every spring my backyard gets muddy I mean lebrea tar pit muddy. I understand its spring snow melts the ground thaws etc. I guess Im looking for some sort of solution to the issue. Its mainly the path from my gate to my deck and from the deck out into the yard...the main pathways where the dogs run and play...and track it all into the house. Short of teaching them to wipe their feet, what do you think? Im not as concerned about grass as much as I am about controlling the mud. Sand maybe? I can lay hay down to help but then I have the issue of wet sloppy hay to deal with. Any ideas?