The 6 Best Doormats for Your Dog’s Messy Paws

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The Spruce Pets / Lecia Landis

You can keep your house relatively free of muddy paw prints and wet puppy tracks when you use a good doormat for dogs. Made of durable material like rubber or sturdy fabrics, mats trap dirt, dust, and water. When they get grimy, just hose them off or with some, you can even toss them in the washing machine and dryer. And sometimes you cantrain your dogto wipe their own feet!

“I look for the really thick, thick rubber ones because you can hose them down quickly, they stay put easily because they’re heavy, they catch a lot of the dirt, and they last a long time,” says Judy Duhr, director ofSpeak Rescue and Sanctuary, who typically has as many as a dozen foster dogs at her home at any one time.

Our favorite doormat for dogs is the Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat. It’s durable, skid-resistant, and comes in five colors, featuring a cute and functional dog-bone design.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat

Amazon Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat

Amazon

What We Like
  • Five colors

  • Skid-resistant

  • Made with 94% recycled materials

  • Made in the U.S.

What We Don't Like
  • More expensive than some

The Waterhog doormat from Bungalow Flooring has a fun and functional raised design featuring dog paws and squares. The incredibly durable mat is made in the U.S. with 94% recycled materials. It has a strong backing made of natural rubber that will not harm surfaces, including hardwood, marble, and concrete. Unlike these, some mats are sticky and can damage floors when they get hot or wet.

Waterhog mats are skid resistant and they come in five muted colors from charcoal to khaki. They are available in just one size, which works as a mat where all the human and canine traffic comes into the house or does double-duty as a place to catch spills under food and water bowls.

The Waterhog lives up to its name, holding 1.5 gallons of water per square yard of fabric, according to the company. The ribbed design and rubber edging keep the liquid trapped so your entryway stays dry. To clean, shake it out or vacuum it, then squirt with the hose and line dry. The company makes many doormats in other designs and colors and also offers dog matspersonalized with your pet’s name.

Price at time of publish:$44

Materials:Polyester and rubber |Dimensions:approximately 22.5 x 35 inches |Colors:Blue, charcoal, brown, khaki, gray

Best Machine Washable

SlipToGrip Universal Doormat

Amazon SlipToGrip Universal Doormat

Amazon

What We Like
  • Machine washable

  • Non-slip backing

  • Comes in six colors and two sizes

  • Anti-slip

What We Don't Like
  • May stick to cement floors

This popular, durable mat is waterproof and sturdy. It keeps dirt and water locked in so you and your pup don’t spread a mess all over. When you’re ready to clean, sweep it with a broom or use a vacuum or hose. But for real grime, just toss it in the washing machine.

The mat is made of phthalate- and BPA-free PVC plastic that feels like soft rubber. It has a subdued plaid design and comes in six mostly muted colors, as well as two sizes. The anti-slip bottom keeps the mat from skidding across the floor, even when it’s wet. The mat doesn’t shed fuzzy bits and, if it gets wrinkly, just pop it in the dryer for a few minutes.

Price at time of publish:$26 (35 x 23 inches)

Material:PVC |Dimensions:35 x 23 inches, 42 x 35 inches |Colors:Black, brown, green, gray, khaki, taupe

Best Options

My Doggy Place Microfiber Doormat

Amazon My Doggy Place Microfiber Doormat

Amazon

What We Like
  • 18 colors

  • 6 sizes

  • Machine washable and dryer friendly

  • Non-slip backing

What We Don't Like
  • Slides around a little

Available in 18 colors and six sizes, there surely has to be a microfiber doormat from My Doggy Place to fit any decor and any size doorway. The mats are made from soft but tough chenille with a rubber backing to keep the floor dry underneath. They have five times the absorption rate as similar rugs, according to the manufacturer.

Besides the great selection, these mats are easy to use because they can be machine washed, then tossed in the dryer on low. The edges are double-stitched for sturdiness and to keep them from unraveling. The backing helps to keep the mats in place, although they can sometimes go sliding when a very eager dog comes bounding in the door. At least the muddy paw prints stay on the mat and not the floor.

Price at time of publish:$28 (31 x 20 inches)

Materials:Microfiber, rubber |Dimensions:18 x 24 inches, 31 x 20 inches, 36 x 26 inches, 60 x 36 inches, 96 x 24 inches |Colors:19 colors

Best Budget

Grip Master Durable Tough Natural Rubber Doormat

Amazon Grip Master Durable Tough Natural Rubber Doormat

Amazon

What We Like
  • Low profile for low-slung doors

  • Easy to sweep or hose off

  • Bristly surface is still soft for bare feet and paws

  • Less expensive than most

  • Two sizes

What We Don't Like
  • Not machine washable

This “Must Love Dogs” mat makes sure that only dog people (and dogs) cross your home’s threshold. This durable mat has a thick, bristly surface that can help scrape dirt and grime off the bottom of dirty shoes and paws. But it’s soft and not too rough on bare feet or paws. The mat is made from durable natural rubber that can be hosed off or swept with a broom, and it dries quickly.

The mat is only 1/4 inch tall, so you won’t have trouble with low-slung doors scraping across it. This particular version with the dog message only comes in brown, but a similar mat is available in 10 other colors. It’s much more affordable than many other mats and comes in two sizes.

Price at time of publish:$10 (29 x17 inches)

Material:Natural rubber |Dimensions:29 x 17 inches, 35 x 23 inches |Colors:Brown (for dog message) plus 10 other colors

Best for Dirt

GrassWorx Clean Machine Astroturf Door Mat

GrassWorx Clean Machine Astroturf Door Mat

Ace Hardware

What We Like
  • Easy to clean

  • Machine washable

  • Whimsical design

  • Made in the U.S.

What We Don't Like
  • Only one color

This Astroturf mat from Grassworx has a bit of a retro feel. You (or your parents) may have grown up with something that looks like one of these popular green mats on the front porch. The sturdy blade-like top makes it easy to scrape off dirt and dust, yet it’s still comfortable and not bristly. Dirt settles in the mat until you’re ready to clean it, then just shake it and hose it off and let it dry. Directions also say it’s machine washable.

The mat has a cute daisy in the upper corner that adds a touch of whimsy. According to the manufacturer, it can hold as much as one pound of dirt a week. There’s no skid-resistant backing and it only comes in the green, daisy design. It’s made in the United States and is resistant to mold and fading in the sun.

Price at time of publish:$25

Material:Astroturf |Dimensions:17.5 x 23.5 inches |Colors:Green

Best Splurge

Ruggable Keith Haring Barking Dog Doormat

Ruggable Keith Haring Barking Dog Doormat

Ruggable

What We Like
  • Machine washable

  • Lots of other designs

  • Mold- and fade-resistant

What We Don't Like
  • Each half of the two-part mat is washed separately

Ruggable washable rugs and doormats come in all sizes, shapes, and designs—but the key feature is that they’re washable. They come in two pieces: a cover and a bottom pad. In this case, the doormat cover is made of a bristle material and the heavy-duty bottom is made of natural rubber. Just detach and toss the cover in the washing machine when it needs a deep clean.

The bristly top of this doormat traps mud and dirt in between cleanings. It features a bright blue barking dog with a design that’s made to resist mold, as well as keep it from fading in the sun. Ruggables aren’t inexpensive, but true fans think the two-piece washable rugs are worth it.

Price at time of publish:$179

Materials:Bristle, rubber |Dimensions:36 x 24 inches |Colors:Bright blue and brown

Final Verdict

Our top overall pick is theBungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat. The durable mat is skid-resistant, made of mostly recycled materials and comes in five colors, featuring a cute and functional dog-bone design. For another great option that can be tossed in the washer and dryer, check out theMy Doggy Place Microfiber Doormat. The microfiber mat comes in 18 colors and six sizes.

What to Look for in a Doormat for Dogs

Materials

Rubber— Natural rubber is often used for mats or for the bottom layer of a mat to keep water from seeping out and to keep it from sliding. Rubber is one of the most durable materials. Mats are often made from recycled rubber.

Plastic— Mats can include various types of plastic like PVC and Astroturf. The material is typically easy to hose off and relatively durable. Look for plastics that are BPA and phthalate-free.

Microfiber— These are very small fibers made from tiny pieces of materials like polyester and nylon that are very good at trapping dust, dirt, and water. They can shed particles.

How to Get Your Dog to Wipe Their Paws

If your mat is placed right inside or outside the doorway, your pup will blot any dirt or water automatically on the way inside. But a really cool trick is to teach them to stop and wipe their paws.

  • 首先wrapping some good-smelling treats inside a towel. Let your dog sniff the towel but not eat the treats. They should get a little frustrated and dig at the towel with their paws. As soon as they do that, mark the moment with a clicker or “Yes!” and give them a treat.
  • If they use just one paw, don’t reward until they attempt the dig with the other paw. Then give them a treat.
  • When they regularly paw the wrapped towel, then make it flat with no treats inside. Add a cue like “wipe your feet!” and reward when they wipe the towel with both front paws.
  • Then move to your doormat and give the same cue. With lots of treats and patience, your pup can do all the wiping work.
FAQ
  • How do you clean a doormat?

    For regular care, shake your doormat, sweep it with a broom, or use a vacuum. If your mat needs a deeper clean, check the label. Any mat can be hosed down and then left to air dry. But some mats are machine washable and can be placed in the dryer for quick and thorough cleaning.

  • How do you get dog urine out of a doormat?

    We’ve seen this before when a puppy heads to the backdoor to go outside for a potty break and doesn’t quite make it all the way outdoors. If it’s a rubber mat, hose it off and let it dry. If it’s made of absorbent material, use astain and odor remover专门为狗尿。测试一个小inconspicuous area first if you can to make sure the colors don’t run. Then spray as directed, blot, and rinse well.


    “To remove urine, an enzymatic detergent can be very helpful at breaking down the proteins so they can be washed away,” says Jessica Ek, spokesperson for the American Cleaning Institute. “For harder-to-clean doormats, adding some baking soda and letting it sit before vacuuming it up can help absorb any lingering odor.”

Why Trust The Spruce?

To find the best doormats for dogs, we asked owners and fosters for what they look for when choosing the most effective (and best-looking) mats. We read scores of customer reviews and looked at products for features like materials, size, color options, and how easy they were to clean.

This article was researched and written byMary Jo DiLonardowho has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than 60 dogs and puppies. She has dealt with a lot of wet and muddy paws during that time! Mary Jo is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use with them such asbest dog pensandbest dog toys.