MUCKY PUPS...
LISA SALMON GETS SOME EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME MUD-FREE WHEN YOU’RE A DOG OWNER
IF THERE’S one thing you can guarantee will be around at this time of year – it’s thick, black mud.
And if you’ve got a dog, chances are it’ll bring some of that mud into your home after every walk.
Here, Paula Boyden, director of veterinary at Dogs Trust, and cleaning expert and dog owner Lynsey Crombie, aka the Queen of Clean, give their tips for keeping mud off your dog and out of your house...
Be prepared
“Before you head out, make sure you have the tools and environment set up for your return,” says Paula.
“Do you have a towel to hand – perhaps a damp one and a dry one to aid with cleaning? Is there a mat or towel on the floor for the dog to stand on? Are doors shut to prevent access to other rooms? Do you have treats ready to distract or reward your dog while you clean them?”
Author, blogger and Instagram influencer Lynsey advises dog owners to set up a wash station before going on a walk.
“Leave a bowl of water and some old towels by the door or use your outside tap with a hose,” she advises, pointing out that large microfibre towels are great for cleaning dogs.
Have a routine when you get home
Dogs can benefit from a predictable routine, stresses Paula. If you’ve got more than one dog, for example, having an order of which gets cleaned first, which towel they’ll stand on etc can help. She adds: “Always reward your dog to help make it a positive end to your walk.”
Train them up
Paula suggests training your dog to: wait on a mat or towel; offer you each paw one at a time; have positive associations with washing or grooming equipment, by introducing them gradually; be relaxed and confident while being washed, dried or groomed; be relaxed and confident spending time alone with food and water in an easy-to-clean and dog-safe room; only jump up on furniture if a specific blanket is there for them to lie on and to sit in front of someone for attention rather than jump up.
Upgrade your doormats
Lynsey advises dog owners to invest in heavy-duty doormats that absorb water and dirt as you come in.
“Encourage your dog to stay on the mat for a minute or two to take the brunt of the mess,” she says. “I
would advise you to get a few and ensure they’re machinewashable.”
Grooming is important
“Keep your dog well-groomed, especially their paws,” advises Lynsey. “The more hair, the more chance of mud sticking to them.”
Use paw wax
There are many available which aim to protect dogs’ paws from snow, ice and salt, but can also help to reduce the mud on their paws.
“Add a wax to their paws that will help to repel mud,” Lynsey advises.
Wait till any mud in your home is dry before removing it
“Dry mud is so much easier to clean up then wet mud,” says Lynsey.
“Vacuum off as much of the mud as you can and then mix warm water, washing-up liquid and white vinegar and use a soft bristle brush to clean marks off the carpet.
“Leave the solution on for a few minutes to work and then, using a white cloth, blot dry – using a white cloth allows you to see the mud being lifted from the carpets
or rugs.”
Don’t mop
If your dog gets mud on hard floors, use a large floor cloth to remove the marks. “Try not to mop, as you’ll just push the mud around on to other areas of the floor,” says Lynsey.
Put washable paint on your walls
If your muddy dog has a habit of shaking or rubbing themselves up against the wall, Lynsey suggests using washable paint in your entrance area.
“Then you can just use a damp cloth and remove it straight away.”
If you’ve missed stubborn mud marks, use a damp Magic Eraser to avoid any paint damage.