Heard that spraying the pads with Pam or some other cooking oil spray will keep the snow from sticking. As for toughening up the dogs pads use Kopertox, paint it on their pads and let it dry . . . just DON'T do it in the house or anywhere you don't want green pad prints. The vet told us to use it on our brittany as he had soft pads and anytime he'd run his feet would bleed.