Oh how I look forward to the arrival of spring. The time when new life begins to sprout from the ground and the trees begin to show signs of life as the buds get ready to burst. But with it, in-between the promise of warmer days with beautiful blue sky and sunshine, we get the rain.
I know the old saying stands true “April showers bring May 🌼 🌺 💐Flowers”💐 🌺 🌼 but those of us who are blessed to have a dog know it also brings mud. My dogs don’t seem to care that it sticks to their paws like glue as they run in the yard and the clean floor I long for are again spotted with Paw Prints.
I have tried it all…… wiped their paws with old towels, large bowl with warm water to wash the dirt off their paws, invested in “Dirty Dog” mats, runners and drying mitts. Last year while browsing at the pet section at Ross’, I thought I found my solution – Leather dog boots. So against my husband’s advice, I included these booties in my purchase. I couldn’t wait for our dog to try them out. What a great invention I thought. She can run in the mud all she wants and when she wants to come in, just like the rest of the family does, I’ll remove her boots. Her paws will be nice and clean and my floors will stay clean as well. With great excitement I put these boots on my dog, tightened the velcro straps around her ankles and let her practice walking in the house. It took her a little bit to get use to them but, after a few awkward steps she seemed to master walking in her dog boots. I knew she would; after all she’s a smart goldendoodle. Now the true test – the backyard. I opened the door and my husband and I watched as our dog took off gaining speed to do her usual run. She made it to the back with lightening speed slowing only slightly as she navigated the turn with such grace. They didn’t slow her down in the least. It was only when she was heading back my heart sank… I could only see three boots. She had lost one, another was dragging off her back paw and the other two were somewhat intact. I looked at my husband and knew what was coming….”I told you so”. Perhaps they might work on dogs that like to take a nice leisurely walks but my Ruska knows only one speed….full throttle!
Next idea….we installed a dog wash in the lower lever of our house. Needless to say it has been well used thus far this spring.
