Best ways to clean muddy dogs - seven products to tackle dirty paws

22 February 2024 , 09:00

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Gareth's labradoodle, Honey, often comes back from walks caked in mud

If I had a pound for every time a passer-by has clocked my two white dogs and asked: "How do you keep them so clean"? I wouldn't need a mortgage. But the truth is, I can't keep them clean at this time of year. We've just been spotted at the start of another muddy walk. They are constantly coming back a completely different colour.

Winter is the worst possible time for keeping the dirt off our dogs, and this particular season hasn't been so kind to us with all the named storms and the record rainfall.

So the floors in my house are filthy, I'm running out of dry towels, and don't get me started on the state of my car.

But there are some handy products and gadgets on the market that will help you in your battle to banish the build-up of mud that embeds itself in dog fur, and to keep your house and car clean.

Does this look familiar? I have some tips to pass on if so....

I've listed some of the items that dog owners recommend, as we hope and pray for a drier spell in spring, so we can finally stop panicking when we see a puddle.

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Dog paw cleaning cup - a cheap, portable solution

This is a really handy device to keep with you in a rucksack or your car when you go out on a muddy walk. I own a few of these, and they're brilliant.

The cup needs to be filled with water, so you may have to sacrifice some from your drinks bottle, or you might have a stream nearby, but once it's filled you can dip your pooch's paw into the container, and rubber bristles will bash off any dirt.

Small and simple, these paw pots are great for carrying with you on a walk

Really muddy paws will need a few refills of the water, and you'll ideally need to carry a towel around with you to dry soggy paws off after they've been dipped in the cup.

However we've found one on Amazon, which is not only a good price at £9.99, but it comes with three microfibre towels, which are ideal. It also serves as a detachable brush, which looks handy.

Just make sure you pick the right size, it's worth measuring your dog's paw before ordering.

Paw Buddy, Muddy Paw Cleaner for Dogs - a more sophisticated option?

This reminds me of the terrific gadget my wife uses to clean her rugby boots, so it should be pretty good.

You fill the reservoir-handle with water, and it squirts through the stiff brush bristles as you scrub away at the muddy mess.

The Paw Buddy is great at removing mud on dogs with long fur

I'm impressed at the price of this, £16.99 seems a good deal. I'm less optimistic about the comb attachment on the back of it, but I guess it could be effective for dogs with short hair. Especially in grass-seed season.

Just remember, you might need a towel after using this, and they're not included.

Mud Daddy Portable Pet Washer - going the whole hog

If you have the space to travel with one of these, it could be the ideal dog-washing station. It could be kept in the car, or in the locker of a caravan, for example.

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Fill the five-litre container with water, pump it up a bit, and you've got a shower head with a built-in brush, ready to scrub your mucky pup.

A versatile gadget that's useful for all sorts of portable cleaning needs

This will also be handy for a range of other uses, such as cleaning your boots, your pushchairs or wheelchairs, your bike, or even your horse. What a great bit of kit.

It's hard to think of a better portable solution, but it is a pricey option at £39.99, and towels will be essential and cost extra. You can buy a full bundle at Pets at Home for £73.

On the subject of towels...

If you've had dogs for any length of time, you'll appreciate the value of a good towel. And, while you could use an old bath towel, which will do a good job, a microfibre towel tends to be more absorbent, a lot lighter, and takes up less space.

Cheap, simple microfibre cloths are lightweight and can be very absorbent

They needn't cost very much, either. I spotted this one on Amazon, which is less than a fiver and claims to be "super absorbent" - the reviews seem to back that claim up. I also like the fact it's super compact, which is handy for taking on walks with you.

While on Amazon, I also spotted this one, which has hand-holes so you can wrap it around your dog and give them a vigorous scrub at the same time. A bargain for less than a tenner.

A good dog towel is an absolute must for dogs that love the water (Amazon)

I personally use one like this, it's a really effective towel for my two medium-sized dogs that you hold like an oven glove, and the "noodles" on the wet side properly dig into the fur and dry deep into the coat.

Not a cheap option at £17.99, and not something you'd necessarily take with you on a dog walk (although it would tuck away in a car boot) but such a great way to dry a dog.

Make sure you keep your dog warm as it dries off

My colleague Bethan Shufflebotham swears by the amazing Dogrobe to give her gorgeous Staffies a warm hug after they get wet, and they're a lovely British-made brand with a range of products in all kinds of sizes and colours.

Bethan's dog, Phoebe, loves her Dogrobe

They are quite pricey though, costing around £50 for a large dog, and I'm not quite as posh as Bethan, so I use a cheaper alternative like this one, priced at less than £12 depending on the size and whether you use the 8%-off coupon.

My labradoodle loves hers, because she does get quite cold after she's been swimming, and this warms her up really quickly, as the robe absorbs the moisture.

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It's worth remembering to take them off after an hour or so, because the water absorbed in the towel will start to make the dog feel cold again, but it's a really effective way of drying a dog without having to rub them down.

Protect your car at all costs - a good car seat cover is worth every penny

Dogs and cars aren't a great mix at the best of times, but when they're wet and muddy, it's really not great. Their fur is a nightmare to get off the carpets, and the splatters of mud get everywhere, especially when they shake.

A good boot liner needn't be expensive (Amazon)

If your dog travels in the boot, consider a boot liner. They're easy to fit, surprisingly cheap, and will do a pretty good job of protecting your interior. Here's one I found for £14.

One of my dogs just refuses to travel in the boot, he wants to be with the humans, so I've gone for a car seat cover that completely blankets the rear seats. I can't recommend these enough, and I'm impressed by the price of this one, which is almost identical to the one I'm using in both my cars. It's just over £20 if you apply a 25% coupon.

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There are cheaper versions out there, but I've come to learn the hard way that these are one of those products that, if you buy cheap, you buy twice.

To keep the mud off them in the first place...

There is the option of putting a "dog trouser suit on" your pooch, which will cover their entire body, barring their paws, and stop the mud getting to the majority of their fur.

They won't suit every dog, but substantial coats like this are very effective (Amazon)

My mother's cockapoo doesn't mind hers, but my two hate wearing them, so I've never bothered. By all means try one out, these ones are quite cheap, starting at £23.99, but if your dog doesn't like it, take it off and return it. Your dog's welfare is more important than keeping your posh duvet clean.

I did notice they tend to suit female dogs better than male dogs, for obvious anatomical reasons, but if your canine companion can cope with one, they're very effective. Even if they do look a bit silly.

Gareth Butterfield