Muddy dog

[ViaRia]

We walk our very energetic dog off lead through woodland and farmers’ fields. Lead-only walks do not tire him enough.

He gets filthy. Absolutely covered in mud all over his legs and underneath.

When he was small it wasn’t a big issue, I’d just lift him and carry him upstairs to the bath. He’s too heavy for that now so I tend to wait until he’s dry before allowing him to walk upstairs (still muddy but dry). In the meantime the kitchen floor gets covered.

Is there a better way to do this!? I’ve seen gimmicky things (like a towelling bag you put dog into to carry them through the house and contain all the muck) but I’m just not convinced it’s the answer.

So… what do you do for your mucky dogs?
Shoes for dogs? Towelling bag? Outside tap?

Btw, I suppose this issue is exasperated by my light beige carpets…

Please help?

I've got a hozelock port a shower. I fill it with hot water before I go and then clean the dog after the walk.

www.hozelock.com/product/portashower/

Mud daddy.

Can be filled with warn water.

A refill may be needed depending on size of dog/mud (or worse) levels.

If money is no object, you can install a temperature controlled outdoor dog shower.

My dog walker used the above before she returned the dogs which was brilliant, and I also kept a couple of (dog only) microfiber towels by the back door to get the worst of it off before we came in too. They dry really quickly and don't tend to hold a smell.
A waterproof jacket which covers the belly area can also be really helpful if they have a long coat!

Get a big bucket and fill it with hot water before you go for your walk. When you get back, it'll be lukewarm and safe for your dog. Wash the dog down outside and then pop him in a drying coat.

They do work and really aren't a gimmick. My beagle can go from soaking wet from a bath to bone dry in 30 minutes. He has a chew while he's in there and it doesn't bother him at all.

Drying coat from ruff and tumble is fabulous.

Just keep an eye on them when in use in case they try a Houdini and get a bit stuck.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts - would you mind recommending the brand of drying coat you use please? I’m trying to choose one and they’ve such mixed reviews.

@LizzieVereker Ruff and Tumble are excellent imo

@LizzieVereker

Just spotted R&T have a sale on.

I can heartily recommend those 👍🏼

Dog goes out in an equafleece & then just need to rub her feet down in a towel to get the mud off.

One of these

www.equafleece.co.uk/products/dogs/dog-suit

Thanks very much everyone

No carpets. Hard floor only downstairs. Towel off. She washed herself.

Another vote for equafleece, they're brilliant.

No carpets downstairs, utility room for muddy dogs until they are dry with towels over their beds. When dry, brush dogs, sweep mountain of filth off floor and wash towels if needed. So bloody loads of washing this time of year as have lots of dogs! If it's not too cold I'll hose them off and pop an equafleece on (brilliant things) til dry. Husband is planning to install an outside hot tap which will be an absolute game changer

I don't understand drying bags. Put one of our dogs in one and he tried to walk and fell flat on his face!

No helpful suggestions I'm afraid, but when I read this thread title I started singing muddy dog to the tune of smelly cat really rather loudly. First smile I've cracked all week so thanks for that.

Hot and cold outside tap and shower attachment. Hose down quick dry then put on an equafleece coat to dry them off totally.

If I need them dry quicker I use the blaster

My dog loves a good run and a wallow in a puddle so he wears an equafleece jumper or suit then when we get home I strip that off and then he goes in his drying bag until he is dry . Then all it needs is a quick brush and he’s ready to go again . We have the Original Doggy Bag , drying bag and having spoken to other people that have cheaper makes it does seem to work better than most .

Equafleece

We have a shihtzu and for this reason I keep his belly and legs clipped really short so that he's easy to clean off after muddy walks. Plonk him in a washing up bowl used just for that, with warm water in, quick towel off and he's done.

@theNumbersStation

Mud daddy.

Can be filled with warn water.

A refill may be needed depending on size of dog/mud (or worse) levels.

If money is no object, you can install a temperature controlled outdoor dog shower.

I saw the thread and immediate thought of Mud Daddy.

We have hard floors no carpet so it seems more of an arse to wash the dog than the floor. I just give him a dry with a microfibre towel and wait for the dirt to dry whilst he's napping after his walk then brush it out when hes in a nice calm mood after he wakes up. Then I mop the kitchen floor to get all the muddy footprints off.
He's white and floofy so you would think he'd be permanently filthy but he seems to be mainly self cleaning and usually looks pristine again after a good brush.
We haven't had to properly bathe him so far at all thank goodness as he is massive and I don't fancy wrestling him in the bath tub.

We have a short haired collie but she’s a mud magnet and is out twice a day, I take her out and DP comes to greet us with a watering can of warm water and a towel. We have dark wood floors but still they seem filthy, goodness knows what carpets would be like!!

I hate winter for this reason!

We have a hot tap with a hose outside. It was about £100 but worth it!

We get home, hose off worst of the mud and then towel dry. I then leave them in the kitchen until they are almost dry which is easy to sweep after.
I have 0 carpets downstairs to minimise filth

Thanks all for your input.

I don’t want to get rid of the carpets. Installing a dog shower outside would be ideal but I’m certain it would be out of budget right now.

I think the hozelock/ mud daddy look like our best bet, then quick towel dry and drying bag. Will check out ruff and tumble, thank you!

The towelling bag seems a lot more sensible to me now, after hearing some of your routines. This sounds a bit thick but I was sort of thinking I’d use it to transport a muddy dog upstairs to the bathroom… I guess that’s why I didn’t realise their usefulness!

I thought Ruff and Tumble was a bit pricey (the drying cost and a set of drying mitts) but wow, it’s revolutionised post muddy/beach walks. So glad I took the plunge!