Mud, mud and more mud

[kayharley]

Oh, will someone please tell me it's going to go away!

Late this morning it was almost 60 degrees out (considering the normal temp for the past few months has been in the 30's, it's been heaven) but along with the nice weather comes the thaw, the rains and the mud! I had 12 paws and 3 bellies that were so disgusting when they came in from "business", I almost put them in the front yard with a "Free to Good Home" sign but I knew no one would come near them.

[Bekah]

But digging in the mud is just sooooo much fun!!!

I hear you, kayharley, its beginning to thaw in PA, too and Liddy is in her glory. How do you do it with 3 Cairn landscapers?

[Eliz222]

We have so many little footprints embedded in our mud, it looks like our yard has been taken over by thousands of little dogs!

We have been dealing with the mud now for a few weeks. I put a pail of water by the door in the garage and try to "dip" their paws in and then wipe them off before we come inside. It's a pain to do and they have gotten very skilled at placing their paws on the rim of the pail and "almost" tipping it over!

I can't wait for warm weather....or at least dryer weather!

[Marmielin]

If they aren't supposed to be bathed very often, what's a mother to do? Mine has been digging in our wet yard every day, so she and I shower together to get all that mud off. She isn't sleeping in my bed with that dirt on her!!!

Lindab

[Mama Kim]

If it's just muddy paws, I wash Piper's off in the kitchen sink. She hates it, but she cooperates. Sometimes I have to wash her little muzzle off too. They do love their mud.

[toomanypaws]

Our yard is quite large and mostly sodded except for the "buffer" area along the back fence which is full of trails which get quite muddy in the rain. On rainy days, I don't let my cairns out in the backyard. I also have a side yard area which I fenced a small section and mulched it. I can let the cairns out though the kitchen door that leads through the garage and to a side garage door which opens into this fenced area. I use washable rugs on the garage floor. I have a utility sink if I need it and keep towels out there to dry their feet. A few pieces of mulch is much easier for me to clean than muddy feet, especially when it's 12 little fritto feet I'm cleaning.

[Guest LynneO]

I hear you on the mud issue! For me it is not as much the paws but his belly. Rudy comes in caked in mud. So I basically put him in the kennel until it dries...which doesn't take too long and he needs a nap usually from frolicking. Once the mud has dried I take him outside on a leash and brush all the dirt out. Then he seems pretty clean and can run around inside again. Today it is pouring with rain so I will not let him have free rain of the yard, I will keep him on the leash.

[kayharley]

I just went and bought one of those retractable leashes. It's working like a dream...I let Elliott out and I stand on the top of the deck watching him. As soon as he heads for the "mud-lake" I reel him in.

[Milopup]

How do you prevent him from choking on the retractable leash? I was always afraid that the thin cord would get tangled around my pup's neck, but I would so love to use one to let him roam a bit, especially when it is raining and I prefer the cover of the porch roof.

[kayharley]

I got the one that is a leash instead of a cord. It doesn't really have any slack to it...Elliott just bolts until the 16' run out. As he comes nearer to me, I release the tension.

I was hesitant about getting one too but as long as you read the instructions and never use it as a tie up, it seems quite safe.

[Guest mrskti]

My girls haven't gotten into the mud yet, not for lack of trying....but with our last dog, we use to keep a dishpan of water at the back door in the "mud room" and just dip each foot and dry him off. worked great. We have two of the retractable leashes too, they are nice. I'm dreading hard rainy days though...they wont like it any more than I will. guess i'll stand in the garage while they in the yard.

[Milopup]

Sandy,

Where did you find the one that is a leash? The only ones I have seen are the very thin cord that seem too dangerous (they cut my hands when I had to hold on to them.

[kayharley]

I got mine at Petco.

http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?webt...718101804&tab=1

[Eliz222]

I love my retractable leash too! I stand under the porch roof and let Finch, or Scout, pee in the front yard...I guess I'm the wimp when it comes to the rain! LOL!

[Milopup]

Sandy,

The link you gave seems to show a retractable with a cord - do you know of one that is a leash type for the whole thing, or do those not exist?

Thanks.

[kayharley]

http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?webt...718101204&tab=1

[bradl]

I like the belt construction one (described in the link above) because they don't rope-burn your hand when grabbing the lead. They also make a musical sound when the wind blows (no joke).

Please be aware that retractable leashes are easy to drop or be jerked out of your hand. Be extra careful around traffic with them. They should also be locked down or not used in crowded places where they amount to a 'loose dog' in terms of the social aggravation they can cause.

They are indeed deluxe for standing in the doorway while the dog goes out in the rain! If they'll go out in the rain

[Milopup]

Thanks for the link! I was hoping to use the retractable in parks/runs, since I know my cairn won't come back if I let him off leash. It is sometimes difficult to explain why my dog can't be off leash while others can - people sometimes think it is because cairns are dumb, though they obviously are not. They are just so independent that they could live without us (not sure whether to or ).

[Guest mrskti]

oh man, it's a cruddy, cold, rainy day here....i'll be using my retractable leads today....from the garage!!! I got one the same size as that one listed above, and it was $10.