You can no longer smell it yourself, but guests notice it as they come in. Dog smell comes from a few specific sources, and each has its solution. Here is how to deal with them, one by one, with simple habits.
Where the smell comes from
A dog's skin produces sebum, a natural oil that protects the coat. This sebum has a smell, stronger or weaker depending on the dog. It is deposited wherever the dog rubs: bed, sofa, rugs, car. Damp makes it more noticeable, hence the smell of wet dog after a walk in the rain.
A strong smell, a new one, or one that comes back very quickly after a bath can also come from a health problem. We come back to this below.
The bed first
Your dog spends long hours in it. This is therefore where the smell builds up most. Wash the cover regularly, generally every one to two weeks, more often during shedding or after muddy walks. Vacuum between washes.
The simplest is a bed whose cover comes off and goes in the machine. The cover of the Nino corduroy bed in cloud grey is zipped and washable at 30 °C, and the foam stays protected inside. Air-dry the cover before putting it back: a cover put back damp keeps the smells. Our guide to washing your dog's bed sets out the method and the frequency.
The dog themselves
Brushing
Regular brushing removes the dead hair and dust that hold smells. It is a simple habit that helps a lot, and it also limits hair in the home. Brush them on the balcony or outside when you can: the hair and dust stay out of your home. Our guide to shedding and hair at home helps you choose the right brush.
Baths
Baths that are too frequent can irritate and dry out the skin. Use a shampoo made for dogs, and ask your vet or groomer for the right rhythm for yours. Between baths, a damp glove passed over the coat after the walk is often enough. Dry the skin folds and the underside of the ears well, where damp stays.
Coming back from a walk
Keep a towel by the door. When it rains, wipe the paws, belly and back. A dog dried straight away smells much less of wet dog.
The home
- Air the home every day, for about ten minutes, windows wide open, even in winter.
- Vacuum often: floors, rugs and the sofa, with a vacuum fitted with a pet hair brush.
- Protect the sofa with a blanket that you wash often, so that the sofa fabric does not absorb the smell.
- Wash fabric toys from time to time, and bowls every day in hot water.
- Try bicarbonate of soda: sprinkled on a dry rug, left for a few hours and then vacuumed, it helps neutralise smells. Try it first on a hidden area.
For small urine accidents, clean quickly with an enzymatic product. Avoid bleach and products containing ammonia: their smell is like that of urine and can encourage the dog to go back to the same place. Also avoid strong air fresheners near their bed; their nose is much more sensitive than ours.
Textiles and the car
Cushions, curtains and rugs hold smells as much as the sofa. Wash them in turn: one textile a week keeps the home fresh without taking up your weekends. In the car, a washable blanket or seat cover, laid down for each journey, stops the smell settling into the seats.
When the smell signals a health problem
Some smells do not go away with cleaning. See your vet if you notice:
- marked bad breath, a possible sign of tartar or a dental problem;
- a strong smell coming from the ears, with or without scratching;
- greasy or red skin, with patches or itching;
- a strong smell from the hindquarters, or a dog that often rubs their bottom on the floor;
- a smell that comes back within a day or two after a bath.
These problems are treated better when caught early.
In short
- Wash the bed cover every one to two weeks, and dry it well.
- Brush your dog regularly and dry them after walks in the rain.
- Air the home every day and protect the sofa with a washable blanket.
- Clean up accidents with an enzymatic product, never with bleach.
- Strong smell from the ears, skin or mouth: see the vet.