Tips to Deal with Muddy Dogs

Spring is officially here and that means fun in the sun and mud. Muddy paws and muddy feet.

This picture could have very well been my dog, playing yesterday at the Paw Meadow Dog Park in Simsbury. There were several times I had to make sure she didn’t lay down in the mud. But, dogs will be dogs and hey, isn’t it fun watching your dog have a great time and shamelessly getting filthy? Sure, it’s great until cleanup time.

If you have a small dog, you can either give him a bath in the sink (preferably one in your basement) or bring him in the shower. Be careful he doesn’t jump out and shake or you’ll have an even bigger mess on your hands.

Larger dogs are a little more complicated. As long as the weather is nice, you can hose them off outside, but be sure to check the temperature. You don’t want your dog to suffer from hypothermia. Be sure to dry him off well if you don’t have a dryer. Good towels should do the trick and you should make sure he has comfortable bedding.

If you’re lucky to be working with a mobile groomer, you will just have to dry off your dog with a towel until your appointment (provided your dog isn’t caked in mud). We recommend soaking a towel in lukewarm water and treating muddy spots (like paws, under belly, etc. depending on the breed.

Orvis has a great towel, the Soggy Doggy Drying Towel which is very absorbent and mops up water “like a sponge.”

If you need an instant fix, there are self-serve dog wash facilities including:

• Dirty Dog (located on Mill Street in Berlin) — It’s a one-stop shop that also offers Grooming and more.
• Pet Valu (530 Bushy Hill Rd, Simsbury) — This is brand new.

Brick and Mortar Groomers:

• Honey’s Haven (West Hartford) — They also offer single services like nail clipping.
• Bows & Bandanas Grooming Salon (Farmington) — Tried and true.
• Ooh-La-La-A-Dog-Spa (Wethersfield) — Heard great things about the salon.
  

Mobile Groomers

• Aussie Pet Mobile (Farmington Valley) — This has been tried by us and people and dog approved! Bonus: They do large dogs too and we have used their service and they are both human and canine approved!

•  Best in Show Pet Spa (Windsor Locks) — We haven’t tried, but heard great things from clients.

Learn more at West Hartford Pet Sitters.