Kanvette Indoor Washable Dog Runner Doormat - Beige & Cream

Kanvette is an indoor doormat runner covered in rows of cream sausage dogs trotting across a warm beige ground, each one with brightly coloured ears in pink, yellow, red, teal or green and a little brown bow tie. A deep teal blue border frames the whole design, giving the runner a crisp outline and stopping the soft beige and cream from blending into a pale floor. The pile is 100% nylon on a foam latex backing, and the maker describes the mat as hard-wearing. It comes in a single size, a 50 by 150cm runner.

We think it earns its place just inside the back door or the front door, where a dog coming in from a walk can leave the worst of the mud and rain on the mat instead of across your floor. The length gives four paws a few strides on the mat before they reach bare boards or tiles. It also suits a hallway, a porch or a utility or boot room, and the maker suggests laying it beneath a feeding bowl so splashes and dropped kibble land on the mat. For anyone who loves dachshunds, it brings a cheerful bit of colour to a hard-working spot.

The mat is 5mm thick. If it is going inside a door that opens inwards, check that the gap beneath the door is more than 5mm so the door can swing over the mat without catching. The maker's care instruction is machine washable at 30 degrees, so once it is covered in muddy paw prints it can go into the washing machine, and it is worth checking it fits your drum comfortably before the first wash. Before ordering, measure the stretch of floor you want to cover and leave a little room at each end so the teal border sits clear of skirting boards and door frames.

Can this doormat go outside the front door?

We would keep it indoors. It is sold as an indoor mat, so lay it just inside the door, in the porch or in a boot room rather than out on the step where rain can soak it.

Is a 50 by 150cm runner long enough for my hallway?

It covers 150cm of floor, which suits a short hall or the first stretch inside the door where most of the mud arrives. In a longer hallway it works as a landing strip by the door rather than a full-length runner.

How well does it stand up to frequent washing?

The maker says its mats keep their freshness through repeated washing and everyday use. Keep to the 30 degree setting the care instruction gives and avoid hotter cycles.

Would this make a good gift for a dachshund lover?

We think so. The cream sausage dogs with their coloured ears and bow ties make a cheerful design, and because it goes in the washing machine it stays practical long after the gift is opened.

Do I need a dog to make use of this runner?

Not at all. It does the same job for muddy boots and wet shoes, and the beige ground with its teal border sits happily in a hallway, porch or utility room whether or not a dog lives with you.