After surviving everything a soggy UK winter can throw at us dog walkers, you’ll forgive us for having a serious love–hate relationship with mud.
What starts as a lovely one hour stroll somehow ends with a full scale cleanup mission: paws, legs, underbelly… the lot.
Our routine? Wrap Freddie, our ever enthusiastic Cockapoo, in a towel burrito, carry him upstairs like a muddy sack of potatoes, and attempt the bathroom washdown.
The result: one clean dog… and one bathroom that looks like a swamp exploded. Surely there has to be an easier way.
Enter, stage left: the portable dog washer.
Honestly, it’s one of the best dog walking discoveries we’ve ever made. Over the years we’ve put models like the Petacarium and Mud Daddy through their paces, but now there’s a fresh new contender in town: the Splash & Dash.
The big question… can it knock the Petacarium off its top spot?
⚡ QUICK VERDICT ⚡ The Splash & Dash is a well designed portable washer with everything you need included as standard. Best for any dog who adores mud, at £39.99 for the 5L model and £49.99 for the 8L model, we think it's a great value option for those dog lovers looking to protect their home and car from mud. But scroll down for: ↓ Our full muddy walk test results ↓ How it compares to Mud Daddy & Petacarium ↓ Who should avoid it |
Only available on Amazon
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Here's our top six reasons why it’s absolutely worth the investment:
A Cleaner Home (and a Happier You)
Portable dog washers keep the outside… well, outside. Give your dog a quick rinse in the garden before they trot indoors, and suddenly you’re only dealing with a damp towel instead of muddy pawprints across the floor or a bath that looks like a peat bog.
Warm Water, Wherever You Are
Unlike the icy hosepipe shock of January, portable washers can be pre-filled with lovely warm water. Trust us, we’ve tested it and it’s a total game changer. Some even come with neoprene sleeves to keep the water warmer for longer. Luxury spa vibes for your pup.
No Outside Tap? No Problem
No garden tap? No worries. Portable washers are completely self contained, so you can get the water flowing anywhere without needing plumbing nearby.
Your Car Will Seriously Thank You
Mud, sand, and wet dog smell have a way of becoming permanent residents in car seats and carpets. A quick rinse before your dog jumps into the boot keeps your car cleaner, fresher, and far less “eau de swamp.”
Kinder for Anxious Dogs
From our testing experience, portable dog washers are much quieter than blasting away with a hosepipe. The gentle pump pressure makes it far less stressful for nervous pups who hate loud noises or sudden sprays.
It’s Not Just for Dogs
Yes, it’s brilliant for muddy paws… but it’s also amazing for bikes, football boots, wellies, BBQ grills, and pretty much anything else that ends up covered in grime. One washer, endless uses.
Splash & Dash are a fresh new name on the portable dog washer scene, offering two sizes: a 5L and an 8L model. For this review, we put the larger 8L version to the test.
First impressions? Very positive. Straight out of the box, it felt sturdy, well built, and like it could handle plenty of muddy adventures.
What’s in the box?
✅ The main tank
✅ A neoprene sleeve designed to keep the water warmer for longer (we’ll be testing that later)
✅ A spiral hose that should coil back up neatly after use
✅ A water sprayer with a push button and built in silicone bristles
✅ A handy sprayer holder
✅ A carry handle for easy transport
After testing several portable dog washers over the years, we’ve got a good idea of which features really matter. The tall “scuba tank” style design makes filling much easier, and the raised pump handle position is a big bonus.
Anyone who struggles with kneeling or bending down will find pressurising the tank far more comfortable compared to shorter models.
One thing that immediately caught our attention was the spray head. It has noticeably fewer holes than the Mud Daddy and Petacarium, which could mean stronger water pressure. We were definitely curious to see how it would perform in action.
The silicone bristles on the sprayer also stood out. At first glance, we wondered if they might feel a bit harsh on a dog’s coat, but on closer inspection they’re soft, flexible, and rubbery. Perfect for helping loosen those stubborn dried on mud clumps without causing discomfort.
Finally, the spiral hose and sprayer head holder are features we haven’t come across before. It’s a clever touch, making the whole unit much tidier to pack away and store.
Now for our road test.
Filling the Splash & Dash is straightforward. Push the handle down, secure it and twist, the whole mechanism comes out of the tank, leaving a wide hole to fill with water.
Filling with water pre-dog walk is nice and simple… but it does leave you playing a little game of “Is it full yet?”
There is no handy fill line, so if you get too enthusiastic with the water, it can overflow when you pop the handle back on. You also need to leave a bit of air in the tank to pressurise properly, so it is definitely more of a careful pour than a top it right up job.
The good news is you can see into the canister, so the safest bet is to stop early and leave plenty of space, unless you fancy wrestling a heavy tank while trying to pour water back out again.
Once filled, simply screw the handle back on and you're ready to go. Obviously it is fairly heavy with 8L of water (approx 10kg) but the carry strap is ideal for transporting it to the car or simply to the back door.
Several pumps was all it needed to pressurise and the water flowed out. Like other portable dog washers, the flow won't be as strong as mains water, but it's strong enough to clean a dog.
We liked the on/off toggle on the water sprayer keeping you in control. The water flowed for nearly a minute after half a dozen pumps before needing pressurising again.
The reduced number of holes didn't appear to make a difference to the water pressure.
We absolutely loved the spiral hose. It stretches out to around 2.5m (and probably a bit more), but during testing we found that going too far started to put enough tension on the tank that it could tip over.
That said, the length is more than enough to make rinsing those awkward, hard to reach muddy spots on your dog nice and easy. In total we had over 9 minutes of flowing water from a pretty full tank which should be plenty to clean a large dog.
The water flow is OK, significantly weaker than from a hosepipe, but on the plus side, it's gentle on your dog's skin and easy to control.
Freddie didn’t mind the water flowing, but he wasn’t a big fan of the silicone bristles brushing against his legs.
We'd suggest introducing the water feature first, then using the bristles once your dog is more comfortable with the Splash & Dash.
It might just be our pup, but maybe softer, more flexible brush bristles rather than the firm, rubbery silicone ones, would be less harsh on our dog’s legs.
That said, they might not be as effective at dislodging dried on mud, so it’s definitely a trade off.
We also tested how well it retained it's water temperature. For the test, we filled the tank with 60°C and tested the temperature every hour for 3 hours.
Time | Temperature |
Initial | 60°C |
After 1 hour | 56°C |
After 2 hours | 53°C |
After 3 hours | 50°C |
The neoprene sleeve did a brilliant job of keeping the water nice and warm, we were genuinely impressed.
It’s worth mentioning though that during our test, the Splash & Dash was stored in the kitchen, so it wasn’t battling freezing temperatures. If you left it sitting in a cold car boot for hours, the water would definitely cool down a bit faster.
When it comes to washing your dog, you want the water to be comfortably warm (not hot), basically the same sort of temperature you’d use for a baby’s bath.
Around 37–39°C is the sweet spot, as it’s close to body temperature. Anything above 40°C is best avoided, since dogs’ skin can be more sensitive than ours.
The easiest rule? If it feels pleasantly warm on your wrist (not hot), then it’s just right for your muddy pup.
Here's a summary of our scores and notes on all the key features and performance.
Test Criteria | Score (out of 5) | Notes |
Ease of setup & filling | 4 | ✓ Wide, top opening ✗ No Max. fill gauge |
Pressurising ease | 5 | ✓ Easy to push down vertically |
Water pressure & flow | 5 | ✓ nearly a minute after 6 pumps ✗ Water pressure weak compared to mains |
Water temperature retention | 5 | ✓ passed 3 hour test |
Mud removal effectiveness | 4 | ✓ Long hose to help reach tricky spots ✓ Brush bristles help |
Dog tolerance (anxiety test) | 4 | ✓ No noise, but did try to avoid the water, long hose helped |
Portability & carry | 4 | 8L version is heavy, so maybe could do with an additional carry handle |
Build quality | 5 | Solid, no leaks |
Value for money | 5 | Great value for a 8L Washer including neoprene sleeve and integral brush |
OVERALL | 4.6 |
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So the Splash & Dash performed admirably in our tests scoring 4.6/5, so how does it stack up against other well known portable dog washers we've reviewed?
Feature | Splash & Dash | Petacarium | Mud Daddy |
|---|---|---|---|
Price (UK, approx) | £49.99 | £54.99 | £49.99 |
Tank size tested | 8L | 8L | 8L |
Integral brush | ✓ Included | ✗ Extra cost | ✓ Included |
Insulated jacket | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✗ Extra cost |
Hose length | 2.5m | 1.3m (2m extra cost) | 2m |
Pump ease | Easy | Easy | Moderate |
Water warm after 1hr | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ Tepid (without jacket) |
Water warm after 2hrs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No (without jacket) |
Suitable for anxious dogs | ✓ Silent | ✓ Silent | ✓ Silent |
Our overall score | ★★★★★ 4.6/5 | ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 | ★★★☆☆ 4.0/5 |
We think that the 8L models are suitable for medium to large dogs or even multiple dogs. All three brands offer smaller 5L versions which are suitable for small to medium dogs.
Overall, we came away seriously impressed.
It has a very similar “scuba tank” style design to the Petacarium, but with a few clever extras included as standard.
The neoprene sleeve is a great touch for keeping the water warmer for longer, and the sprayer with silicone bristles is a genuinely useful addition for shifting stubborn, dried on mud.
The Splash & Dash comes with the longest hose of all the brands we tested, and it makes a real difference. That extra reach is super handy for moving around your dog and getting to all those awkward muddy spots with ease.
We also loved the spiral hose and the spray head holder, which make the whole unit feel neat, compact, and easy to store away after use.
The only minor drawback we noticed was when filling the tank. It’s a little bit of guesswork at first to judge when it’s full enough without overfilling. That said, after a couple of uses, we’re confident you’d quickly get the hang of it and be able to fill it to the right level just by eye.
We’d happily recommend the Splash & Dash to anyone with a medium to large dog. Smaller breeds could probably get away with the slightly cheaper 5L version, but for bigger muddy pups, the 8L is spot on.
And the big news? After thoroughly testing it, the Splash & Dash has officially knocked the Petacarium off our top spot, and that’s been our number one dog washer for the past couple of years.
We’ll be updating our Best Portable Dog Washer guide with the Splash & Dash sitting proudly in first place. 🐾🏆
✅ BUY the Splash & Dash if:
You’ve got a mud magnet of a dog and want a portable washer that comes fully kitted out straight from the box. No extra bits to buy, no fuss, just clean paws and less chaos.
❌ SKIP the Splash & Dash if:
You’re not a fan of heavy lifting. When the tank is full it weighs around 10kg, so if lugging that around sounds like hard work, the lighter 5L version might be the better choice.
Only available on Amazon
Both brands offer 5L and larger 8L models. We prefer the pressurising handle on top of the tank like the Splash & Dash model rather than at an angle (Mud Daddy) as it's easier to pump.
Whilst they're the same price, the Splash & Dash includes the neoprene sleeve which is an additional expense at Mud Daddy (costing £16.99 for the 8L model).
You can splurge on a battery-powered Mud Daddy brush. We’ve tried it, and honestly, it feels like buying a luxury gadget for a six-push workout. Pressurising a washer is literally six pumps… so unless your wrists are on strike or you’re aiming for ultimate laziness, it’s probably overkill.
If you do decide to go full techy and grab the Power Brush, it comes with a rechargeable battery and a USB cable.
We fully tested the Splash & Dash over the course of several hours to check it's water temperature retention. For the test, we filled the tank with 60°C water and after 3 hours it had fallen to 50°C. The neoprene sleeve works exceptionally well.
We'd recommend the 5L model for a small to medium sized breed (approx up to 15kg) and the 8L for a medium to large (or multiple dogs)
The water sprayer includes silicone bristles which help dislodge mud.
Currently only available through Amazon. The 5L is priced at £39.99 and the 8L is £49.99.
If you're looking for more information, browse our wide range of Guides -
PORTABLE WASHERS
CARPET CLEANERS
CAR PROTECTION
DOG WALKING
Thank you for reading our Splash & Dash Review, we hope you've found it useful
Happy dog walking from the Smart Bark Team.
Claire is the founder of Smart Bark and a lifelong dog lover.
With a 10 year background in retail buying for one of the UK’s major retailers, she brings a keen eye for quality and value to every dog product review.
Claire personally tests every item featured on Smart Bark with her own family dog and her team of dog testers—so you get honest, expert advice (not recycled marketing blurb) from someone who truly understands what works in real life (and what doesn’t).
No gimmicks. Just trusted recommendations backed by experience.
