Things to Put Down to Cut Down on Mud in a House from Dogs

Exterior Mat

• Laying a specific kind of exterior doormat on the outside of the door through which you plan to bring dogs is beneficial. A coarsely textured mat made of natural material has exfoliating properties, scrubbing mud from dog paws. If a dog's paws are covered with mud, have the animal stand on the mat, and gently rub each paw against the mat to wipe away most of the mud.

Interior Mat

• Placing a softer, interior doormat on the floor at the interior side of the door will remove more mud from paws. Choose a mat made of a soft material for a milder paw cleaning. A mat with a rubber base works best in a rainy locale because it prevents water from seeping through the mat and onto the floor. If you suspect the exterior mat didn't remove all of the mud, or that your dogs' paws are wet, repeat the process to wipe each paw on the interior mat.

Paw-Spreading Mat

• Some dogs have large paw pads that grab and hold onto mud. A paw-spreading mat can be the home's final defense against mud caught on such paws. This type of mat, which is available at specialty pet stores, is commonly crafted of thick rubber and features deep ridges. Also used in front of litter box exits, the mat causes a dog's paws pads to separate, allowing trapped mud and other debris to fall freely from them. If you elect to add this mat into your defense system, place it directly inside the door, and position the soft interior mat after it so that a dog steps on the paw-spreader prior to the interior mat.

Entrance Hallway Runner

• If your home's entrance hallway features fine wood flooring or light carpeting, you may want to include further protection from dogs' mud. Laying a carpet runner down the hallway's length covers the fine flooring you wish to protect. It creates a runway of sorts that a dog must travel down before its paws touch unprotected flooring.