Hi,

We've been looking at many ideas and have many thoughts about what to cover our low walls with. The dogs when wet and dirty seen to love rubbing themselves up them. My father has got to the point of annoyance with this occurring.
I said about putting a boarding kennel floor in which covers part of the walls or even tiles in order for it to be cleaned easily. He's not convinced this is the way to go.
He wants to put wooden panels up, but i think in an already narrow corridor this wouldn't help the light in the area or be easy to clean.
We have thought about a dark paint which can easily be wiped clean, but he's not up with that either, he wants something which really hides the dirt and doesn't have to be cleaned so often.

What i am asking is what you guys have on your walls and is easy to clean and doesn't show the dirt very much.
We are considering outdoor kennels when the dogs are wet and dirty but this is something my father wants to deal with now.

We have tongue and groove on the lower walls in our utility room, which is where the dogs go first when they are really wet, and this wipes clean really easily. The other main problem area is the kitchen, where the dogs are in the daytime. I have to admit, we clean them regularly, but they are a bit of a mess at dog level (from having been wiped so many times, not from mud). I guess we don't notice it now.

I would suggest that you go for something that cleans easily rather than just hides the dirt. Better to actually be clean than just look it.

Paint here -and I do wipe everything down every single day, always -including the lower kitchen cupboard doors that are within dog height. I agree with MarkSurrey, I'd rather have it actually clean than just hiding the dirt. :)

I agree with you, i hate having dirt around and do my best to clean a large house on my own, look after the dogs and work as well.

I prefer the idea of wipe down paint.

> I prefer the idea of wipe down paint.

I buy huge great big cans from a trade shop and regularly just slap another coat on the dog level areas.
I have, on the odd occassion, even be known to wash the walls first LOL

> I buy huge great big cans from a trade shop and regularly just slap another coat on the dog level areas.
>

Or I guess I could just dip the wheatens in the paint and let them do the work for me as they run around, rubbing themselves against the kitchen walls!

I had a very patriotic dog once. (I'm Swedish, and our flag is blue and yellow.) Painted the living room walls blue, Golden Retriever puppy then wiped herself against all he walls so turned blue and yellow...... LOL.

Do you have a wet room for the dogs?  I don't necessarily mean a proper room but a place where they can be left to dry off a bit before being allowed into the other areas of your house.

After our main morning walk I slosh both of my boys off outside if they are really muddy, then a quick rub down with a towel before going into their crates, in the utility room, for a snooze.  They are on fleeces in there which I can wash and dry as often as I need to.  After an hour or so they are awake, dry and clean so can then come and go wherever they like.  Would a system like this help?  I should add that I always put them to bed after a walk so they don't actually notice any difference between wet or dry treatment and I've always found it a convenient time to get on with other jobs as well as satisfying my lazy housewife criteria!!

I do like the idea of having crates in a room for them to sleep and dry off.
I am trying to convince him that our dining room which is never used for this purpose anymore can be turned into a wet room so to speak for them to dry out in.
Having crates in there as well makes a lot of sense.
Though again my father is not struck on crates, i have one for my dog, but would need a larger one now he has grown somewhat, though if the Lab survives he could use my current one.

i must be mad but i have quite a dark hallway so its painted cream.
With three hairy newfs it does mean a weekly wipe down but its worth it as it really opens up a dark space.

> dip the wheatens in the paint and let them do the work for me as they run around, rubbing themselves against the kitchen walls! <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" height=10 alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20>

You could sell your very original art work. If elephants art can be sold by nor Wheatens??

A friend uses pieces of perspex over her wallpaper!
Angela

I have pinky beige (B&Q colour called sand in 6 inch square) tiles up my kitchen walls to 4 feet 6 inches with chocolate coloured grout.  they are smooth and clean easily.