If your dog smells, there’s a good chance your house has a lingering stench. As a dogsitter constantly surrounded by pups, I’m used to it. In fact, I was at a friend’s house lounging on their patio, and my friend apologized for the dog pee smell. “Why are you apologizing to Wendy?” her husband asked. “It would be weird if she wasn’t smelling dog pee.” He’s not wrong. Of course, I don’t just know dog smells, I know how to combat them!
Proper bathing and cleaning ears and teeth will help decrease the smell of your pup. Photography by Willeecole/Thinkstock.
The easiest way to keep your life dog-smell free is to keep your dog clean!
BATHING: How often you bathe your pup depends on breed, coat, skin condition and activity level. If you aren’t sure how often, ask your groomer. My sweet mutt got a weekly shower when we hiked every day. As an inside and outside dog, the frequent bathing was required if he also wanted to cuddle in my bed! Now that he’s 13, and a lot less active, he gets a bath about once a month.
EARS: Don’t forget to clean your dog’s ears! Use cleaner specifically made for this purpose. If you’re wiping out your dog’s ears, be very careful and don’t go into the ear canal.
BAD BREATH: Taking care of your dog’s teeth is mandatory if you want to be able to enjoy doggie kisses.
FLATULENCE: I realize it’s common to blame a rogue fart on the dog, but it’s good to try and stop it from happening if you can.
Cover anywhere your pet slumbers with a washable cover. Sofa, chair, bed, floor, etc. Yoga mats make great floor covers and are easy to clean. Photography ©FatCamera | Getty Images.
The key to a nice-smelling house is constant cleaning! Depending on your pup’s activity level, you may have to vacuum and dust anywhere between daily to weekly.
Wash everything. Seriously. If it’s safe to throw it in the washing machine, do it! Soft toys, dog (and human, if he shares with you) bedding and sofa covers are all items that can be washed in hot water weekly. If an accident happens, the faster you clean it up the better.
Invest in a rug/carpet cleaner. For best results, sprinkle baking soda over your rug, and wait 15 minutes before vacuuming up. Vacuum in a four-way pattern, up and down, sideways, diagonal one way, diagonal the other.
Pushing the fibers around and getting the dirt and grime from around them is key to a good smell. Next do the same four-way pattern with your rug cleaner using the machine’s soap mixture. Finally, finish off with one more four-way pattern of a 3-to-1 mixture of water and vinegar in the machine.
If your dog doesn’t see at is an evil creature, investing in an automated robot floor cleaner and/or vacuum is a great way to keep the floor from getting grimy. Get a model specifically made to combat animal fur, and empty it often.
When all else fails, cover the scent: Some-times that smell just isn’t going to go away. Your best bet is to cover it with something that smells better. The key to neutralizing the smell is to make sure what you are using is safe for your pet. Here are some options:
Thumbnail: Photography ©uplifted | Getty Images.
Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at @wnewell.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!
One comment on “Ways to De-Stink Your Smelly Dog and Your House”
Yeast can cause a dog to be stinky, too. I’ve found it hard to get rid of, even with a fresh diet. What helps for us is a medicated shampoo.