As we approach the muddy autumn, there are great things you can do for your muddy dog after a walk.
Let there be Mud.
Most dogs will avoid the big mud baths. Water loving dogs, of which there are many, enjoy a nice swim on a hot day, but preferably in clear water. They will gladly swim or jump into nice water in pursuit of a toy flung for them. But dogs are not natural mud-seekers. Not many dogs will aim for black mud and just go in a mud puddle unless they are feeling over-heated. However, as we approach the autumn and then winter, mud is underfoot. Dogs, lower to the ground, inevitably pick up plenty of it. It gets in between their paw pads, up their legs, the entire underbelly and sprayed right up their sides and get stuck in their tail feathers. My advice is to let them enjoy the walk and then deal with the consequences when you get home.
If you are Driving Home after the Dog Walk.
There is quite a bit to consider if you have to take your dog home in the car. A truck where you can put them in the back is ideal. They can shake themselves as much as they want because it is just the cab. However, the ideal is to have a very warm and draught excluding dog bed like a Tuffies Nest in the back for them. If your dog is super wet and muddy, you can put a towel in the bottom of the Tuffies Nest bed to absorb the worst of the water in his coat. The idea of the nest is that if the drive is long, your dog will be warm and cosy in the nest all the way.
If you have a car where your dog has to sit in the back, you really don't want him to shake mud on the way home. You could opt for a drying coat. There are many on the market and they work really well. You basically put your dog inside the fleecy bag and zip it up. Only his head sticks out. If he shakes, it all stays inside the bag.
Wet Dog Welfare at Home.
Everyone reading this will be all too conscious of the importance of keeping a wet dog in a warm place while he dries up. It is great to have something equivalent to a boot room or a kitchen, where you can let the dog dry and allow all the mud to turn in to dust and fall off the coat. It can end up quite steamy, especially if you have more than one dog. A great tip is to have a de-humidifier in the room. As you remove damp from the air, your dog will dry faster. A fantastic bed for this is a waterproof dog bed. A REALLY waterproof one. At Tuffies Dog Beds you will find the wonderful orthopaedic mattress dog bed with a 100% waterproof cover. As your dog is drying up on this bed NOTHING goes through the bed so you will not get that fusty smell and you will never have to wash it. A quick soaping and hose down of the outside is all you might need. A towel on top can help absorbing moisture faster and you can of course wash that in the machine. Tuffies also offer a fitted Dog Dryer cover for the Tuffies Mattress bed. This also helps absorbing moisture.
Back into the rest of the House.
Once your dog is dry, he will not be as much of a burden to your nice, white walls or carpet. It is also perfectly good to put your dog in the shower and rinse off some of the mud before starting the drying process. Everything is possible. As long as you have a well insulating, orthopaedic dog bed that is completely waterproof, you are well set to have a happy dog and a happy house.
