Humans spring-clean to prepare for the warm season ahead, and your pet needs to do so as well. You and your dog have been cooped up all winter long, and now that spring is on its way, it’s time to get rid of the old and bring in the new.

The American Kennel Club offers the following spring-cleaning tips to help dog owners start the season off right.

Control shedding

Shedding increases in the spring as dogs lose their winter coats. To keep your dog neat and clean, regularly brush his coat to control the shedding, and make sure to brush all the way down to the skin, which will loosen and remove dead hair and dandruff.

Clean the paws

The spring often includes many rainy days, and that can mean muddy paw prints all over the floor after outdoor playtime in the dirt and grass.

Greet your pup at the door when he’s done playing outside and gently clean each paw with a damp cloth, being sure to get in between the toes to remove mud and debris. This will help keep both your dog and house clean.

Regularly wash your dog’s bed

Use a fabric cover on your dog’s bed that can be easily removed for washing.

Vacuum the excess hair and dirt and then wash the lining in a non-scented detergent without fabric softener, which can irritate your dog’s skin.