Mud!

[consciencemakescowards]

We have a fairly large garden which is great for pup. However, now the autumn is approaching and it's got a bit wetter, we realise that inevitably there's going to be a lot of mud.

Does anyone have any magic solutions please?

Keeping pup in kitchen til paws dry and trying to wipe paws but she's been used to back door open and comes and goes as pleases when we are in, which is nearly always.

Obviously, this coming and going will decrease as it gets darker and wetter but she still will need out.

A small part of the garden is paved but don't think we can fence this off etc and grass needs to be crossed to get to it.

Maybe mud + dog is just the way it goes!

Mud + dog is the way it goes unfortunately

My 9 month gsd loves rain and mud. Doesn't matter what we do she will always find a way into it! So we've pretty much accepted they come hand in hand now!

All I do is scrub her down with a towel and brush her through while she's damp. If there's any dried mud later on I spray water on it and brush it out.

Thanks. Trying to train her to wipe her paws!

We have a large patio area outside the back doors that we fenced in with ornamental metal fencing . Originally we did it when he was a pup as he dug up some daffodil bulbs and was very ill after chewing one and frankly I can't just stay outside all the time he is to stop him digging stuff up . It's been brilliant as he stays clean when just doing a quick pee / poo in the winter and the garden stays lovely as he only goes on the grass / borders etc when supervised .

Get a Turtle or other water absorbing mat for each doorstep, train them to stand on it automatically when they come in, that will deal with most levels of wet. Then have a towel nearby to wipe their paws if it is serious mud, and the rest of them if it is really bad. We had a command "On the mat" and he would lift up his paws to be cleaned.

A really good large door mat, and a double door system so that pup can't run into the lovely warm cream carpeted lounge and dry himself off on the carpet. A towel kept just inside the door, and a treat every time he comes in and stands on the mat to be rubbed down.

Thanks. Also need to train the humans to close the kitchen door! Will try a new mat and made a big fuss of her standing nicely early to get paws wiped.

I live in a very muddy area and it's worse because parts of the forest path are clay which sticks like... to TattyDog's underside, legs etc. She's also very fond of fox poo, but that's a different issue.

In winter, I keep a watering can I've filled with hot water before I leave by the front door so that I can wash her down a bit before she gets inside (front door straight into lounge at the moment!), have a towel or two handy and this next winter, she'll be walked more frequently in less muddy places! Fortunately we're renovating the cottage and nothing matters much at the moment. I'll be going for hard stone floors downstairs (under heated for her delicate self, of course... and to help her dry off quickly!).

Oh, the hot water in the watering can has cooled down to lukewarm by the time I get home - it's not freezing cold water!

Thanks everyone. We got her in the spring and obviously had considered the mud, a bit! Unfortunately we can't close off a bit of paved garden but will try to train her to stop for a moment at the door.

She's been a great addition to the family so what's a bit of mud?!