After the snow melted last month we saw the beginning of an early Mud Season. I quickly tired of washing 40 feet every time they came inside, so we discussed putting straw down over the muddiest areas.
Rob contacted a farmer about delivering some bales of straw. The farmer suggested sowing grass seed, then covering it with the straw. Off to the farm store to buy grass seed and Rob has been busy every weekend spreading the straw over the entire yard.
The dogs love to help with this project. They follow Rob around the yard and they graze on the bales as if they were mini cows.
But the best part is rolling and playing in the straw.
I guess it must be a pretty good back scratcher.
Of course, there is one little problem.
The straw sticks to their curly coats.
This doesn't seem to bother them in the least and they continue to help.
Most of the time spent outside now they look like this.
On the way back to the house they usually have a good shake that removes most of the straw.
Rolling works some of the pieces deeper into the coat.
They don't seem to pay much attention to the mess they're making.
When they get near the door, we brush out most of the straw and pull the longer pieces out of their curls. Some straw does make it into the house and onto the carpet, but it's easily picked up and disposed of. It's much easier to handle than mud.
It looks like we got the seed and straw down just in time.
The temperatures have warmed up and the rain clouds are moving in.
Mud Season has arrived.
19 comments:
I think we must shop at the same place... we get lots of paw printed clothing as well! :)
Mud season seems to be upon us here as well... and we have rain coming all weekend.
That sky is cool!
Ooooo, that straw must feel soooo goooood!
I have to be honest - that looks like a lot of fun!
It does look like heaps of fun rolling in the straw. I can understand why you don't like mud season. Having to wash that number of feet must drive you crazy at times.
x
So funny because as I was reading about the straw I was thinking uh oh they are going to roll in it! Fun time for puppers!:)
I don't know how you do it with such a large pack! MaggieMae is enough for me to clean up when she gets her feet and belly muddy just from running in the yard (and it's coming with melting snow and rain predicted for the next four days). I think my favorite season has become dry summer as well as only cold, no snow winter...! Sigh...
i hate mud on a dog...luckily so does snuffs.
Well, I hope all of the straw you'll be removing from their coats makes up for the mud that you hopefully won't have to clean off of them!
The ground here has actually dried quicker than I expected. Marge will not lay down in the grass if it is wet, but it must be pretty dry because she is spending a lot of time snoozing in the yard.
LOL! The dogs look like they had a ride in a hay baler. :)
WhooHoo! That straw looks like a lot of fun to roll and play in. Smells good too we bet. Our Mom would agree that is probably better than mud all thru the house.
Wags
Ernie, Sasha, Chica
Well, that straw look pretty efiecient! I didn't see any mud, even after rolling...It's mud season here, too. Strangley, it mostly affect Misty...She's been bringing in clumps of muddy grass for weeks now...it seems to stick to her paws when she "wipes" after pottying.
Giggles... I will have another reason for smooching my "love to be clean", smooth-coated girls when I get home!
I'm trying to decide if I want mud or straw or both!! There is a mudhole right off our front porch step that I have doubts about ever drying up - where the drip, drip, drip of melting snow is keeping it constantly wet. And I've got two bales of straw out back just needing to be spread somewhere. And rain is on the way. My friend, you might have given me an idea.
And I thought 16 feet were bad.
Love the pictures of the pups playing! Straw wins over mud any day. I can't even imagine 40 muddy feet heading for the door. :-)
Amazing how you manage the pack! Trinket sometimes picks little grass tips and eats them, we call him our goat. Happy mud season! In my house it's usually caused by humans.
Welcome to mud season! Ours starts here, maybe as early as next week, if the snow finishes melting off. Covering the yard with straw and dealing with straw in fur has to be better than dealing with mud everywhere!
Oh, how the Momster hates mud. Hope your straw works and wouldn't it be nice if the grass grows too.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Our mom doesn't like mud either! We think the hay is a great idea and it smells good too!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
Hey, I get in trouble if I slop in a puddle and that's just water.
There is nothing like a roll in the grass. Bliss
XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella
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