Paw Plunger Dog Paw Cleaner

A paw washer cup with soft nylon bristles and a rubber top: fill it with water, put a paw through the opening and move the cup gently up and down.

Who it suits

Owners of puppies, small dogs or big dogs who want a plunge-style paw washer with a lid and a snug rubber top.

Key facts

• Soft nylon bristles surround the paw; the top unscrews so the bristles come out for rinsing (Paw Plunger)
• Petite is 5.25 by 3.5 by 4 in with a 2 in opening, for dogs up to 15 lb (Paw Plunger)
• Medium is 8.5 by 6 by 6.5 in with a 3.5 in opening, for dogs from about 15 to 75 lb (Paw Plunger)
• Large is 9.75 by 7 by 9.5 in with a 4.5 in opening, for dogs over 75 lb (Paw Plunger)
• The lid is spill proof and leak proof but not water tight; the maker advises filling and emptying it with each use (Paw Plunger)

What reviewers say

Top Dog Tips: Samantha Randall used it after winter walks in Maine (review first published April 2018, updated December 2023). She liked its wide rim and no-spill silicone opening best of the paw washers she had used, found the bristles soft but durable and easy to remove for cleaning, and warns it will not work for a dog that growls or snaps when its paws are touched.

KDKA (CBS Pittsburgh): KDKA’s Does It Really Do That? segment (November 2009) tried it on a Newfoundland and a Golden Retriever with homemade mud. It got the dirt off, but the Newfoundland disliked it, and both owners felt a towel or a pail of water would do much the same job. This is an old test of an earlier version.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Lid and rubber top help limit spills
• Three sizes by dog weight
• Bristles come out for rinsing

Cons

• Not every dog accepts it, per both hands-on tests
• One test from 2009 found it little better than a pail and towel

Good to know

• Top Dog Tips gives different weight ranges for each size than the maker; use the maker’s sizing (https://petppi.com/products/paw-plunger).
• If a pad looks cut, cracked or sore, or your dog licks a paw or limps, see your vet (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/first-aid-for-torn-or-injured-foot-pads-in-dogs).