WAIT! Don't wash until it is quilted. I washed a quilt top once before it was quilted and it was a nightmare. Ravels and wrinkles everywhere! It took me forever to press it out enough to quilt it and it never looked right to me afterwards. Just a warning. Try Shout wipes to spot clean.

Let the paw prints dry, brush the mud off, fiinish the quilt--borders, binding, etc. and then give it a good washing machine washing with a color catcher or two. You might want to treat the paw prints with liquid OxiClean, following the instructions, just before you launder it. froggyintexas

Continue on with the sewing and be sure you quilt it and bind it before you wash it. That will save you more tears. Washing a quilt top is a sure recipe for disaster.

I wouldn't wash the quilt top. Just try maybe to brush off what you can and proceed with finishing the quilt. Then wash it.

I would definitely not wash it yet, the paw prints should come out easily enough. I washed a top and was so disappointed afterward, will not do that again no matter what.

I would sponge clean the prints out now..then when finish wash it..that way the mud or whatever wouldn't set..

Do not wash until quilted! I get dog prints on the quilt on the sofa all the time...I just throw it in the washer and everything comes out. I use a bit of oxyclean with my soap. That's why that quilt lives on the sofa.

I'd finish the quilt and then wash it. Could you perhaps carefully brush the prints off or use a damp sponge? By the time you have it quilted you may not even see the paw prints

Try hand washing just the spot that is dirty.

Wait until the top is dry. Brush off any loose dirt.

Then finish it completely before washing it.

Generally, mud does not smell much.

Washing a top that has exposed seams (even when the fabrics were cut after washing and do not need to be quilted to anything to keep their shape) usually ends up being a big mess.