Limiting the mud.

[pinkbear82]

I know this is probably a mission impossible scenario but I thought I would ask you wise people before I give up hope altogether.

I have two dogs, a springer and a huntaway x springer. How do I limit the mud they bring in from the garden?!

The grassed area is fenced off so they can't get up there, unless allowed. We have just put netting over the rockery to limit that mud bath.

The main area they have access to out the back is slabed. How do you stop/limit what they drag in?

After walks etc paws are wiped but I can't allow them free access to the garden, when home, and wipe every single time the are in and out.

Have you got a fab mud sucking mat or any other tips?!

[RunDougalRunQuiteFast]

I feel your pain - it's horrible at the moment! Turtle mats are supposed to be very good, I have a cheap version of one at our front door (our dogs go out the front which is paving and grass) and it's not too bad at catching the worst. Hoovering every day though.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

I'm restricting garden access and wiping paws every time. I also have a stair gate over the kitchen door and can contain them in the kitchen, which is tiled and wipeable. It is a nightmare at the moment :( They have also got microfiber robes/coats which I put on them to limit the shaking/rubbing mess. They're reasonably effective.

[cathpip]

I restrict my cockers to the utility when they are wet and muddy (rather 1 room than 3). mine also get their undercarriage hosed after each walk and they get put in some coats called hotter dog fleeces that do dry them fairly quickly. we also have a back door mat that soaks up some paw prints and is machine washable :)

[Owllady]

Well this won't be helpful but I have a female collie who appears to walk on tiptoes in order not to get muddy! It's marvellous as our garden is disgusting :( I know someone who fills a tray thing by the door that they walk through and then a turtle mat...

[IDoAllMyOwnStunts]

We have a collie x springer. He gets hosed off after every walk then towelled off and made to lie in his bed while he dries. He gets his paws wiped on towel when he comes in off garden. Roll on summer it's a pain in the arse.

[PseudoBadger]

We only let them in the garden first thing; they stay in the utility for a while then. Rest of wees are done on a lead out the front, walks off lead mud bath as normal then hosed off.

[moosemama]

It's particularly bad this winter with all this rain. I'm so sick of cleaning my dogs' paws every time they go in the garden, especially as the pup seems to have taken up birdwatching and wants to go out every five minutes at the moment. Even with a thorough rub down every time they go out I'm still having to mop several times a day.

I got desperate enough to consider this paw plunger device the other day, but felt I couldn't justify it on the strength of 2 positive reviews. I can't help thinking you'd need one for each paw, if the amount of mud on my dogs' feet is anything to go by, otherwise surely you'd just end up transferring dirt from one foot to the others?

[pinkbear82]

So relieved it's not just me! I know it's all part of having dogs but my kitchen is constantly muddy and it's so frustrating.
Will look into a few of the ideas and hopefully it will dry up soon. Thanks all

[moosemama]

Believe me, I'm not at all houseproud and have had dogs for over 20 years and know it comes with the territory, but this year it is starting to get to me, because it feels relentless, the garden is simply not drying out at all between downpours and I have a 7 month old pup who is in and out like a jack-in-the-box.

[pinkbear82]

My huntaway x is 7 months too, and if I miss opening the door for her she'll wee by the door. She is getting much better tho. And they both enjoy being out and it's such a shame it's all so wet.

[Snugglepiggy]

This post has made me feel less alone ! Currently got two puppies just 12 weeks old and I work with dogs and never in the ten years I have has the mud got to me like it has this last month.The pups are doing brilliantly but our lawn is a quagmire from all the run outs ,and even they don't want to go on it.The little girl has taken to peeing through the mesh cover on the fish pond.
Tonight it's really got to me as my DH who is usually a brilliant help with the dogs has a very ill father and is away a lot by his bedside,which of course comes first.It just seems since we got our two it's been unrelenting rain and mud.Here's to spring and sunshine.Or a decent hard frost !

[pinkbear82]

Snuggle it's good to know isn't it. Makes me feel better when I'm mopping the floor for what feels like hours at at a time.

I love the image of your little pup weeing through the mesh into the pond! Hope there aren't any fish

My mums dog backs up out of their back door positioning her 'bits' outside, but still inside herself and does her business. No mud, and mum says she doesn't have to get wet picking it up either!

Hope your fil is on the mend soon

[Snugglepiggy]

Thanks pink bear.Yes there are fish but with so much rain don't think a bit of puppy pee will kill them. The little girl has also been a bit of a poop eater - a habit I am keen to curb - so I have been distracting her with a treat as soon as she has done it. She twigged that in the dark ,wind and rain she can pretend to do a big poo and come and get a treat,then scamper off again to do the real thing get another.Think I may be in trouble !She has been better at leaving it alone the last day or two but any suggestions gratefully received.

[mintchocchick]

I'm glad people see this year as so unusual - I'm a new dog owner and was beginning to feel dread of future winters ahead! My garden is muddy and horrid but our dog goes running outside to play hourly at least and has one off lead walk a day through really muddy woods.

I have annexed our old beach towels which are dark and thick and as soon as I've hoovered & steamed the floor (while the dog gathers mud in garden!) I lay these towels down so they cover nearly the whole kitchen. The dog can then run in over them all day and they get the mud! But I am doing a 60 degree wash every night with them and then tumble dry them in morning so electricity usage must be through the roof!

[GemmaTeller]

Another one with old towels and ikea cotton rugs on the kitchen floor here plus putting a wash on every day.

I am sick of the rain, mud and sodden garden

[pinkbear82]

Ah ah, the towels going down have just given me an idea, I have an old dark duvet cover (DP brought it, I hate dark covers) but this could go down on the kitchen floor and actually be of use!

[Sixpencenonethericher]

I have a swamp for a garden a Goldie and a husky and have put loads of black towels on the kitchen floor and try and dry paws undercarriage etc but the time I've done that they want to go out again lol also everything in the kitchen is half muddy where they shake

[Notonaschoolnight]

I use the paw plunger it's ok she stands on the turtlemat at the front door and lifts up her paw to go in the plunger, not saying she likes it but she puts up with it and it makes a difference when its a light coating of muck a decent coating then her legs get hosed in the back garden

[moosemama]

So the paw plunger isn't much good when they're caked in mud?

That's what I suspected, as looking at the amount my two bring back on their paws, the plunger would be filthy inside after doing one paw - leaving 7 paws still mucky.

We have a turtlemat too, but the cheap copy we bought in B&Q is just as good.

I am lucky enough to have a vestibule between by back door and kitchen, but mine still track mud in, despite having to cross two mats to get there. So I have to trap them in the vestibule individually and release them when I've towelled them clean.

I have been really mean today and only let the pup out when I really thought he might need to go. This was after watching him fling mud over 6ft in the air whilst joyously careering around the garden first thing. He's not happy about it at all - but I am!

[Needadvice5]

I thought it was just me that was suffering as a result of all the mud!
My 6 month old Dalmatian is obsessed with running around the grass which now resembles a swamp! I feel as though I mop the kitchen dozens of times a day.

My old shihzu sits and watches in disgust because he hates to get wet or dirty.....

it's driving me insane!

[lainiekazan]

No towels on the floor here. Dog has a certain penchant for towels . He particularly enjoys a good rub down. In fact I was slightly suspicious that he was going out in the garden and getting incredibly muddy in order to get the towel treatment. He was a bit too quick to run to the utility room and strike a pose for my liking.

[GemmaTeller]

lainiekazan I know what you mean, our previous boxer girl used to love a good rub down with a towel and used to emit a long slow rumble which we took to be boxer speak for ' oh yeah, thats the spot'

[Whoknowswhocares]

It's never ending this year isn't it

One thing I've bought which has helped with my muck magnet is a groomers aquasorb towel. Basically a sort of shammy leather for dogs, which wipes off a decent amount of the mud and wetness off. Rinse it and put back in container damp, and it's ready for reuse.
Seems to get off more than a standard towel, plus cuts down immensely on towel washing

[pinkbear82]

The old duvet cover down by the door is working quite well, also the dogs will lay on that and stick their nose out of the open door quite content rather than out in the puddles or mud piles they create from somewhere!

Although today the cat topped it off by somehow managing to come in the front door, up the stairs, no prints, jumped onto my clean cream bedding and clearly proceeded to do some kind of mud dance and leave paw prints everywhere...