If you have a dog that lives in your house, how do you stop your house smelling of dog? Is that even possible?

[Woodspritely]

I’ve only had working dogs before, who don’t come into the house (farm dogs) but the kids want a house dog, and one of the things I’ve been considering is how to not have a ‘doggy’ house (we no longer live on a farm).

How often do you wash and brush the dog, wash dog beds, hoover, and what else can be done? Do you wash/brush dry off when you come back from a walk?

We rarely used to do any of those things - a wash was only when they rolled in fox poo!

I've know lots of people who claim to have a dog and their house doesn't smell of dog. I've never been to a house with a dog that doesn't smell of dog. I don't think it's possible? You might never smell your own dog eventually though if that's where you're going with this? My dh had two dogs when we met. One used to make me feel sick. It stank.
I used to get dressed for work and literally run away from it because of it even brushed past you you stank of it. Ewwww needless to say we don't have dogs. His second dog didn't smell anywhere near as bad though despite being same breed so perhaps it's also down to an individual dog, it still smelt of dog though.

And carpets cleaned with a fur filled vacuum absolutely reek. So make sure the vacuum cleaner is emptied and washed out very regularly.

There's no escaping it. I just put my face mask on at the shop and it smelled overwhelmingly of bacon sizzlers - I am trying to train the dog and seem to have treats in every pocket.

I know two people who have dogs and whose houses don't smell of dog. Both say that it's because their dog has a raw diet.

I have a very acute sense of smell and absolutely detest the smell of dog but their houses honestly do not smell of dog at all.

Ha. Too late Purplecatshopaholic

Another who has friends with dogs and their houses don't smell at all. One other friend had an odourless dog until the dog got old (and then the smell burnt your nostril hairs off the minute that you stepped through the door).

It's best not to care.
I love the smell of my dog. Even when she's wet and muddy. I waited for her for 3 decades so I'm really not bothered if visitors don't like it.

I don't think it's possible. We have a Labrador. I vacuum daily, mop twice a week, she gets professionally washed and groomed once a month, I wash her beds regularly and I put on candles etc. but I still think our house has a doggy smell unless I've literally just mopped.

Our dog only smells when he’s wet. Don’t get a lab - they stink!

I don't think my house smells of dog. I have a miniature poodle do as a pp said they have hair not fur and are non oily.

I also keep him clipped short and he has a full bath once a week in coconut and macadamia shampoo and conditioner and legs/feet/tummy washed if muddy after walks. Wooden floors, washable dog bedding also helps.

I have him in my bed on a throw at night and am absolutely not having him being smelly!!

All houses do not have a dog smell! I don't have a dog but have been in many of peoples home with dogs and its not smelt.

Someone mentioned that they have diffusers, just a word of caution be very mindful what essential oils you use, as I know of at least two cases where their dogs got dangerous sick and collapsed due to using certain aromatic oils, which can be fatal to pets. Worst ones are eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang which can be extremely toxic to dogs and cats.

A friend has poodles and his house doesn’t smell, I’ve asked him about it as every other house with a dog I’ve been in does. He has him groomed once a month and had one of those robot/mop hovers which mops every night and hovers 2 times a day.

Interesting others have mentioned poodles too, as that's what I was also going to say. We had a poodle when I growing up and my DM had another one later. Their hair is not smelly at all as it doesn't have that greasy doggy smell or feel. No shedding either.

The only smell they ever had was wet fur after a wash - smells like a woolly jumper right out of the wash. Their feet were washed after a walk, not to stop smells but just the same as we didn't wear shoes indoors...

We had wooden floors throughout too. I think carpets often smell after a while whether you have pets or not!

It starts with the dog, kibble fed dogs have such a distinct smell that is hard to get rid of. Raw fed, hard wood floor, windows open a lot, beds washed constantly, leather sofas, groomers every six weeks. Honestly my mother in law would absolutely tell me the second she walks in if it stank. I’ve been a dog walker for five years, some houses make your eyes water and others don’t smell at all.

Wooden flooring

I solved the problem by getting two cats, now my house just smells.

On a serious note, my sister has a dog, all wood floors and I have never noticed a dog smell.

I have the windows open for at least 20 minutes a day, wash throws over the sofas. There will always be a smell.

Apart from the time, I threw nearly a jar of garlic granules into a pot of food, then there was no animal smell for at least 2 days

He's always cleaned before coming home after a walk, they have a day g bath where we walk regularly, at least before covid. Now we do it when we get in. He has his own towels which are washed immediately, we have wooden floors which helps. He's also a short haired breed.

Ha reading this reminds me of smokers who are in deep denial that thry smell of smoke. Argue till you are out of breath but houses with dogs always smell of dog, it isn't just their fur that smells it's also their breath, their food, their water after they have had one lap of it. Of course a dog with more dog or more fur or less clean teeth will smell more but that does not mean a clean hairless dog will not smell.

Sorry but if you think it doesn't its because you are used to it. The lengths people will go to to deny it is so funny, if your closest friend who would never lie says it doesn't smell they are lying, But if you love having a dog that's the sacrifice you make and it's fine.

My house is reasonably clean. I have a JRT. I adore his smell. Everyone who comes to my house either have dogs or love dogs. Job's a good'un

I wash his towels bedding and sofa throw regularly- the sofa throw he goes UNDER for a snooze 😁 as a nod to an odour free house. I give the dog a warm water shower but no odour killing products used on him, only ever water (except once when he came home slathered in very fresh fox poo) so he smells of Dog alright. Lovely lovely homely smell.

I have a big collie x Alsatian cross and my house does smell of dog. It’s inevitable.

There’s a difference between dog smell and stale dog smell though I think.

We have all hard floors downstairs and hoover daily mop every other day. Her bed blankets are washed weekly if not more.

She’s an old girl now and smells more than she used to but I don’t mind, she’s a senior citizen and has earned the right to hum a bit .

A friend of mine has a cockapoo and her house genuinely doesn't smell of dog. Every other dog owner house I've ever been in has smelt of dog though, I think perhaps it's due to the cockapoo's size (she's smaller than average) and the fact that she doesn't really shed.

@Justmuddlingalong

Some houses with dogs have a hint of a smell, some absolutely reek. But I've never been in a dog owner's house and not noticed a doggy wiff, regardless of the cleaning regime.

I doubt you have been in a house with every dog breed in the world so you cannot possibly know whether all houses with dogs smell. THEY DON'T