I tried that a few years back with my Chesapeake it does make the pad harder. The problem I had was it kept on getting briars between the toes. I went with those boots. Followed directioons out of a training manual: put one front on walk at heel on leash until it ignores it, add another, same thing. Eventually they get used to them. I only use them when huntinh rough areas, or new areas I haven't tried before. That way the dog's feet stay tough enough, but if we go into a briar patch his boots go on and he already has a belly protector on.
