It’s not fun to think, “My dog is smelly”. Everywhere you go, the bad smell of dogs lingers in all areas of your home. You don’t want to come out of your home with a whiff of smelly dogs, either! You might be even wondering how to get rid of the dog smell on your dog. So, what’s the solution? In this guide, we’ve put together our top 10 tips for getting rid of that dog smell and putting that fresh smell back into your home.
-
Why Does My Dog Smell?
-
How to Make Your Dog Smell Better
-
How to get rid of dog smell on dogs?
-
Get That Fresh Puppy Smell With Pawdaw
Why Does My Dog Smell?
What makes that smell in dogs, I hear you ask? Moisture. Whether that be through sebum or drool, dog secretions just seem to smell. Sebum is a lubricating substance that is secreted by dog glands to protect their skin and hair, but it can also smell unpleasant to humans. Drool doesn’t have to be wet to smell either. Even when dry, drool can still have an offensive dog smell!
But it doesn’t end there. If your dog is particularly wrinkly, moisture can build up in these areas, causing a bad smell. If these areas aren’t cleaned frequently, you could end up with a smelly dog. So, what can you do to make your dog smell a little bit nicer? Read more to find out how to get rid of the dog smell on your dog.
How to Make Your Dog Smell Better
From bathing your dog regularly to washing your dog's toys, there are a number of areas where the dog smell can linger. Here, we have 10 tips on how you can tackle that bad dog smell.
5 Tips to Make Your Smelly Dog Smell Good
1. Bathe Your Dog Regularly
If your pup whiffs of smelly dogs, the best thing you can do is bathe them! It must be noted you shouldn’t wash your dogs too often. Depending on the breed of dog you have, the time between bathing your dog should range anywhere from every month to every 3 months. Washing your pup too often will result in drying their skin out as you are stripping their coat from its natural oils.
A dog-friendly shampoo and conditioner are needed to ensure your pup is squeaky clean when out of the bath. Take a look at our grooming collection at Pawdaw to make your dog smell fresh! It is also important to ensure your pup is thoroughly dry to prevent your dog from being uncomfortable and cold. A good dog towel will make quick work of this!
Don’t forget about their teeth either! A dog’s teeth can be something easily missed so it’s important you keep track of how often you brush your pup’s teeth. This will help maintain their dental hygiene and stop tartare from building up on their teeth, just like a human. Plus, you can also reduce their bad breath!
2. Brush Your Pups Frequently
Brushing your dog’s coat doesn’t just help with reducing any mats but it can also remove any leftover debris from their coat. From clumps of mud to grass, lots of foreign objects can become entangled in your dog’s hair. A dirty dog is a smelly dog! Having a regular routine of brushing your dog will also help distribute their natural oils around their body, contributing to a healthier coat.
3. Wash Muddy Paws
When you come back from a walk, try and wash muddy paws to stop any mud from being trailed around your home and keep your pup clean. Any dirt trapped between your dog’s toes can fester and become the source of the bad smell in dogs if it is left for too long. It’s also uncomfortable for a pup to have mud or any other debris stuck in their paws, so make sure you clean these frequently to keep your dog happy.
4. Try a Dog Drying Bag or Baking Soda!
Imagine you only just bathed your dog yesterday, but they’ve just come back from a walk and are covered in mud. What do you do? Why not try a dog drying bag? This dog accessory is something all dog owners need in their collection. It’s also simple to use. Just pop your dog into a dog drying bag for about 30 minutes and they will come out dry and clean. All the mud will be removed from your dog and there will be no need for another bath.
If your dog is starting to smell but they’re not due for another bath, why not try baking soda? This is an effective method of neutralizing the smell of your dog without the need to actually wash your pup with water. Also known as a dry bath, you can simply pat some baking soda around your dog’s body to remove any unwanted smells.
5. Stay Fresh With Dog Perfume
Humans aren’t the only ones with perfume. If worse comes to worst and the smell of dog just won’t go away, you can opt for a dog perfume. Also known as a dog cologne, this nice-smelling substance comes in a range of different scents to help you pick the perfect one for you and your pup. But don’t use dog perfume as a shortcut! You must bathe your dog and brush their coats regularly to prevent any health issues and maintain their hygiene.
5 Tips to Remove the Smell of Dog
1. Neutralise Smelly Dog Odours
If the dog smell has invaded your home, you can use a range of sprays to neutralize the smell of the dog. From natural enzyme cleaners to vinegar mixtures and Febreze, these solutions target the smelly dog scent, leaving you with a fresh-smelling home.
2. Wash Your Dog’s Bedding
It may seem obvious but it is crucial you wash your dog’s bedding to reduce the smell of the dog. Even with a clean dog, your pup will be going to sleep in a dirty bed. By regularly cleaning your dog’s bedding, you will be ensuring your dog has a clean space to sleep in, removing any unwanted smells from drool or other secretions.
3. Clean Your Pup’s Toys
This is a particularly overlooked source of the bad dog smell. Think about it: your dog probably spends most of the day chewing, throwing, and playing with their toys, so you can be pretty certain that they smell. From your dog’s saliva to mud, dirt, and anything else, these toys are probably covered in a lot of substances. One way to get rid of this dog smell is to give your pup’s toys a wash regularly.
4. Cleanse Any Pet Food Bowls
Just like washing your own dishes, it is advised you also clean your dog’s food bowls. Any leftover residue from your dog’s salvia or even dog food can cause bacteria growth if it is left for a long time. This is why you should clean your dog’s food bowl after every use to ensure your pup has a clean bowl to eat out of.
5. Change Your Dog’s Diet
You may not know it but your dog’s diet can also cause a smelly dog. Certain dog diets can cause yeast infections so you should take this into account when deciding on your dog’s diet. Feeding your dog high-quality dog food can improve digestion and help maintain healthy teeth and gums, which contributes to a better-smelling dog.
Get That Fresh Puppy Smell With Pawdaw
Don’t let the smell of dogs follow you around! Try our tips for getting rid of that smelly dog scent by bathing your dog regularly, washing muddy paws, and cleaning your pup’s toys. This will keep your dog not only smelling fresh but also keep them healthy. With our grooming collection, dog towel, and dog drying bag, you can have a fresh-smelling pup in no time! Keep your pup smelling fresh with Pawdaw.
Smelly Dog FAQs
Why does my dog smell sour even after a bath?
There are other reasons aside from trapped moisture that can cause your dog to smell. For example, allergens, burns, or even different types of infections can emit a bad smell. If your pup still smells even after a bath and has any other symptoms such as excessively licking, scratching, or rubbing themselves onto the carpet, make sure you take them to your vet as soon as possible to get them checked out!
How to get rid of dog odor on the dog?
Getting rid of dog odor on your dog is definitely possible with a few steps! Bathe your dog regularly (every 4-6 weeks for most dogs), but avoid overbathing, as it can dry out the skin and make the odor worse. Use a specialized dog shampoo for smelly dogs, then dry well and brush your dog's fur.
Can I use human shampoo on my dog?
It is not advised you use human shampoo on your dog as it can contain chemicals that cause irritation to a dog’s skin. This can also make them more susceptible to parasites and viruses as their natural oils will be disrupted. It is important you have dog shampoo on hand as you never know when a pup might decide to roll themselves in mud!
How do I stop my dog from smelling so bad?
There are many different ways you can get rid of a bad dog smell, including:
-
Bathing your dog regularly
-
Washing muddy paws
-
Brushing your pup’s coat
-
Using baking soda for a dry bath
-
Spraying your dog with dog cologne
Related Articles
Why Do Dogs Roll in Poop: 6 Tips on Dealing with a Roller
Ultimate Guide: Washing Your Dog's Towels and Bedding
