Muddy Season at Schnoodles: Keeping Dogs Warm, Dry and Happy (Plus a Pumpkin Treat Recipe) 🎃

The clocks are going back, the rain has arrived and the field has officially entered muddy season. At Schnoodles, that means a lot of very happy, very mucky pups.

So here’s what we’ve learned over twelve winters about getting dogs through the wettest months, plus a seasonal treat recipe they’ll love.

Our favourite coat: the Equafleece suit

If there’s one thing we tell every family to buy, it’s an Equafleece full dog suit. It covers the legs and body, keeps out the rain and mud, and simply peels off at the end of the day, leaving a warm, dry dog underneath. The only bits left to dry are the head and paws.

They’re made in Devon, washable, and come in a size for almost every shape of dog, including dachshunds and greyhounds.

We’re not paid to recommend Equafleece. We just see the difference every day.

Have a look at the Equafleece dog suit

Drying off after a walk

At daycare, every muddy dog gets washed off before going home. We use a Mud Daddy, a portable pump-action washer, with warm water and a brush, then a towel dry. You probably don’t need to go that far at home, especially if your dog wears an Equafleece, as it’s usually just the paws. But if they’ve been in deep mud, a quick paw rinse before they jump in the car saves a lot of cleaning.

We use donated towels for drying, but if we could buy every dog a drying bag, we would. Pawdaw of London’s Luxury Dog Drying Bag zips around your dog after a muddy walk, soaks up the wet and keeps the mud off your car seats and sofa.

For dark, rainy evenings, their Waterproof Rainbow Reflective Raincoat keeps your dog dry and easy to see under streetlights and headlights.

Pawdaw is an affiliate partner, so if you buy through our link we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only link to brands we’d recommend anyway.

Muddy season tips from the field

• Check between the toes. Mud balls and grit can rub and crack paw pads.
• Dry ears properly, especially for spaniels and doodles.
• Hang wet coats somewhere warm so they’re ready for the next walk.
• Use a light or reflective collar for walks after dark.

Autumn games for dark evenings

When the walks get shorter, a bit of brain work goes a long way. Hide a few treats around the house for a game of find it, scatter dinner in a snuffle mat, or stuff a toy with pumpkin and freeze it for a long-lasting chew.

At daycare we’re big fans of Green & Wilds, whose natural, eco-friendly toys stand up well to a field full of enthusiastic dogs. Their Halloween range is a lovely bit of seasonal fun.

Why pumpkin?

Plain pumpkin is full of fibre and beta-carotene, and most dogs love the taste. The fibre can help firm things up when tummies are loose, and keep things moving when they’re not.

Raw pumpkin seeds are interesting too. They contain a compound called cucurbitin, and research suggests it may help against intestinal worms. The studies so far have been in mice rather than dogs, so it isn’t proven, but many natural feeders add a little ground raw seed (around ½ teaspoon per 10kg of dog) to meals. It isn’t a replacement for worm counts or proper treatment if your dog does have worms.

No-bake pumpkin and cinnamon bites

This is our take on a raw treat recipe from Dogs Naturally Magazine.

Two important safety notes. Never use ready-made pumpkin spice or nutmeg, as nutmeg can be toxic to dogs. And always use plain pumpkin, never pie filling, which is packed with sugar and spices.

Warm, dry and worn out

Rain or shine, our dogs spend their days exploring six acres of Chiltern countryside, then come home happily tired. Muddy paws included.

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