Delight at Golden Retriever Who 'Knows the Drill' for Coming in When Muddy

A video of a "smart" dog following a routine for wiping down her muddy paws when entering the home has gone viral on TikTok.

The clip was posted by @katiebaby4 and has had 2.2 million views since it was shared four days ago.

A message overlaid on the clip, which was captured in San Antonio, Texas, according to the post, says: "POV [point of view]: It's been raining for a week and your yard is muddy."

The footage shows a woman inside a home spreading a towel out on a floor just by the door. She then opens the door to let a golden retriever inside. The pup immediately walks onto the towel and lays on her side, with her paws lifted parallel to the floor. The woman wipes down the dog's paws before rubbing the pup's belly, which sees her get up from the towel and walk away.

A caption shared with the post reads: "She knows the drill, my sweetest and smartest pup."

Wiping down your dog's feet can be crucial not only for keeping your house mud-free but also for your pet's health, especially in wintry conditions outdoors.

In an article for VCA, the animal hospital chain, veterinarians Krista Williams and Robin Downing warned about salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice, which have "varying degrees of toxicity" and "their effects depend upon the ingredients and the amount ingested."

Williams and Downing said: "These chemicals can burn the pads of a pet's feet. If the pet then licks its feet to clean them, the mouth maybe burned too. Wipe your pet's feet off with a damp towel after any exposure."

Pet paws are susceptible to frostbite, the veterinarians warned, advising that caked ice should be removed from your dog's feet as soon as possible.

"If you suspect frostbite, thaw out the affected areas slowly using warm, moist towels that are changed frequently. Have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the extent of the damage," they said.

Bathing your pup regularly is also essential for maintaining good skin and fur health and minimizing dog odors, advises The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The hospital notes: "How often you bathe your dog depends on many factors, including your dog's breed, the length of its fur, its activities, and if it has any health conditions."

But in general, "it is safe to bathe your dog with veterinary shampoo once a week, but bathing your dog too frequently can strip its coat of protective oils," the hospital added.

'So Smart'

Several users on TikTok were impressed with the dog's routine in the viral clip.

entnet wrote: "So smart," and Rosalina Lopez said: "Wish my dog was that well behaved."

jessicameyers212 noted: "I wish mine would be this cooperative."

KK simply said: "Good puppers."

Judy M. Hagler wrote: "Such a good girl!!" and Bold11 agreed, saying: "The goodest baby."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

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