The walk is over. You reach for a towel and your dog pulls their foot away. Mud is inconvenient, but holding a struggling dog by the leg can make paw handling harder the next time they actually need care.
First, check whether one paw is painful, red, swollen, or injured. A new aversion to touching one foot deserves veterinary advice. If the paws are simply muddy, put a soft absorbent mat at the entrance and invite your dog to walk across it a few times. A gentle treat scatter can encourage movement over the mat without anyone grabbing a foot. Choose a surface your dog can stand on comfortably, not a scratchy mat that they avoid.
Make the towel predictable
On a dry day, set the towel nearby and reward your dog for approaching. Touch a shoulder briefly, reward, and stop. Work toward a light touch near one paw only when they remain relaxed. Then briefly touch the paw with a dry towel and reward. Pause often and let your dog step away. A muddy day is not the moment to rush through all four feet for the first time.
If road salt, chemicals, or another irritant may be on the paws, cleaning may be urgent. Call your veterinarian for safe advice if your dog will not allow it, rather than using a harsh product or struggling through a painful wash. A no-touch mat can handle ordinary dirt while the handling skill grows.
The aim is a dog who returns to the doorway willingly, not a floor that stays perfect at any cost.
Sources: Dogkind Training: Easy No-Touch Paw Cleaning. Dogs Trust: How to handle your dog.