Anyone who owns a dog will know that despite the weather most dogs want to go out for a daily walk, and this can mean returning with muddy wellies and an even muddier dog. To prevent your home from resembling a mud bath you will need a cleaning routine for when you return from a muddy walk.

Forward preparation is very important to prevent mud being transferred into the house. Plan how you are going to enter the house and have an old towel or newspaper on the floor ready. If you have an outside tap it may be possible to wash some of the mud off the dog’s paws before entering the house.

Giving the dog a quick shower either in the bath or shower enclosure is probably the easiest although small dogs can easily be bathed in the kitchen sink. Once the dog is wet, use a pet specific shampoo as this will prevent the dog from getting a possible allergic reaction to human shampoo. Always ensure that all the shampoo is rinsed from the dog’s fur then gently rub dry with an old towel. The dog will probably shake as this is a natural reaction to being wet so make sure you stand well back. Drying the dog with a hairdryer is fine as long as it is not set too hot and keeps drying time to a minimum.