Cleaning dog paws

Taking our dogs for a walk is great for their mental and physical wellbeing, but you might not realise how much dogs can collect and absorb through the pads of their feet, so cleaning dog paws after walks is important for their health.

After a trip to the park, or even walking along the streets they may be carrying pollen, dust mites, or even harmful chemicals like pesticides and fertilisers, which is often used to treat public lawns or kill weeds.

These can all be major triggers for dogs prone to allergies and itchy skin. So, when your dog licks their paws they end up ingesting those irritants and poisons.

That’s why cleaning dog paws after every outdoor adventure is about more than just protecting your floors or car. It’s about protecting their health.

If your dog’s had a particularly messy outing, say, a beach trip or a muddy trail walk, the DGG Easy Paw Cleaner can be a great help.

The soft silicone bristles are gentle on your dog’s feet but effective at cleaning dog paws by getting rid of sand, dirt and other muck.

Fill it with a bit of water, add a drop of dog-specific shampoo for mud or stubborn mess, gently insert a paw, twist and move it up and down while squeezing lightly.

Remember to always rinse off any shampoo completely and dry their paws with a microfibre towel for a complete clean.

For light dirt or sand, you can use it without water Be sure to clean it after use.

The DGG Bamboo Wipes are also good to use if you just want to wipe off any allergens or toxins they might have picked up on their walk if you’re in a rush.

Now, if your dog’s not a fan of having their feet touched, like anything, it takes a little training.

Start by gently touching their paws when your dog is calm and relaxed, maybe while they’re lying beside you watching TV, and use treats and praise to reward them when they let you do it.

Build up to massaging their paws, then slowly introduce the cleaning tools with positive reinforcement.

It can take some time, but this training is not only good for cleaning dog paws, but is also useful for dogs that don’t like their paws being groomed.

Remember, cleaning dog paws doesn’t just mean clean floors, it means fewer itchy feet and reduces your dog’s exposure to dangerous chemicals and other toxins.

You’ll find the DGG paw cleaner, bamboo wipes and grooming range at Petstock.

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog