Dog Doormats Buyer’s Guide
If you have been shopping for dog doormats for your pooch’s muddy paws then you know how hard it can be. All the options you have to wade through can be a little overwhelming to say the least. To help make your shopping a lot easier, here are the most important factors to consider.
Understanding these will give you a better perspective of what your options have to offer. You can then identify which choices have the most value to offer. Without further ado, here are the 7 most crucial things to consider when shopping for anti-mud dog doormats as a dog owner.
Floor grip
Imagine this scenario. Your dog comes home all excited after a fun day out exploring, splashing about in puddles and collecting what seems like all the mud from the park. And as they skid to a halt on your dog doormat, the floor beneath them gives way and they collapse into a confused pile on the floor.
As a dog owner, the last thing you want is to see your dog get hurt. Unfortunately, this is a very real possibility especially with the wrong choice of dog doormat. It is therefore crucial that you only go for options that have special anti-skid designs.
This could be in the form of a rubber base layer, grooved bottoms or even suckers for floor attachment. Whatever the design, what is necessary is that they stay still and in place. That way, no matter how hard or fast your dog comes at the mat it will not leave them hurt.
Ease of maintenance
The whole point of an anti-mud dog doormat is that you keep the dirt and mud that they collected outside out of your clean home. While your precious hardwood floors and pristine carpet get to stay nice and clean, the same cannot be said for the mat. And after a few weeks or even days of handling all the nastiness, it will cease being a good barrier after which all hell breaks loose into your home.
Therefore, while shopping, it is essential to factor in ease of maintenance. Here, the best options are the machine washable mats like our top pick. With these, all you have to do is throw it into the washing machine and you have yourself a clean mat ready to get back to work in no time.
If it is not machine washable, it should at the very least be easy to wash by hand. The implication here is that you don’t dread having to clean it on a regular basis. Here, you want to settle for something light and easy to maneuver as you wash or wring out.
Absorbency
Another vital factor to consider is how well your anti-mud dog doormat can absorb any extra moisture from your dog’s paws. With high absorbency mats, you are able to get a lot more moisture and mud off your dog. This makes them a lot more effective at their job.
Absorbency is determined by the type of materials used. Natural fabrics like cotton and chenille are really good at this and ensure every last lick of moisture on your doggy’s paws is wicked right up. What this means is that they can go indoors with clean feet and continue their play time without ruining your floor with moisture and outdoor grime. Synthetics fibers also do a pretty decent job depending on the material’s porosity. Polyester and polypropylene, in this case, do a pretty good job and in addition to the effectiveness are also cheaper.
Avoid mats made from water resistant materials like rubber or plastic. While these are generally decent door mats for aesthetics and some functionality, they do not do a very good job when it comes to dealing with mud and water from your dog’s outdoor escapades.
Aesthetics
Remember that your dog doormat is doing so much more than just soaking up dirty water and soil from your dog’s feet. It is one of the first things you and your guests will see entering the home whether you put it at the front door, back door or in your foyer.
It therefore doesn’t hurt to go for something with a bit of flare. Mats with dog-related décor details are particularly awesome. It could be anything from a paw print to the silhouette of a pooch. This is definitely a fantastic way to make a statement and have it known that yours is a dog-friendly home.
The aesthetics also play a small but effective role in getting your dog more likely to use it. If the mat is colorful or has some interesting designs, it is more likely to grab the doggy’s attention. And as they stand there examining the fun shapes and colors the fibers are busy doing their job and wicking up as much moisture as possible. Now that is how your choice of mat can make everyone happy.
How comfortable is the mat?
Yes, this is a dog doormat and not a bed. However, comfort matters just as much to the overall effectiveness that your final pick can offer. The problem is that dogs tend to be very easily distracted. The last thing on their minds after having fun outside is cleaning their paws. They want to get back in as soon as possible and keep the party going.
In addition to aesthetics, you can get them interested in spending some time on the mat by ensuring that it is actually cozy and inviting. In fact if you go for the right anti-mud dog doormat, you could get more than just their paws cleaned when they decide to lay down and catch their breath for a second.
For this perk, make sure to go for something thick and fluffy like our top pick and several of the alternatives. The soft material makes it inviting for the dog and increases the amount of time they spend there passively cleaning up.
Size of Dog Doormat
The size matters a lot and it actually contributes to the overall effectiveness of the anti-mud doormat. This is particularly the case with large breed dogs. If you get something tiny, it is unlikely that the big cuddly beast will fit their body or at the very least all their feet at the same time on the mat. This means that not all paws will get cleaned which basically beats the purpose of getting the mat in the first place.
The good news here is that most brands let you know what size dogs can comfortably use the mat. You could also get some insight from other dog owners who have used the mat through objective reviews.
