Muddy Paws Season: Managing the Mess

After a long winter spring is eagerly anticipated, however, it brings with it two downsides - mud, and bugs.  While we eagerly await the enjoyable time after the mud dries and before the bugs arrive, we can prepare to manage the muddy paws and train our dogs to cooperate with having their paws wiped.

Setting up for Success

Consider setting up a paw wiping station inside the door your dog uses the most.

• Having a mat down on the floor can help protect the carpet, or wipe off some of the mud before it gets on the hardwood.  It can also act as a place or station for your dog to wait on while you wipe their feet.
• Keeping a towel within easy reach is helpful.  If you have a young puppy, you may want to hang it out of reach.
• Some people have found the paw washing cups with soft silicone bristles inside to be helpful in cleaning hairy paws with lots of mud.
• If you are in the process of training standing patiently while you clean, keeping a container of treats nearby is also a good idea.  I recommend one that it is easy for you to get a treat out of one handed, as your other hand may be occupied!
• You may also wish to use a baby gate to prevent "escapes" especially with puppies, or plan to leave their leash on until the paw wiping is done if your dog doesn't yet have a solid understanding of stay.

Training your dog to cooperate with Paw Wiping

Many dogs aren't fond of having their feet handled, and for most puppies, trying to wipe their feet starts a game of tug with the towel.  The good news is that remaining still for paw wiping is a skill that can be taught, and the best time to start is now, when you don't actually need to remove any mud and can start with small approximations of the final behaviour.

Helpful cues for your dog to know before starting: sit, stay, and stand.
If you haven't taught your dog to stand, when they are sitting, bring a treat to their nose, then slowly move it forward, parallel to the floor (they don't get any taller when they stand up, if you lift it up they will either remain sitting and stare or jump up) and encourage your dog to stand up.  Tip: If your dog is pretty sure you are just trying to trick them out of their sit, start by standing beside your sitting dog, facing the same direction.  As you slowly move the treat lure forward, move your leg (the one closest to your dog) forward as well, as if you are taking a step.  That is often enough to encourage your dog to stand up, as it looks like you will be walking.

Step 1: Start with being still for paw handling

• When your dog/puppy is calm, practice reaching out to touch their shoulder.  If they are still, say your marker word, then reward them with a little treat.
• If they move, stop and try again.  
• Once they are consistently still when you touch their shoulder, see if they can be still while you touch their elbow.
• Then further down their leg.
• Then their paw.

If your dog pulls their paw away, or brings their nose down to your hand, then this counts as moving and you need to stop touching them, see if they will settle and try again.
If your puppy (or dog) is having difficulty being still and is trying to turn this into a bitey face game with your hand, try doing some other cues they know such as sit and down and reward them for responding before trying the stillness again.  Some dogs benefit from having a treat in your other hand to focus on, but if you need to do this, you will want to fade it relatively soon because you are going to need that other hand for other things later.

Step 2: Introduce the towel as a neutral object

• With your dog or puppy sitting, pick up the towel.  Mark and reward them for not trying to grab the towel.
• Try moving the towel around your dog, marking and rewarding for ignoring the towel.
• Briefly touch your dog's shoulder with the towel, mark and reward for remaining still.
• Work your way down their front leg until you can briefly wipe their paw with the towel.  Don't forget to practice both sides.
• Now practice cuing your dog to stand, then briefly touch their back leg with the towel, working your way down to wiping their back paw.  Don't forget to practice both sides.

Step 3: Adding cues
If you would like to add a cue to let your dog know what you will be doing, you can do that.  Simply say your cue "paws" or "wipe" or whatever word you want that doesn't already mean something else, then reach for your dog's paw and wipe it with the towel.  Some dogs like the heads up about what is coming. Some may even start offering you their paw to wipe.  It is also helpful to have a cue that lets your dog know when you are done and they are free to leave.  This can be the same release cue you use for stay.  Common options are okay, free or break.  

Step 4: Preparing for real life
If you haven't been practicing at the door yet, now is the time to do that.  Start when your dog is calm inside, and then once that goes well, try when you come home from a walk.

If you've tried breaking it down into small steps and rewarding frequently and it isn't working, please reach out as handling issues are common, and something that I can help you with.

Happy Spring!

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