Keeping feet clean

[Kipawa]

With all the rain we have been having, grass in our area has become quite soppy and muddy in parts of our back yard. So, when Kipawa comes in after doing his business, he has muddy feet. This, in addition to taking him to the dog park, has dirtied up his sweet white feet. I do wipe them after his business is done, and after we are back from the park, but they are not as white as when we got him.

What do you guys do to keep their feet white? A commercial dog shampoo…. or? I'm curious to what the show people use as well. I'd think they would want quite clean feet in the show ring.

[Marie Heidebrecht]

My backyard with it's "trenches" from years of fence running can also be quite muddy. Jigsaw tends to try and avoid getting too dirty but Indy has no qualms about running in the mud if the neighbour's dog is out to fence run with him. Both of them have been used to standing in the kitchen sink to have their feet rinsed off ever since they were puppies. I find that a simple rinse is all they need, only occasionally using a bit of my handsoap to scrub. After they've gotten their feet wet, being basenjis, they immediately lick, lick, lick (themselves and each other!) until they're dry and back to sparkling white. Jigsaw, who usually goes in the sink first, will actually chase Indy around and chastize him for not staying in one spot so that she can lick his feet dry!

[Patty]

My Basenjis are running through mud at this time of the year (unless it's frozen.

I only use a damp/wet cloth to wipe their feet - occasianally dipped in water with a tiny squirt of baby shampoo. Whe they get indoors they proceed to wash them selves again and their feet become beautifully white again.

For the shows again a damp cloth with a no rinse shampoo.

Does Kipawa wash his own feet?

[sharronhurlbut]

Fran, use baby wipes on his feet.
I use it on my b's.

[Basenjimamma]

If we have had a lot of rain and therefor tons of mud, I have a catlitter (only used for this purpose) box with water and a touch of babysoap in it..I dunk their feet, swish them about until all the grit falls off, dry them off and in they go…if they are just a little dirty, babywipes or just a damp towel works good too.

[Rita Jean]

We use baby wipes and lots of them. No fuss and no muss just throw them in trash. Have clean feet again.

Rita Jean

[Kipawa]

@sharronhurlbut:

Fran, use baby wipes on his feet.
I use it on my b's.

Sharron, that's exactly what I bought today while I was out.

[Kipawa]

@Patty:

Does Kipawa wash his own feet?

Yes, he will lick his feet, especially if I have gotten them wet. But he tends to prefer licking the wet towel.

[sharronhurlbut]

What a good doggie mom you are.
I also keep the stronger wipes to wipe down the dogs, when they have been to a dog park…just want them not to bring home any germs...

[DebraDownSouth]

I use baby wipes, but my best defense was putting down straw. We had red clay, even baby wipes didn't help when we moved here. I spent time when it rained cloroxing floors. Over time, the straw decayed to build a very high layer of brown dirt. I still put straw down. It pads their feet, makes poo pick up easier, and keeps their feet clean. Since my backyard is almost entirely shaded, grass isn't an option.

[InKinshasa]

http://www.pawplunger.com/

these are what you want! they are brilliant (ex-owner of a labxcollie speaking)

[DebraDownSouth]

ROFLMAO, I thought it was a JOKE. LOL must share pawplunger. ROFLMAO.

[Basenjimamma]

I looked at getting one of those, but the tub of water won.

[Kipawa]

@InKinshasa:

http://www.pawplunger.com/

these are what you want! they are brilliant (ex-owner of a labxcollie speaking)

InKinshasa, thanks for the link. What an interesting looking contraption. Obviously, someone had a real need for clean feet and came up with a product to patent.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if the baby wipes don't do the trick. BTW, nice to meet you!

[DebraDownSouth]

Well I posted and several said they tried or knew people who had and were more problems to them than worth it.

[ownedbyspencer]

All those years in L.A., I got spoiled with sand that just shakes right off. Now, in TN, we have that wretched red clay, too.

I put warm water in a bowl and dunk Spencer's feet in it, one by one, then dry them with a towel. If it's cold out, I pop the towel in the dryer for a minute first. (It's right by the back door.) Spencer's got the routine down. I'll open the door and he'll hold up his paws, one by one… unless it's cold AND rainy. Then he'll try to scoot right past.

[pacificNWbasenji]

When my guys come in with dirty paws I either use a towel to wipe at the door or pick them up and take them into the bathtub and run their feet under the water and rinse them off. The bathtub method works great, if they are really dirty you can use a little doggie shampoo at this time. If the washing takes place regularly you shouldn't need a special shampoo, but if you want something that makes the white really pop there are a lot of varieties available. They usually say something like 'whitening' or 'brightening' and have a purple tint. Don't worry, they won't dye the fur

I use this one, it's natural, smells great and I can find it at a lot of the pet supply stores: http://www.tropiclean.net/products/awapuhi-white-shampoo.php

[sharronhurlbut]

We have babywipes by the back door. When the feet are bad, we just pull one out and wipe.
I don't worry about the dogs recleaning their feet, with this product.

[Patty]

Just an addition. As I said I wipe my B's muddy paws with a wet cloth when they come in. What I didn't say is that they've all learnt to do it by numbers. "One" means lift right front paw, "Two" left front, "Three" -right rear and "Four" left rear.

[Kipawa]

@Patty:

Just an addition. As I said I wipe my B's muddy paws with a wet cloth when they come in. What I didn't say is that they've all learnt to do it by numbers. "One" means lift right front paw, "Two" left front, "Three" -right rear and "Four" left rear.

Patty, that is really impressive! Well done!