Walkies are one of the best parts of the day for you and your pup—until everyone comes back inside carrying half the neighborhood on their paws.
Those paws have been on dirt, dust, pollen, mud, wet grass, and who knows what else! So when we get home, my shoes come off, their paws get cleaned and if they've gone #2, their bums get wiped. A bonus to cleaning their paws is it allows you to feel/see any foreign object that may be trapped in between their paws (think Little Rock, foxtail, sap), and it helps reduce allergens.
My quick, simple paw routine:
#1 Their Own Set of Paw Towels:
For everyday paw cleanup at home, I prefer washable cloths vs. disposable grooming wipes to cut down a bit on waste. These microfiber ones are soft, absorbent, big enough to do all 4 paws and cute!
WerkShoppe Paw Prints Pet Paw Towels
Zwipes Microfiber Small Pet Cloths
#2 No Rinse Foam Cleaner:
On a wet paw towel I add a pump or two of a no-rinse cleaner.
Dandylion Clean Paws No-Rinse Foam Cleaner
Dandylion Clean Paws Refill
earthbath Paw Wash with Scrubber Brush
Another one I like (we also use earthbath shampoo and conditioner).
#3 About Disposable Dog Grooming Wipes:
For paw cleaning at home, I opt for the reusable cloth towels to cut down on wast where I can. It would take several "grooming wipes" to clean 4 paws (or more if you have more than 1 dog), plus another one if a bum wipe is in order. That's a lot of disposable wipes! So at home paw cleaning = cloth.
However, "grooming wipes" are great to have in the car for when a pre-getting-in-the-car paw wipe down is in order.
A few options:
Earth Rated Dog Wipes for Paws & Butt
Pogi’s Fragrance-Free Dog Grooming Wipes
Prime Pets Fragrance-Free Dog Wipes
#4 And for Those Bums:
For their bums I use plain, fragrance-free baby wipes rather than those labeled “dog grooming wipes.”
Mama Bear Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes
They are inexpensive, and work great.
I stick with unscented, gentle wipes for regular care and use them only externally. If your dog has irritated skin, diarrhea, sores or needs frequent cleaning, please consult your veterinarian.
#5 Keep Everything by the Door:
I keep a basket Cotton Rope Storage Baskets – 3 Pack near the door with:
clean paw towels
paw cleanser
a thing of wipes
a bag of treats
#6 A Treat for Cooperating:
Afterwards they get a little treat for being so good! These are two of our favorites:
The Farmer's Dog Snap Sticks, Human Grade Dog Treats, Chicken & Apple
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