The Great British Weather Gods are flexing their muscles, and the season of muddy footprints and the smell of wet dog pervading the house is well and truly upon us.
This brings extra work with it: often we're faced with the challenge of finding extra time to clean and brush the dog, wipe the floors, and clean ourselves up before rushing off to work.
If, like me, you have a mud-lover of a dog, and this photo represents your daily reality, here are some top tips for keeping it under control this autumn.
Prevention is better than cure
Obviously, a good waterproof coat helps enormously, provided your dog is comfortable wearing it. We're not always that lucky. For example, my dog (exhibit A, above) hates wearing clothing of any description. On the rare occasions he agrees to wear a coat on his back, he still manages to get his paws, ears, tail, head, legs and belly covered in mud, so I need to use other tactics - more on that below.
Equafleeces are fantastic... at creating mats
Owners swear by their Equafleece, and it's true that these dog coats are excellent for keeping the legs, and underbelly clean and dry. However, since the coats fit closely around the legs and body, they are also great at encouraging the hair underneath to mat. Not so much of a problem for short-haired dogs, but here's a word of caution to owners of long-haired and curly-coated dogs: if you use an Equafleece, make sure you have a consistent brushing routine in place... or you might find your dog's legs needs to be shaved.
Keep your kit close to the door
Dog towels, somewhere to clip the dog lead, a washable rug and a microfibre mop are permanent fixtures by my front door during the wet season.
You can quickly get rid of the mud
Rinse it off under the shower: A quick, warm rinse works wonders and takes less than 5 minutes on a medium-sized doodle.
Let the mud dry and give a quick brush: if your dog tolerates being damp, then let her dry out naturally. It's amazing how much mud falls off by itself when dry, or given a quick brush.
It is ok to shampoo your dog more frequently than usual
Just be mindful of that fact that all shampoos are formulated to remove dirt and grease from hair, which also removes the natural oils. At this time of year when you might be washing your dog more often, it;'s a good idea to invest in a gentle, professional grade shampoo that you can dilute - they are high-quality products, and more cost-effective than supermarket brands. Use a dog-safe conditioner to add moisture back into the coat.
Here are the products I recommend, that you can also purchase from me and avoid delivery fees.
If you're going to shampoo your dog, always rinse the mud off with 'plain' water first, otherwise you're wasting time and money using the shampoo to try and cut through mud (which it doesn't do very well) and you're definitely going to need to shampoo again.
If your dog has sensitive skin, over-shampooing can make it worse. In these cases, if you have to wash your dog, use a fragrance-free shampoo especially designed for sensitive skin, or a medicated shampoo as prescribed by the vet.
If it helps to know, I find I need to wash my dog roughly once a week during muddy season, out of necessity rather than choice.
Towelling technique matters
Rub the towel in one direction only. Crazy up-and-down rubbing may be fun, but is an excellent way to cause mats.
Let your dog shake and have the zoomies
Studies show that a good shake lowers a dog's heart rate. Please don't discourage your dog from doing this.
Zoomies are also how dogs release excess stimulation. They may look nuts, but it's a good way for dogs to manage their own stress levels. Obviously, you want the zoomies to happen after your dog has been de-mudded.
It's ok to let your dog air dry
Who's got time to dry dogs with a dryer all the time? Obviously, your dog groomer does - that's what we are paid for. But drying at home takes forever, especially when it is damp outside, and many of us are time-poor.
Whilst I am drying your dogs, which is my job, I am happy to towel my own one down, and leave him somewhere warm to air dry. What does matter though is to...
Maintain a good brushing routine for your dog
Damp hair, muddy hair, towelled hair, hair underneath dog coats: these all encourage mats.
The only way to avoid matting is to brush your dog regularly (3-4 times a week at least), all over, right down to the root.
Here's a reminder diagram of what areas to focus on:
Brushing the hair when it is damp is best: damp hair is more elastic and less likely to break. Squirt some detangling spray into the coat before brushing. If your dog doesn't like the feel of the spray, put it directly onto the brush.
Use a comb to check your work. Here is a demo video by me of how to brush your dog. If you're not sure whether you have the right brush for your dog, send me a pic via WhatsApp or bring it in for your next appointment.
So there you have it, some tips for keeping your furry friends happy and healthy when it's muddy outside.
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