The mud a dog brings in does not stop at the door mat you already own, because a standard coir mat scrapes rather than absorbs and wet paws simply stay wet. Chenille works the other way round. A dense pile of soft microfibre fingers soaks water up as the paw presses down into it, so the dog crosses the length of the mat and arrives on your carpet meaningfully drier than they left the garden.

The pile is thick enough to hold a lot of water without feeling sodden underfoot, and the fibres dry quickly, which is what stops a mat by a back door turning sour after a wet week. A non-slip backing keeps it flat in a doorway where it would otherwise be kicked into a ridge by the first person through. It machine washes and tumble dries, and the pile lifts again afterwards rather than matting down.

• Dense chenille microfibre pile
• Absorbs mud and moisture rather than scraping it off
• Non-slip backing to hold it in place
• Machine washable and tumble-dry friendly
• Sizes XS, S and M
• Grey, black, coffee grey and light grey

On placement: it only does its job if the dog has to cross it, so put it where the doorway funnels them rather than tucked beside the door. Longer runs work better than square ones for the same reason. On genuinely filthy days a mat reduces the problem considerably, but it does not replace a towel.

Who it's for: Households with a back door, a garden and a dog who uses both in all weathers.