Dog paw pads are naturally thick, but they should not be overly dry. Dry, chapped paw pads are more prone to injury from splitting and cracking. Healthy, moisturized paws will flex rather than split and actually allow dogs to get a better grip! Dry paws do not have any traction and dogs will have a harder time walking on smooth surfaces. Many customers use our Paw Soother and PawTection for agility training to help give dogs much better contact, safety and speed.