How to Get a Dog Used to a Paw Washer

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

A paw washer is a cup with soft bristles inside: you add a little water, put your dog’s paw in, move the cup gently, then dry the paw. It is a quick way to deal with muddy, sandy or gritty feet at the door. Many dogs are not keen on having their feet held, though, and a cup of water around the paw is a new feeling. This guide covers how to get your dog comfortable with paw handling first, how to introduce the washer step by step, how to dry properly, and the signs on your dog’s feet that mean you should stop and see your vet.

How we wrote this: the advice comes from Dogs Trust’s guides to handling your dog and cold weather care, Battersea’s winter dog care tips, and PDSA’s vet Q&A on paw licking. Product facts come from our product pages, which cite the makers and reviewers. We put their advice in our own words and mark our own tips with “in our view”. All were checked on 2 November 2026. We did not test any paw washers for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings. A paw washer is for cleaning, not for treating any paw problem.

Why clean paws after walks?

Mud is the obvious reason, but not the only one. Battersea advises cleaning your dog’s paws at the end of winter walks, because road salt and grit can lodge between the toes. Dogs Trust adds that road grit and damp from rain or snow can irritate the skin, and suggests a wipe-down of the legs, belly and feet once you are home. PDSA’s vets note that some dogs react to things their paws have touched, and suggest rinsing the paws after walks if your dog is nibbling at them a lot.

In our view, a paw washer is handy when a wipe is not enough to shift the dirt, and when you want to clean four feet quickly at the door. Our guide on how to walk a dog in winter covers the rest of a cold-weather walk.

Step 1: get your dog happy with paw handling

Before any water, your dog needs to be relaxed about having its feet touched. Dogs Trust’s handling guide suggests starting somewhere quiet at home, when you are both relaxed. Begin by stroking a part of the body your dog already enjoys, then briefly touch other areas, taking your hand away and giving a reward straight after each touch. It also suggests saying a short cue, for example “let me see”, each time just before you touch, so your dog can predict what happens next, and then slowly building up how long you hold each part.

For paws, in our view, a simple order is:

1. touch the leg above the paw, then reward,
2. touch the paw for a second, then reward,
3. hold the paw gently in your palm for a second or two, then reward,
4. lift the paw a little, as you will when you wash it, then reward.

Dogs Trust stresses that some parts of the body are more sensitive than others, and that you should go at your dog’s pace. If your dog pulls away, stiffens or seems uneasy, stop. Next time, go back to the last step it was happy with.

Step 2: choose a washer that fits

A washer that is too small squeezes the paw; one that is too big lets the paw slosh about. Both makers below size by paw width or dog weight. Two from our catalog:

• Dexas MudBuster Paw Washer: a tumbler with soft silicone bristles inside. You add a little water, put the paw in, twist and dab dry. Our product page lists three sizes by paw width: up to 2 in, 2.5 to 3.5 in, and above 3.5 in.
• Paw Plunger Paw Cleaner: a cup with soft nylon bristles and a rubber top; you move it gently up and down around the paw. Our product page lists three sizes by weight, from dogs up to 15 lb to dogs over 75 lb, and notes that the lid is spill proof but not water tight.

Our best dog paw washer guide compares them in more detail. In our view, measure your dog’s paw across its widest point while it is standing, and check it against the maker’s size guide.

Step 3: introduce the washer, dry

In our view, let your dog meet the washer before it ever holds water:

1. Put the empty washer on the floor and reward your dog for sniffing it.
2. Touch the outside of the washer gently against a paw, then reward.
3. Hold a paw just inside the opening of the empty washer for a second, then reward.
4. Build up to putting the paw fully in and out, still dry, over a few short sessions.

Keep sessions to a minute or two, and end while your dog is still relaxed. If your dog already wears boots, our guide on how to get a dog used to wearing boots uses the same slow paw-by-paw approach.

Step 4: add a little water

Once the empty washer is no big deal, add water. In our view:

• Start shallow. Fill only enough to cover the pad and toes. Dexas tells you to add a little water rather than fill the tumbler.
• Use lukewarm water, not cold, especially in winter. Test it on your wrist.
• Do one paw, then reward. Build up to all four over several days.
• Be gentle. Twist or move the washer slowly; you are letting the bristles loosen the dirt, not scrubbing.

Change the water when it gets muddy. Clean water between dogs, or after a very dirty paw, keeps you from spreading grit back onto clean feet.

Step 5: dry between the toes

Drying matters as much as washing. Battersea advises checking your dog’s paws and drying them well after it has been outside. It notes that long-haired dogs are prone to snow packing between their toes and turning into painful ice balls, and that, if your dog is happy with it, trimming the long hair between the toes can help.

In our view:

• keep a towel by the door with the washer,
• press and dab the paw rather than rubbing hard,
• spread the toes gently and dry between them,
• give a reward for each dry paw while your dog is still learning.

For quick dry-day cleans, our best grooming wipes for dogs and cats guide covers wipes made for paws.

Step 6: make it part of the walk routine

In our view, the routine sticks best when it happens the same way every time: walk in, sit on the mat, wash and dry each paw, reward, done. Dogs Trust suggests practising handling in different places once your dog is comfortable at home, so try it in the hallway, at the back door and by the car. A paw washer and towel kept in the car makes muddy walks easier to finish.

If your dog still hates it

Some dogs never love a paw washer, and that is fine. In our view, you have a few options:

• go back a step or two in the training and spend longer on dry handling,
• use a damp cloth or a paw wipe instead, which many dogs find less strange than a cup,
• let your dog stand on a towel or absorbent mat by the door for a minute before you wipe,
• for snowy or gritty walks, try boots, so there is less to clean afterwards.

If your dog is truly frightened of being handled, or growls or snaps, Dogs Trust recommends talking to your vet first, since your vet can check for pain and refer you to a qualified behaviourist.

When to see a vet

Washing gives you a good look at your dog’s feet. Stop and contact your vet if you notice:

• cracked, cut or bleeding pads,
• limping, or your dog not wanting to put weight on a foot,
• a lot of licking or chewing at the paws,
• redness, swelling or a smell between the toes,
• a paw your dog suddenly does not want you to touch.

PDSA’s vets say that contacting your vet should be the first thing you do for a dog that keeps licking or biting its paws, because the causes range widely, from allergies, parasites and insect bites to stiff, sore joints, boredom or anxiety. Dogs Trust adds that a dog in pain is more likely to be fearful about handling, so a dog that suddenly resists having its feet touched should be checked for a health problem. Do not try to treat a sore paw with the washer or anything else; let your vet find the cause.

FAQ

How do I get my dog to let me wash its paws?

Start with paw handling, not water. Dogs Trust suggests short, gentle touches with a reward straight after, building up how long you hold each part of the body at your dog’s pace.

Should I wash my dog’s paws after every walk?

After muddy walks, and after winter walks on gritted roads, it helps. Battersea advises cleaning paws after walks because salt and grit can get stuck between the toes, and drying them well.

Do paw washers really work?

They are made to loosen dirt with soft bristles and a little water, which is quicker than a bowl and cloth. In our view, they work best when you also dry well between the toes.

Why does my dog keep licking its paws after walks?

There are many possible reasons, from something on the ground irritating the skin to allergies or parasites. PDSA’s vets advise contacting your vet first.

More for muddy and wintry walks: how to walk a dog in winter and our best dog boots picks.