...to think clean floors and dogs are incompatible?

[BigDamnNCFail]

We've just moved house. For almost two years my lovely parents put up with me, DH, the two DCs, our two dogs and two cats (they also have a cat and dog). They have a large house and the dogs spent most of the time in the 'sun lounge' so all the living room floor had to content with was the cats and kids (granted that was more than enough considering autistic kids' tendencies to throw Cheerios around mid-meltdown). The soil there is also pretty sandy so dries quickly and doesn't really track much mud inside.

In the new house, however, the garden leads straight into the dining room/living room (open plan) with some weird painted wooden floor. The soil here is regular mud and it's been raining quite a but the last few days.

AIBU to think we're never going to have clean floors except for the five minutes directly after wiping a wet towel or cloth around the place halfheartedly with my foot mopping?

Do other people with dogs and no extra room to put them in manage to have clean floors and if so how? They're big dogs (German shepherd and husky) and within seconds the floor is just covered in mud when they come in from the garden.

[poorpaws]

Nope! Three dogs and filthy floors

[NinaSimoneful]

Yanbu
*sobs into mop

[Stratter5]

The patio is fenced off, and the dogs don't go on the grass = clean floors :)

[SingingMyOwnSpecialSong]

YANBU. DDog is currently enjoying digging in my newly weeded flower beds and then traipsing across the kitchen floor (and onto sofa/bed if I forget to close the stair gate at the kitchen door). Not helpful with a crawling baby around. I comfort myself that she will have a great immune system.

We keep a packet of baby wipes and a dog towel in the cupboard by the back door and try to catch him as he comes in. He is rinsed in the shower after walks, mainly because it reduces his allergy flare ups (he is allergic to everything) but partly for mud.

[EveryoneElsie]

We may as well just turf downstairs and mow the carpet instead of vacuuming.

[MrsJayy]

bane of my fecking life and the hair floats about like tumbleweed

[autumn500]

Yup, two dogs and dirty floors here too,as well as an OH who doesn't understand the concept of feet wiping.

I bought really good mats for when the dogs come in,opened the back door to let them in and one of the dogs jumped straight over the top of it the wee shit.

[GinAndColonic]

Get a Turtle Mat

[BigDamnNCFail]

We may as well just turf downstairs and mow the carpet instead of vacuuming.

[RudeElf]

Yanbu.

I am lucky that back door leads onto kitchen and dog is restricted to this room so muck is contained but the kitchen floor is never clean. And its such a big room with crappy vinyl that clings onto muck for dear life so its a real chore to clean it. I hate it.

[MrsJayy]

I have to mop when he is being walked and dry it or he rolls on it well a more of a slide about he does

[Gide]

Remove all carpets downstairs, tile, underfloor heating. 3 dogs, filthy floors, tumbleweed fur, it's all so familiar! I live in filth and I don't care

[HoneyDragon]

I prefer the muddy season which is dealt with by a towel by the door and a strict 'paws before doors policy in which all four feet are wiped before entry.

Then a swiff with the spray mop.

Summer is a fucking nightmare.

Dried grass and moulted hair EVERYWHERE

[Niklepic]

3 dogs here and the floor is filthy. We have a cat flap so theyre in and out all day but we have a completely paved garden so I don't know how they do it.

I have 3 different mops and a steam cleaner and it's a constant battle with wet footprints, dust and fur.

[MrsJayy]

Dog left moist paw prints up the hall the other day he hadnt been out

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

I sort of manage.
I think.

[BigDamnNCFail]

As soon as we have any spare money (ha!) I'll invest in a Turtle Mat.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I just don't think I've ever seen anyone else with such a muddy house (being a recluse may or may not have something to do with that, actually...).

I also feel bad for the boys because their autism means they're quite funny about mud and wetness. DS1 had to have a towel in the garden with him the other day to wipe the slide clean of any tiny flecks of dirt after every time he slid down it. They're not enjoying the muddy floors!

[BigDamnNCFail]

Chardonnay, what's your secret? A complicated system of paddling pools followed by towels leading to the door, training your dogs to wear (and remove) shoes?? Or do you spend all day every day with a mop in hand?

[trashcanjunkie]

At times I feel it would be easier to just chuck straw down and muck out once a week

[RedOnHerHedd]

All my downstairs is tiled, and whilst I don't have dogs, I have 2 boys who play football on the field outside and they're constantly in and out for drinks, toilet, "mum he hit me" "no he kicked me first" etc...

So my hallway has lovely muddy footprints and football marks, plus dirty handprints on the wall that I'm CONSTANTLY washing off.

--Bloody kids.
--
Also, with so much tiling/wooden floor in my house, why does the cat ALWAYS choose to vomit on my bloody rug!?

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Towels by the door, no dog allowed in unless towelled off.
House was a disaster area when they were younger though.
Also, bad eyesight.

[Niklepic]

Because cats are fuckers Red! They do it just to spite you. 'Clean it up human slave'

[SquidgeyMidgey]

Bugs me no end, as soon as I mop the kitchen floor it rains, dog gets mucky feet. Got it sussed now though- as soon as he's half in the door I tell him to sit so he sits on the mat, then I put a dog towel on the floor, he walks onto that, sits again, then walks off with dry feet. Ta dah!

[BigDamnNCFail]

I've witnessed one of my cats run from a tiled kitchen to a carpeted hall in order to cough up a hairball. Bastard.