1) Get him more used to walking on leash.
2) Test out the Fivefingers.
We walked for ~2 miles. I am not sure of the exact distance because the Fivefingers definitely alter your stride. You are much more aware of heel striking and the shoes almost force you to shorten your stride and make initial contact with the ball of your foot. This certainly throws off any pedometer calibration you might have done in the past. So, be prepped for that.
My initial reaction to the shoes after a couple of miles is very positive. If you aren't used to walking barefoot or in thin moccasins, don't push it as I can see how the balls of your feet might hurt a lot (I am used to mocs though, so not really a problem). Also, be prepped for calf soreness. I just finished my walk about 20 minutes ago and I can already feel them tightening up. I was aware of this from the reviews I had read, but it is a bit more pronounced than I expected.
The shoes themselves were great, Wearing them makes you much more cognizant of what you are stepping on while still protecting you from the pointy bits one is sure to encounter while barefoot. I thought the marketing fluff around being more in contact with the earth was, well, marketing fluff. However, you really do connect with the ground better in these shoes. Also, after about 100 steps, you don't even notice you are wearing them (until the previously mentioned klutzy dog steps on your foot and forces a toe out of its pocket).
On the negative side, I had some concerns around the fact that my feet were cold when I started out. However, once the blood got going, that went away. Also, if you do get a toe out of pocket, once you get it back in place it feels weird for a bit.
All-in-all, I have to give these a very high initial review. Over the next few days, I am sure I will post additional thoughts, but I can see me wearing these more often than not (which should make my wife happy, considering their dork factor).
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