The Muddy Blues: Dealing with Dog’s Muddy Paws
Posted by Amy Hempe on
Fall brings so many things with it: lovely changing colors, yummy lattes, and of course, mud. If it’s raining or even snowing in your area before a warm up, then the mud level cranks itself up to eleven. Mud outdoors means muddy paws for your dog. And muddy paws means fighting the good fight against muddy and dirty floors.
If you must let your dog out multiple times every day, this can result in havoc. Cleaning up so much mud constantly can drive you mad. While we can’t recommend something as extreme as moving to a non-muddy area, we can offer a few tips on how to improve your end of the situation.
- Consider some booties for your pup. It’s true, not every dog will take to them. Your dog might actually like them after a few tries, however. Be patient. They might feel a little weird to the dog at first. This is a good option for those who walk their dogs. These are not recommended for a backyard running spree – they’ll fly off the feet very quickly.
- Keep a towel immediately handy by the door. Whether it’s the front or back door, the paws are going to be muddy. Know that it will happen. Don’t change it out every use, unless you have a warehouse full of towels. Just swap it out once a day, and launder them all at the end of the week.
- Roll out the red carpet. Or blue or green or whatever color you have. Consider making a walking path of old towels/rags for the dog to walk on. This will absorb some of the outdoor dirt and mud, allowing for quicker wiping of the paws.
- Keep any follow-up vacuuming limited. Here is where you can drive yourself truly bananas. You have to accept that this mud and dirt are going to show up more than once a day. If you have an electric broom or something very handy near the door, grab that and give the floor a very quick going-over. Then take a breath and get back to whatever you were doing. Cleaning up after your pet can take up a ridiculous amount of energy if you let it. Repeat the mantra: “My house is not in parade of homes today.” Nobody will judge you for having dogs. Don’t judge yourself for not keeping everything spotless when you know that it will be dirty again in an hour.
- Keep an extra towel to wipe down fur. For those of us with dogs who love to roll, mud may make you want to pull your hair out. Daily baths are just not an option. But a fur-wipe down is an option. Use a slightly damp clean rag. I am always amazed by how much dirt I get off my dog. But if she wants to sleep on the bed, this is the price she has to pay. For dogs who consistently roll, baths are probably something they’ll need every week or every two weeks. The bath tub is certainly an option, but it can be a very dirty experience. Consider getting a punch card at a local do-it-yourself dog washing spot. These places usually provide shampoo and conditioner for you, although you can bring your own if you are particular about it. They generally provide towels as well as a blow-dry option. While you can’t do this every day, you’ll get a clean dog for at least a few hours.
What are some pup-hacks you’ve used to help combat the muddy blues? Let us know in the comments.
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