Dogs are generally full of energy and curiosity. Their bodies are designed to be active, the reason why house dogs such as poodles still yearn for a taste of the outside world even if this only means a short play in the backyard. Inside the comforts of home, our dogs still find ways to unleash their energy by jumping, running, and tearing things to pieces from time to time. These tendencies make their paws dirty and because bacteria can thrive in the folds of a paw, washing with plain water is not enough. You need a specially-formulated paw washer.
But hold on because not all paw washers are created equal. Some are strong, while others are mild and sweet-smelling. Some are laden with chemical ingredients and a few others are advertised as natural. Of course, knowing your dog’s physical activities help determine the intensity of the product. But more than that, you also need to observe and check with your veterinarian the possible allergens that can cause adverse skin reactions.
If you’re a meticulous dog parent like us, you can start exploring the list of paw washers proven safe and effective:
The Best Dog Paw Washer
Say goodbye to muddy and dirty floors whenever your pet comes home after frolicking in your backyard with the Dexas Petware MudBuster dog paw cleaner. This patent-pending dog paw washer comes with a very simple tumbler-like design that accommodates a cleaning mechanism to get rid of the dirt and muck that may have stuck in your dog’s paws. The cleaning mechanism is composed of several layers of gentle and soft silicone bristles that effectively remove dirt and other particles off of your pet’s paws.
There are no complicated operations. It is as easy as putting one of your dog’s paws inside the cleaning hole, turn the tumbler a bit, and voila! You’ve got one neat-looking paw. Now, repeat the same process for the other 3 paws and you’re done. No wonder folks think of the MudBuster as one of the best dog paw washers.
Read in-depth Dexas MudBuster Dog Paw Cleaner Review.
BPA-free, pet-safe, durable, and portable construction
Soft and gentle silicone bristles
Available in 3 colors and sizes
Patent-pending design
- Brand: Dexas
- Model: PW710312
- Weight: 5.8 ounces
Most paw cleaner contraptions in the market come in cylindrical or tumbler form. We said ‘most’ because the Paw Plunger is definitely one of a kind. Taking the form of an ordinary coffee mug complete with a wide cup and a thick and handy handle, the Paw Plunger dog foot washer is a great gift for pet lovers everywhere but most especially to those who have a knack for the unusual. But the function of this dog foot cleaner is anything but unusual. The soft silicone brush pad that coils inside the ‘mug’ can be easily removed for easier cleaning.
The top of the Paw Plunger is also designed in such a way that water will not be spilled outside. Plus, it comes with a nifty lid so you can bet that the inside of the Paw Plunger remains relatively clean until the next time your dog dips its paws into it.
Coffee mug-like design with lid
Removable brush mechanism
Multi-layered soft silicone bristles
Available in 3 sizes and colors
- Brand: Paw Plunger
- Model: PAW434
- Weight: 1.14 pounds
Available in three sizes and three bright and fun colors including blue, green, and pink, why not pick a brush to match your style? The Paw Legend 2-in-1 dog paw cleaner utilizes the classic tumbler design to get the best result when polishing your pup’s feet. This paw cleaner even comes with a wrist strap attached to the cup to help avoid slippage whilst it is wet. It is a BPA-free soft high-quality silicone material, meaning your pup will be comfortable for the entire cleaning process. The gentle silicone bristles will both clean and massage your dog’s feet, not bad after a long day of walking!
The range of sizes from small to extra large means you can find a cup to fit your pup, to provide them with a proper clean. Simply add water into the cup, insert your dog’s paw, twist away the dirt, and dry it off with the supplied complimentary towel. It is easy to dismantle for a quick cleaning process; pour away the dirty water, rinse the cup and brush, and set it aside for next time.
Has a handy wrist strap to avoid dropping it.
BPA-free using high-quality silicone bristles.
Available in three sizes and three colors.
Comes with free gift towel for drying.
- Brand: Paw Legend
- Model: PL-GJB-DHV
- Weight: 0.7 Pounds
A lot of folks think that the Paw Boss is an automatic dog paw cleaner. No, it’s not. Unlike paw washing cups, the Paw Boss comes with a rectangular box design complete with a large hole and two smaller holes on opposite sides of the device. One hole is for filling the contraption with clean water while the other is for draining used, dirty water. There’s a section where you can also place liquid antibacterial soap to ensure hygienic and clean paws.
The larger hole is obviously where you insert your pet’s paw to get cleaned. It can accommodate dog paws up to 3.5 inches in diameter so you’d better measure your pet’s paws first before getting the Paw Boss as it doesn’t come in different sizes. For its nifty features, it’s amazing to see that the Paw Boss still comes at a friendly price.
Soaps, soaks, and rinses dog paws
Eliminates 99% of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi (if antibacterial liquid soap is used)
3.5-inch diameter paw wash cup
Soft cleaning pad in wash cup
Separate reservoirs for clean and dirty water
No mechanical or electronic parts
- Brand: SKI Innovations LLC
- Model: Paw Boss-Black Base with Grey Lid
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
The Doggie Dipper – Portable Dog Paw Cleaner/Washer is one item every dog parent needs to have, especially if your doggy is very active and outdoorsy. Beyond being easy to use, this dog paw washer effortlessly pulls off the double duty of washing and drying off your dog. With this, you don’t have to buy an accompanying dryer with your dog paw washer, or even wait for your dog to air dry. The immediate wash and dry result it promises endears this Dog Paw Cleaner/Washer to all dog parents who don’t wish to wait forever for their dogs to get dry.
Despite working overtime to make certain your dog is clean, the Doggie Dipper – Portable Dog Paw Cleaner/Washer remains gentle on your dog’s skin. It is made with gentle silicone bristles that make the washing and drying process completely painless. The experience has been compared to a budget spa day for your dog and honestly, who doesn’t love a spa day? Overall, the Doggie Dipper – Portable Dog Paw Cleaner/Washer is a suitable option for all pets and is a great fit for dogs of all sizes.
Comes With A Dryer
Gentle Silicone Bristles
One Size Fits All
Deep Cleaning Action
- Brand: Doggie Dipper
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
Bealy’s gentle silicone paw cleaner has long, gentle bristles for a thorough clean between the toe. This paw cleaner is available in both petite and large to suit all sizes of dog breeds from German shepherds and Golden Retrievers, to Terriers and Shih-Tzus. This design is easy to carry and use, as well as being easy to disassemble and install. Disassembling your Bealy paw cleaner opens it up for even more uses, such as a massager at bath time, and a cleaning mat, for dogs that don’t enjoy the sensation of bristles surrounding their paw.
It is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, meaning you could pack it for walk time and clean your dog’s paws before they hop back into the car or reenter the house. Just be sure to keep a small bottle of water handy for the full cleaning effect. Bealy offers a 100% money-back customer satisfaction guarantee. They welcome any questions or concerns about the product, as they are always looking to improve wherever possible.
Can be removed, unfurled, and used as a cleaning mat.
Easy to use and clean afterward.
Comes with 100% refund customer satisfaction guarantee.
Made from environmentally friendly silicone.
- Brand: Bealy
- Weight: 350 Grams
UPSKY’s sleek and soft dog paw cleaner combined style with function. The polished design makes it an easy fit in any home, no need to hit it away in a cupboard, you can simply leave it on an easy access shelf without spoiling the aesthetic. Especially seeing as it comes in two feature colors; grey and pale blue. It is made using high-quality silicone that is pet safe and environmentally friendly. The silicone brush is tightly packed into the cup, with silicone tabs encircling the entrance hole, for a thorough clean and gentle massaging effect.
The UPSKY paw cleaner removes dirt, soil, and road salt from the paws and claws, which especially comes in handy in those winter months when salted grit covers every surface. It is the ideal tool for keeping floors, cars, and furniture free from pollution. Once you have used the cleaner, it can be easily disassembled to be rinsed and dried before going back into storage. Always check the cleaner for mold build-up before use, as any moisture left behind after cleaning has the potential to form mold between the bristles if it is not dried completely after every use.
Available in two colors.
The ideal fit for medium size dog breeds.
Can be removed and flattened for easy access.
Massages and cleans at the same time.
- Brand: UPSKY
Idepet has created an ingenious, unique design of paw cleaner, available in three colors, and made to suit every dog without the need to order a specific size. The entire cleaner is made of single-mold silicone, meaning there is no assembly, or disassembly required. This also means that the cleaner can be flattened and folded for storage, so you can tuck it away out of sight between uses. The malleable design of the overall cleaner means you can simply squeeze the main body lightly whilst your dog’s paw is inside to close the bristle around the paw and commence cleaning.
This is a 2-in-1 product that is not only perfect for cleaning mud, dust, sand, stool, and general garbage from your dog’s feet, but it is also the perfect bathtime tool. The Idepet cleaning cup can be easily turned inside out, thanks to its full silicone design, and used as a bath mitt to lather shampoo into your pup’s fur. The cleaning bristles create a comfortable massaging effect for a comfortable and calming bathtime experience.
Unique design allows it to be easily turned inside out.
Available to purchase in three color options.
Shaped into a single-piece paw cleaning tool.
Flexible design made to fit most dog and cat breeds.
- Brand: Idepet
This classically designed tumbler-style paw cleaning cup comes with a not-so-classic design option. You can choose between a shorter cup with the gentle silicone bristles inside the cup or a taller design with additional bristles located on the top edge of the cup as well. The additional bristle ring around the top edge of the cup is an independent, removable piece that is designed to help make bathtime more enjoyable for your pup by using it to lather up their shampoo.
It is made using BPA-free, environmentally friendly silicone, using frosted plastic for the cup so as to improve grip whilst it is in use, as well as a wrist loop or extra security. The method for this cup is simple and easy; just add water, insert their paw into the opening, twist, release, and dry the paw thoroughly once you’re done. Anipaw has even included a soft, matching, easy-sized towel for drying, so no worry about getting dog hair all over your full-sized ones.
Take a look at our guide on Dog Shampoo.
The frosted plastic cup is easier to grip when wet.
Can be dismantled for easier cleaning and massage.
Environmentally friendly silicone designs.
Contains complimentary cloth to quickly dry off your dog’s paws.
- Brand: Anipaw
- Model: 0031
Chooseen’s paw cleaner is available in two sizes to open it up to a wide range of dog breeds. With long bristles inside and a cylindrical design, this cleaner will suit dogs of all sizes, and provide a thorough clean. This paw cleaner is easy to use; simply add water to the main plunger area, insert your dog paw, rotate the container, and remove. Should it be that the first attempt didn’t fully clean their claws and paws, you can just rinse it out and go again. The durable reusability of this silicone cleaner doesn’t only make it better for the environment in terms of less waste, as you would get with flimsy disposable brushes, but the materials themselves are BPA-free.
Chooseen have also included a free, pocket-sized, extra-soft towel to make cleaning and drying quick and easy. A small towel means you can wash it by hand after it has been used and drape it over the radiator to dry – no need for the washing machine. They are also so confident in their product that they offer a 100% money-back guarantee for anyone that is dissatisfied with their results. So why not try it out? If for any reason you are unhappy, say your dog doesn’t enjoy the sensation and refuses to have its paws cleaned, you can simply contact them to return it for a ful refund. No muss, no fuss!
Portable as well as quick and easy to use.
Has a wrist strap attached for extra security.
Free bonus towel included.
100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.
- Brand: Chooseen
- Model: D-CN
Best Dog Paw Washer Buying Guide & FAQ
What to Look for in a Dog Paw Washer
More and more pet parents are looking for more innovative ways to make sure that their pets won’t be licking or biting on their dirty, mud-covered paws. More importantly, they don’t want their pets to bring these unwanted particles into their homes or even their cars. The good news is that pet care manufacturers are also continuously trying to look for solutions to these needs of pet parents. And one of the niftiest solutions is a dog paw washer. But how do you pick the right one? Here is a list of the things you can look for.
- Cleaning Mechanism
The main purpose of a dog paw washer is to clean your pet’s paws. As such, one of the things you have to look for is the cleaning mechanism. There are products that use brushes with silicone as bristles. These are deemed a lot safer for pets since they are not really rigid so as to cause irritation or even hurt your pet. There are also others that employ other cleaning mechanisms such as a cleaning cloth that can be rubbed against the paws of the dog. There are also contraptions that allow for the addition of liquid soaps, disinfectants, and other solutions to make the cleaning more efficient. You’ll have to decide which of these you think will work best on the kind of dirt that your dog usually brings home.
- Effectiveness in Cleaning Your Dog’s Paws
Determining the kind of cleaning mechanism is one thing. Knowing if it is effective is another. Sadly, you cannot test every single product that you want to buy before you purchase it. So, you may have to read individual customer reviews to get an idea if the product you want to buy is effective in removing dog paw dirt or not. Remember that many of these products come with similar designs yet the experiences of actual pet parents often reveal that some products are more effective than others.
- Ease of Operation
This has something to do with the type of dog paw washer that you may want to purchase. Manually operated dog paw cleaners known as paw cleaning cups require the manual twisting or rotation of the ‘cup’ to remove the debris, particles, and dirt from the paws of the dog. The operation is pretty straightforward since it is just like twisting a tumbler to remove its lid. There are also automatic dog paw washers that operate the cleaning mechanism with a simple press of a button. It’s what you can call effortless operation.
- Ease of Cleaning
All devices need to be cleaned and maintained so that you can ensure proper functioning at all times. The good news is that many of today’s dog paw washers are very easy to clean as the cleaning mechanism can be easily removed from their casing allowing for more thorough cleaning. The same cannot be generally said about automatics, however. Since these come with electronic components care must be taken when disassembling the device to clean the different components, otherwise, you risk damaging the cleaning device.
- Overall Value
As you may have noticed in our list there are a number of dog paw washers that technically have the same design from the canister right down to the use of silicone brush yet they differ in their price. Others offer a 100% money back guarantee while some will give you a limited 90-day guarantee. The point is you will have to study carefully your options so you can choose the product that can give you the best value for every cent you’re going to spend. Of course, you’d have to account for the quality of the product as well.
Keeping Your Pup’s Paws Clean
You can use a puppy paw cleaner to keep your pup’s paws clean. If you don’t like such contraptions or you cannot find a device that is small enough to accommodate the diminutive diameter of your puppy’s paws, then you may want to look for other alternatives.
For example, paw wipes are perfect for puppies since they can still feel your hands cleaning their paws. This is unlike paw cleaners that can give a rather unpleasant, if not odd, feeling to your young dog. Many paw wipes also have antibacterial and antifungal properties and can leave a nice scent on your puppy’s paws.
If paw wipes are not your thing, you may want to consider using a chamois that is designed specifically for dogs. These are made of super-absorbent fabric materials that should easily wipe off dirt, debris, and other particles from your pet’s paws. These will also not startle your young dog as you wipe its paws clean. Sadly, you’ll have to contend with more laundry.
Ideally, you should always clean your puppy’s paws right after coming from outside the house. This is to make sure that they will not carry dirt and other particles into your home. More importantly, they will not have something to lick on or bite that can endanger their health.
Check out our articles on the Best Shampoo for Puppies, Paw Protection Waxes For Dogs, and Dog Wipes.
Types of Dog Paw Washers
There are two fundamental types of dog paw washers, although the principle of their operation is essentially the same.
Manual or paw cleaning cups require the manual twisting or turning of the cup to rotate the cleaning brush inside. It is by turning the cup that the brush bristles move and remove dirt from your dog’s paws.
Automatic dog paw washers, on the other hand, are operated by a motor that turns the cleaning mechanism. All you need is to press the power button and the machine will do the rest.
Best Dog Paw Washer FAQ:
Q: What are dog paw washers?
A: These are devices that are designed to clean the dog’s paws. These devices can be either manually-operated or fully automatic. Manually-operated dog paw washers are known as dog paw washing cups. The ‘cup’ is filled with water, the dog’s paw is placed into the cup, and the cup is rotated to clean the paws. Inside the cub is a brush that removes dirt from the paw as the cup is turned. Automatic dog paw washers are basically the same, except that the rotation or movement of the brush inside the ‘cup’ or washing device is run by a motor.
Q: How does a dog paw washer work?
A: Imagine a tube with brush bristles on the inner wall. These brush bristles are oriented towards the center or middle of the tube. When a dog’s paw is inserted through the tube it scrapes against the bristles of the brush. When the tube is rotated, twisted, or turned, the bristles move as well. This movement of the bristles is what can remove dirt, debris, mud, snow, stones, small rocks, and other particles that may be present on your dog’s paws. This is the very basic principle behind the action of dog paw washers.
Now, they call it washers because the tube is open on one end and closed on the other. This is to allow the tube to be filled with water which can help loosen the dirt or other particles present in the dog’s paws. It’s like the agitator in your washing machine. As it spins, dirt is eventually removed from your clothes. The same is true with a dog paw washer. By inserting the paw into the tube, bristles touch the paw. As soon as the bristles are moved, they also brush against the paw and remove the particles.
Since there is water in the tube, the particles are washed off and allowed to settle at the bottom of the tube. This allows for easier disposal while also preventing the attachment of these same particles back into your pet’s paws.
Whether it is manual or automatic, dog paw washers employ the same principle. It is through the brushing motion of the bristles that will remove particles off the paws.
Q: How do I clean my dog paw washer?
A: Most dog paw washers today, especially cleaning cups, come with a removable screw-on lid. It’s like a tumbler or a coffee travel mug that comes with a lid. Since the cleaning mechanism is located inside the ‘cup’, this can be easily removed by removing the lid and scooping the cleaning brush. The brush system of most dog paw washers is made of silicone since it is soft and gentle on your pet’s paws. Try to think of it as the rotating brushes on a car wash and you’ll know what we mean. It’s not rigid, yet it is fully capable of removing dirt simply because of its rotational motion.
Once the silicone brush has been removed, you can easily wash this with warm soapy water or as directed by the manufacturer. We do insist on reading the owner’s manual since it contains a lot of information on the proper care, including the right way to clean, such devices.
If you happen to have an automatic dog paw washer it is imperative to read the manual first. Usually, these come with a mechanism that allows you to remove the brush system. Be careful not to wet the device especially near its battery compartment. It is often best to remove the battery before cleaning your automatic dog paw washer. If the battery cannot be removed, then you should refer to the manual on how best to keep your dog paw washer clean.
Our Top Pick
The Dexas Petware MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner is our top choice for the best dog paw washers. It has a very simple design yet when it comes to functionality it works like a charm. It is priced just right and comes with an easy-to-operate and easy-to-maintain design. The silicone bristles won’t hurt your dog while the textured body of the MudBuster makes it exceptionally easy to turn the canister and clean your dog’s paws.
Cleaning your dog’s paws is important as you don’t want them licking or biting onto their paws that may already be covered with harmful germs. Also, you don’t want to keep on cleaning your house every time they venture outside. A dog paw washer should be your best buddy in keeping your pet’s paws clean.
Sources:
- Katie Grzyb, DVM, 7 Ways to Clean Your Dog’s Paws, PetMD
- How to Wash a Dog’s Paws, Wag!
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