Wet, muddy dog walks are part of life in the UK, especially through autumn and winter. Rain-soaked fields, muddy footpaths and plenty of puddles mean we often come home with a very wet dog, mucky paws and a lot of cleaning up to do.
Knowing how to clean and dry a muddy dog properly isn’t just about keeping your home clean. When they are frequently wet and muddy, it can increase the chance of the coat becoming matted, along with causing skin irritation and fungal or bacterial infections. A good winter dog grooming routine helps keep your dog comfortable, healthy and smelling fresh.
Here are our top muddy dog cleaning tips to help you dry, groom and care for your dog after rainy and muddy excursions.
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Cleaning Up Your Muddy Dog After An Outdoor Adventure
Washing your dog as soon as you get home from a walk helps to prevent mud, grit and moisture from sitting in the coat. If you’re travelling by car, keeping a couple of towels and a little water handy in the boot allows you to quickly rinse muddy paws and towel-dry the worst before the journey home, making the full clean much easier and more effective once you’re back.
Time To Cleanse: How To Clean A Muddy Dog
- Remove the excess mud first: Rinse muddy paws, legs and underbellies with lukewarm water to wash away the worst of the grit and dirt to prevent it being rubbed into the skin during washing. It might be handy to do this outside the home to get started.
- Use a mild dog shampoo for muddy dogs: Cleanse the coat to remove all the remaining dirt and prevent odour-causing bacteria from building up in the hair.
- A naturally formulated dog shampoo is best to gently wash the hair without stripping the coat of the natural oils produced by the skin. We love the organic range from Wildwash. Their super sensitive specialist shampoos are ideal for the daily washing of muddy legs or for full bathing. Suitable for dogs with very sensitive skin, they containing no harsh chemicals or cleaning agents, just natural skin friendly ingredients that are quick rinsing. A little goes a long way too!
- Help reduce wet dog smell while cleaning: Washing with only water isn't enough. That lingering wet dog smell is caused by bacteria and yeast in the coat, which become stronger when hair is damp. Washing muddy dogs frequently removes these microorganisms and is one of the most effective ways to keep your dog smelling fresh.
- Choose odour-control shampoo for frequent mud lovers: Some dogs just can’t get enough of muddy puddles, rolling in something smelly (the dreaded fox poop!) or a dip in a lake. Dogs that love water and dirt often benefit from an odour-control shampoo. Wildwash Stinky Dog shampoo is perfect for those especially adventurous hounds to eliminate bad odours and keep both your dog and your home smelling clean.
- Always dry thoroughly afterwards Once all shampoo residue is rinsed out and the coat is clean, follow up with a fresh towel to remove as much moisture from the hair as possible. Drying your dog thoroughly is essential for preventing that lingering wet dog smell caused by bacteria that thrive in damp coats.
How To Dry Your Dog Properly
- The first and most important step to drying your dog at home is thorough towel drying.
- Use a large towel to gently squeeze moisture from the coat, starting at the head and working along the body towards the tail. Pay close attention to the chest, belly, legs and paws, as these areas stay wet the longest.
- For long-haired dogs, avoid vigorous rubbing. Instead, blot and squeeze to prevent the hair tangling together and matting.
- Keeping a stash of quick drying, microfibre towels (As you’ll likely need more than one!) by the door or in the car so you can remove most of the mess before you head indoors to finish cleaning up.
- Avoid leaving a very wet dog to air dry, as mentioned above - a damp coat encourages matting and creates the perfect environment for bacteria and fungal growth.
- Some dogs will love a quick blast from a hairdryer to give an extra boost to reducing drying time. If your dog is happy with a hairdryer, use it on a cool, low setting only (never use heat) and continue to keep the drier moving along the body. Avoid pointing it at sensitive areas such as your dog’s face or ears.
- Towel drying followed by a hairdryer is the best way to dry a wet dog after a walk, particularly during cold weather.
Checking Their Paws
- Good paw care is a key part of winter dog grooming. It's important to ensure paws are dried properly.
- Check the area between the toes and pads for stones and grit daily. The areas between pads are a great place for fungi to grow so pay close attention to getting the paws dry and check the condition of the pads.
- Trim long hair between the pads to allow better airflow and help paws dry faster. Long hair around the feet and pads can easily become tangled and matted causing discomfort, especially when they are routinely wet and muddy. Our Showmate II cordless dog trimmer is the perfect compact trimmer for carefully removing hair from between the pads. Find out more about paw care here.
- Keep nails in check too with regular nail clipping to prevent dirt from building up around the feet and reduce the amount of mud carried into the house.
Checking Your Dog's Ears
- The ears are another area to pay special attention to, as they often stay damp long after the rest of the body feels dry.
- Floppy eared breeds are more at risk of their ears becoming a breeding ground for yeast or bacterial infections, as the fold of the ear prevents air flowing freely inside.
- Clean and dry the inside of the ear gently with cotton wool and a specialist ear cleaning solution for dogs.
- Regular ear cleaning and careful removal of hair inside the ears can increase air flow and keep these sensitive areas healthy.
- Trimming excess hair around the ears with bull nose scissors or trimmers will help keep them tangle free and reduce drying time.
Warming Up Time
- After a wash down and thorough towel dry to remove as much water as possible, provide your dog with a warm, clean place indoors to fully dry off. They’ll likely be ready to curl up in a cosy bed after a busy time exploring.
- Make sure dog beds are cleaned weekly during the wet months as they will harbour the same fungal and bacterial allergens as damp hair.
- Drying your dog as quickly as possible will help to keep your home environment clean and mildew free too.
Brushing Out Their Coat
- Wet fur can make tangles more likely to form. As soon as your dog is nearly dry, brush the coat through to avoid tangles turning into problematic mats, especially on feathering, ears and underbellies.
- Daily brushing is one of the simplest muddy dog grooming tips for winter. Use a slicker brush and comb to remove tangles and loose hair from the coat to keep on top of knots developing.
- Coat rakes are great tools for removing the naturally shedding undercoat when the seasons change.
- Once the coat is fully combed through, a conditioning spray can then be used to further prevent tangles. However avoid using these if you are due to clip your dog as they can form a film on the hair which can dull your clipper blades.
Winter Dog Grooming Tips to Keep Dogs Cleaner
A Winter Trim For Your Dog
- Dogs with long feathering to the legs, fluffy neck and long underbelly hair may benefit from these areas being trimmed at this time of year. Skip tooth clipper blades are ideal for thinning out these areas by removing some the of the bulk of the hair whilst retaining a natural look to the coat.
- Thinning scissors are also a great scissor to have in your grooming kit. They are ideal for thinning out and shortening the hair on the legs and skirts for breeds such as spaniels and setters to allow for better airflow and faster drying time, but without full removal.
Clipping Your Dog For Winter Coat Mainteneance
Fed up with constantly trying to dry your dog? The longer the coat, the longer they take to dry so an all over maintenance clip makes cleaning up and drying your dog so much easier.
- Smaller long-haired breeds such as poodle crosses, shih tzu’s and lhasa apso’s with little legs are obviously closer to the ground where the mud and wet are more likely to splash upwards covering the legs and underbelly. A short body clip will facilitate the regular clean up.
- For very active pet dogs that are not used for showing purposes, an all over maintenance clip can be a great help to allow for easier all-round grooming and faster drying. Take a look at our grooming by breed clipping sets to find mains powered or cordless clippers that are specially tailored to your dog’s breed and coat type.
- With so many clippers and clipper blades to choose from, our grooming sets take the guess work out of finding the best combination to suit your dog.
Keep Dry With Dog Coats
- For clipped dogs and unclipped dogs, you can keep the worst of the wet and mud off the body with a specialist waterproof dog coat.
- An unpadded, breathable material will ensure your dog doesn’t get overly warm whilst keeping the majority of their body under cover, meaning there is less to clean up and dry when you get home.
Clean and Dry Dogs Are Healthier Dogs
Winter walks can be a messy affair, with mud and rain leading to wet paws, tangled coats, and a lot of cleaning up! Keeping your dog dry isn't just about avoiding muddy floors, it’s essential for their health too. With the right muddy dog cleaning and drying routine, you can keep your dog clean, comfortable and healthy even in the wettest months.
Dry Wet Dogs Thoroughly: After a wet outing, start with a big towel to gently remove moisture, especially from long-haired dogs. Avoid vigorous rubbing to prevent tangles, and use a hairdryer on a cool setting if your dog is comfortable. Don’t forget to dry paws, legs, and sensitive areas to avoid fungal growth and matting.
Washing and Brushing: Use a mild, natural dog shampoo to clean off mud and dirt while protecting your dog’s skin. Once nearly dry, brush their coat to detangle and remove loose hair. A slicker brush or coat rake can help manage seasonal shedding and prevent mats from forming.
Trimming for Easier Maintenance
Consider trimming longer hair on areas like legs, the belly, and around the paws to reduce drying time and keep your dog comfortable. A short maintenance clip for some breeds can make cleaning up after walks so much easier!
Explore our range of dog grooming products to make your grooming routine easier, or feel free to contact us for personalised grooming advice.
Blog last updated Jan 2026
How often should I wash a muddy dog in winter?
The frequency of washing a muddy dog in winter depends on their coat type, activity level, and how much mud they encounter. For most dogs, a full bath once every 2–4 weeks is sufficient, with spot cleaning of paws, legs and underbellies after each muddy walk in between.
Using a mild, natural dog shampoo helps protect the skin’s natural oils, which are especially important in colder months to prevent dryness and irritation. Dogs with long, dense or curly coats may benefit from more frequent washing or gentle spot-cleaning, as their fur traps more dirt and moisture.
Maintaining a regular grooming routine, including brushing, clipping and trimming where necessary, reduces matting and keeps the coat cleaner for longer, meaning you won’t need to bathe your dog as often. For very active, outdoor-loving dogs, combining spot-cleaning, towel drying, and protective dog jackets can make winter washing less frequent and less stressful for both of you. Contact us for tailored grooming advice especially for your dog's grooming needs.
