Walking has become a release for many of us. In fact, during the first 6 weeks of lockdown, 63% of people noted exercise as being the most important factor for their mental health. In line with this, puppy registrations increased by 26% between the start of April and the end of June. From these, 41% said the reason they decided to add a new puppy to their family was to gain a lockdown companion. It fairs to reason then, that there are lots of you out there who have taken to local greens, country parks, and fields to let your new furry-friends have a runaround. And we thought we’d see what we could do to help.

Paige Gillard is the Founder + Director of Poppy + Ted, a UK brand that designs stylish, practical, and comfortable walking essentials for pups. With a hoard of ever-growing fans and designs from Totally Terrazzo to Orange Camo, she brings color and joy to every single walk. When it comes to keeping your pup happy, there really is no better person to have around. So, we asked Paige to give us her top tips on washing dogs after those long, wet, and muddy strolls.

Happy pup, happy life! 

Let’s face it - no matter how hard we try to keep them clean your dog will always find some way of getting mucky whilst out on a walk. And who are we to stop them? After all - it’s the sign of a good adventure!

So rule number 1 for a good walk -  get mucky! We love our Poppy + Ted dog walking accessories for just this - take them off and pop them straight into your machine as soon as you get home - they’re easy to wash and dry super fast so you’ll be ready for the next outing in no time.  

It’s super important from a mental stimulation point of view to teach your dog how to ‘switch off’ so they can learn to relax and be calm and comfortable in their own home and happy space. And after returning from a long, rewarding adventure - a wash could be a great starting point.

My top tip with bathing dogs is not to make a big deal about it! And, if you happen to have an anxious dog like I do, don’t mention the word. We’re all guilty of it, but over-talking to your dog and/or mentioning trigger words they may have already associated with bath-time will set their nerves off before you even approach the bathroom. Keep it fun, take your time, and stock up on some treats - I’ve found a dog-friendly peanut butter is a particularly great tool for keeping your furry family members entertained. I spread some onto the inside of the shower, at their standing height so they keep distracted getting every last lick - resulting in a calm, still dog allowing you to wash away that muddy walk.

Give them a little pamper - it takes no time at all, but I thoroughly recommend getting yourself a brush for bath time. I have short-haired dogs so my personal preference is the Kong Zoom Groom - soap up your dog with your favorite dog-friendly shampoo, and brush in circular motions. You’ll be working in the soap to remove all of the dirt in effortless time, whilst simultaneously giving your dog a little feel-good massage. It’ll help to bring up dead hairs in the bath too so you spend less time brushing afterwards! 

It always pays off to ensure you have everything you need to hand and set up before you end up with a wet dog shaking off in your bathroom - personally, I like to let out the water and towel dry as much as possible whilst your dog is still entertained - you may need to top up your peanut butter a little bit (a little spread thinly goes a long way!). Micro-fiber towels are amazing and soak up so much water so if you don’t already have one - it’s definitely something you want in your bathroom store cupboard if you own a dog! 

Most dogs love rubbing their backs off against a towel, I know mine sure love it. But sometimes we do need a little extra hand with a hairdryer especially during the winter months - if you have someone to give you a hand great, but you can definitely do it solo too. Keep some low-calorie treats to hand and do a little mind training to keep your dog stimulated - though they’ve just had a physically tiring walk, you also need to mentally tire your dog too so take advantage of any opportunity to work those brains! Whether you pop your dog into a “sit” or “lay” or even mix it up a little, give them a command and reward. Now practice “wait” and leave a treat in sight, but do not allow your dog to take it until you give them the go-ahead. Their little brains will be full of excitement with the scent of the treat, setting off all of their happy triggers but they’ll also be busy working out how they get it. And the answer, of course, is waiting - make sure to make a fuss of them for correctly solving the ‘riddle’ and mix it up a little with different commands or tricks if you have a clever pup. It’ll give you more time to dry and them 10-15 minutes of ‘brain time’. 

Rinse your bath down, pop your towel in the wash and you’ve both earned yourself a foot up on the sofa! You’ll have a happy dog, that's spent some amazing bonding time with you, and your reward? Cuddles and licks!!

Best Wishes,

Paige

If you’re looking for a new harness, lead or collar for your pup and don’t want to skimp on style, make sure to visit Poppy + Ted or head over to their Instagram for a daily dose of inspiration.