Tips for rainy days/muddy paws

[Mauricio]

Hi, 

So everything was perfect, our puppy has a doggy door and can go outside to do his thing. Until the last two days that started raining, when he comes back, his paws are all muddy. So we have to either intercept him and clean his paws all the time or clean the mud from the floor all the time.

How do you guys deal with situations like these, any tips? Is using the cage and just take him out a few times a day the only solution?

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

In addition to cleaning the mud off the floor all the time on rainy days, I have a couple of those fabulous DOGGONE SMART DIRTY DOG DOORMATS. They are ultra absorbent. I make the pups lay on them until most of the muck is absorbed. There are less expensive ones but the reviews aren't so hot. You get what you pay for.

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

Thanks for the recommendation!  I was going to post about mats and then saw yours.  Now two Doggone Smart Dirty Dog Doormats are on their way!  Thanks!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

You'll love 'em. I also have a smaller one under their water dish because Shiloh is a sloppy drinker.

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

We don't have a doggy door. I don't want them to be able to go in and out all the time. Mine are poochie bell trained. They still ring sometimes when they just want to go out and play, but it's probably much less than with a doggy door.

[Denise L. McCall]

I feel your pain! I'm truly starting to feel like I am living outside!!!!

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Ha ha, funny you should ask. My water loving dogs are afraid of the rain so they pee on the patio! Not sure which is worse?? Luckily we live in California so we don't get much rain, I believe the news mentioned this morning we average 35 days a year!?! I don't get it, give them the lake, pool, water hose and I can't keep them out of the water, sprinkle it from the sky and they run and hide?????

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh, Jolene, those two are so funny!

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

How old is your pup, and is he already fully housetrained? I've never used a doggy door, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be the best thing to use until the pup is fully housetrained. If you supervise his going out and coming in, you won't have to deal with him mischieviously getting into mud in the back yard. If it's really sloppy outside, I just keep a bucket of water by the door and do the "dip and drying" of her paws each time I bring her in. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have a doggy door and used it while we were potty training. We gently placed Ned partway through when we took him potty (then we opened the door and took ourselves out) and taught him how to go in and out using a treats and praise.   I am also in California so don't have many rainy days. I have been known to shut the door on occasion.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Lori's reply made me think. I do keep the dog door locked on rainy days as well as when I'm out and overnight, also if I'm going for a shower and don't want them to get into mischief or bark at passers by. I have found housebreaking easier with a doggy door, with all the dogs I've had. They don't want to have an accident any more than i want to step in a puddle. From my experience, a doggy door sets them up for success. When they feel that urge to go, they don't have to rely on any human to notice the cues. They can just take themselves out... once the housebreaking foundation has been laid.
That said, I also generally keep the dog door closed when I can't supervise through the kitchen windows. They're still pups after all, exploring the world by putting everything in their mouths (even at 14 months). Yarrow has had the benefit of the use of the dog door right from the time she had grown tall enough to get through it by herself. Housetraining was already well underway by the time she could hop through the door on her own. It was installed at a height to be used by a fully grown 80 lb doodle. When the door is locked and I am out, they simply holds it until I return. If either of them have a bathroom emergency in the middle of the night, they wakes me up. A doggy door is not a free pass 24/7. Right now, mine is locked because I just recently put drops in Yarrow's eyes and want to make sure she doesn't rub her face.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Doggy doors are pretty much unheard-of in our climate. Now that Winnie is older and more "responsible" (so to speak- haha!) it would be really nice to have a doggy door for her. I read in the Training forum that this particular pup was having trouble with housebreaking, so I'm thinking that might be a part of the equation, too

[Missy]

mine has to ring bells to go outside, but from the start, he always gets his paws wiped off with a towel. 

I hang a towel by the door and he knows to stand there while he gets wiped off.  Yes, he also gets his butt wiped with baby wipes when he poos. Again, by starting this at pup stage, he knows the routine at 2 yrs of age and we are not chasing him thru the house.

For snowy days, the snow gets caked in his fur, so he has a towel that he has to stay on to 'melt'.  Again, trained to do this.  I started with learning pup the words. STAY, PLACE, WAIT.

Now, when we go to others houses, our dog is looking for his towel to get wiped off. He stays by the door...waiting. But this only came with LOTS of training!!