What do you do about them bringing mud in from the garden (if anything)?

[LemonadeWithACherry]

We have a fenced off area in the garden for ddog to use. Every time we let him out after dark he goes full pelt towards one part of the fence (trying to get to the foxes) and as a result there is no grass left there and in this weather it's just a mud bath. He of course then brings it in the house with him.

Is there an easy solution to this? I don't want AstroTurf because of the impact on the environment, nor do I want to wash his paws every time or train him to wipe them (he's an idiot ). I wondered whether something like straw or bark chippings might work? TIA.

[llangennith]

I grit my teeth and wipe paws with a towel. Every bloody time!

[CornflakeHomunculus]

We had a similar issue (though it was just traffic in our case as we've got four dogs going in and out all day) so we ended up paving the fenced off area outside our utility room. It's been absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend it if it's an option.

I'd think anything like straw or bark chippings will just get trodden down into the mud very quickly.

[missyB1]

Babywipes,towel, and a lot of floor mopping unfortunately.

[BatteredBreadedOrSouthernFried]

I sigh, roll my eyes, grab a wet wipe and try and gets as much as I can off the floor whilst he rolls it around the sofa.

[dudsville]

Just get into a routine. We keep a towel by two doors and a rug by the other than can be cleaned. We keep bedroom doors closed if there's a chance they'll run up to the beds. Our sofas are cheap and hide stains well. I fantasize about dogs that do not do this but, as is the way with love, you fall in love, and that dog you fell in love with doesn't always have the tidiest of ways!

[missbattenburg]

Swear.

And sometimes laugh.

But mostly swear

[Floralnomad]

We fenced off our patio with an ornamental metal fence so he’s only allowed on the actual grass when it’s dry and he’s supervised .

[Lucisky]

Our jrt used to do wheelies on the lawn and wear areas down to mud. I used plastic mesh fencing. It is so easy to cut to the length you want, and just needs a few bamboo poles to hold it in place. I had it placed like a chicane so he couldn't get up too much of a head of speed. You can also lay it flat - he didn't like walking over it.
I just used to keep a towel by the door for muddy feet, and also have one of those (supposedly) dirt trapper runners on the way in.

[ferrier]

Another one with towels by the back door, wooden floors throughout downstairs and a stairgate to prevent access to upstairs.

[Jojopugh]

Put a mat by the door and when he comes in make him sit and wipe his feet with a towel. Eventually he will probably just sit and wait to have his feet wiped. Obviously give him a treat after as an indent I've. I know a lot of people who do this 👌🏽

[acornsandnuts]

Two labs who are just too boisterous to catch both with towels as they came in the kitchen door So we knocked a door direct into the garage on the side wall. Put an old carpet down in one corner and do lots of sit stand lie spin for two minutes bribing with treats.

[villainousbroodmare]

Mine gets a legs bum and belly rinse after a walk but for normal in and out nothing. But he doesn't get on furniture so little harm done.

[LemonadeWithACherry]

Damn I hoped one of you would have an easy solution! Thanks for your replies anyway.

We do have towels down atm but I am disabled and have nearly broken my neck tripping on them so I try not to use them. We do have hard floors apart from the living room. Ddog hates people touching his paws.

[Doublechocolatetiffin]

I got a few of the biggest dirt trapped floor mats which do really seem to help absorb the mud. I’ve also trained my dog to stay on the mat and spin around a few times, she gets a treat every time, seems to do the job pretty well.

[EasyToEatTiger]

I have a very muddy house and a very busy hoover which always works wonders

[Doublechocolatetiffin]

Alternatively - what about one of those robot mops? Job done

[StandardPoodle]

Dirt trapper mats (no they don't work that well but better than nothing) and A Lot Of Doggy Towels (always one per dog by each external door).
A downstairs shower for after muddy walks is very useful too!

[missbattenburg]

The other thing we've been doing recently is playing games where some kibbles are hidden inside a screwed up towel and he has to paw and snuffle them out. It basically means he wipes his own feet and all I have to do is pick the towel up when he's done