a ring.
Check price on AmazonTTelephant Long Hallway Runner Rug, Non Slip for Dogs
~$50
A non-slip runner along the route your dog uses most solves the same problem for the whole household and needs nothing applied to the dog. Slower to arrange and it does not travel, but it works on any dog, including one who will not have their feet touched.
Check price on AmazonDremel Dremel PawControl 7760-PET Dog Nail Grinder
~$64
Overlong nails change how a dog loads the foot and make slipping worse, and grips need correctly shaped nails to sit on. Grinding rather than clipping gives you finer control near the quick.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Dog socks vs toe grips
- Tile vs carpet for senior dogs
- Best non-slip dog socks and boots
- Dremel PawControl nail grinder review
- Senior dog symptom checker
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you put ToeGrips on a dog?
Dr Buzby's instructions are specific and following them is what decides whether they stay on. Wet 16 grips in isopropyl rubbing alcohol, stabilize the toe, press a wet grip onto the nail tip, then work the top and sides into place with your fingertips until the nail tip is exposed. The fit should be snug rather than loose. Grips applied dry, or left sitting too low on the nail, are the reason most people report them falling off.
What size ToeGrips does my dog need?
They are sized by weight, and the large size is stated as suiting dogs whose ideal weight falls between 40 and 74 lbs. The maker publishes a chart by weight and breed on the product listing. Size to your dog's ideal weight rather than their current weight if your dog is overweight, and if they sit on a boundary, the sizing chart and your dog's nail thickness decide it.
How long do ToeGrips last?
Owners commonly report weeks per set with correct application, with individual grips shed along the way, which is why the pack contains spares. Expect to top up rather than replace the whole set. Grips wear faster on dogs who walk a lot on concrete, and they last longer on dogs who are mostly indoors, which is usually the dog they were bought for.
ToeGrips or non-slip dog socks: which is better?
Grips suit dogs who will not tolerate anything on the paw and who need traction all day without you managing it. Socks suit dogs whose nails are too short or damaged to hold a grip, and dogs who need traction only occasionally. Socks also come off, get lost and can slide themselves. Our dog socks vs toe grips comparison works through the trade-offs, and our best non-slip socks and boots round-up covers the fabric options.
My senior dog is slipping. Is it always the floor?
No, and this is worth checking before you spend anything. Dogs slip more when they are weak, sore or neurologically affected, not only when the floor is slick, and a dog whose back paws knuckle over or drag is telling you something different from a dog whose feet skate out sideways. Arthritis, spinal disease and muscle loss all show up this way. Traction aids help either way, but they are not a substitute for a veterinary assessment of why your dog's grip changed. Our symptom checker can help you describe what you are seeing before the appointment.
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