How do I clean my dog's paws after a muddy walk?

Mud left to dry between the toes hardens and can pull at the fur or skin when it eventually flakes off, and it also tracks through the house far more easily once your dog has walked around on it. Cleaning paws within a few minutes of coming inside avoids both issues.

Dunking each paw briefly in a shallow tub or bucket of lukewarm water, then working your fingers gently between the toes to loosen mud, gets most dogs clean in under a minute per paw. Follow with a towel dry, since a damp paw left as is can feel uncomfortable and picks up dust and debris from the floor.

Keeping a towel and either a tub of water or a supply of paw wipes right by the door you use most for walks removes the friction of having to go find supplies with a muddy dog waiting. A dog that has this done regularly from an early age usually tolerates it calmly within a few repetitions.

For an especially muddy dog, or one who dislikes standing still for a rinse, a handheld pet safe wipe down mitt, essentially a damp glove you run over the paws and lower legs, sometimes works faster and feels less confining than dunking each paw individually, especially for a larger dog who would rather keep moving.

Keeping an old towel designated specifically for paw cleaning, rather than a good household one, means you can be more thorough without worrying about staining, which in turn makes the whole process feel less rushed for both you and your dog.