Do dogs smell?

[settingss]

I’m mid 20s and thinking about getting a dog, but I’m not sure if it fits my lifestyle.

When I was a child, my brother got a dog and then took it with him a few years later when he moved out. So I didn’t really spend that much time with the dog myself nor as a caregiver. I remembered the dog smelled, would make the house smell, would have bad breath etc. the dog bed would smell, rooms would smell when he would even just walk through, and my brother opening his bedroom door (with the dog bed) would stink out the entire house. to be honest it was a bit of a relief when my brother moved out! People would comment on it and I’d be embarrassed to have friends over.

I don’t know if the terrible smell was just due to how my brother looked after it, or whether this is normal for dogs to have unpleasant odours?

Yes. More so if wet.

Yes they do.
I adore our dog but, even though she is really clean and the house is cleaned regularly, there is an odour. And you haven’t even mentioned the stinking farts, the smelly food or the stench when you get the delightful job of poop scooping.

Yes.

Hmmmm i don't think it's normal for a dog to stink out the entire house, no.

But yes, dogs smell. Most people* who own dogs have houses which smell mildly of dog (sorry).

*I know there are exceptions where there are dogs and the owners clean a lot and there is no smell and at the other end where the smell is not mild too

Yes. All dogs smell and any owner who says differently is nose blind and being lied to by their friends/family.

However it doesn’t have to be bad, and it sounds like your brothers situation was extreme.
You wash beds, covers, throws, towels etc frequently. You keep windows open to air out the rooms. You use some sort of plug in spray to mask the scent.

The breed of dog will also make a huge difference, coat thickness, hair length, shedding etc will all add to the smell.

Depends on the breed and the dog, the food they eat if they roll in anything.

i love golden retrievers but couldn’t deal with the smell and shedding. My cocker spaniel hardly sheds at all, has a very silky coat and only smells when wet but we have a space with hard floors and his bed that I can wash so I don’t think our house smells. My parents have cats and would tell me.

a couple of times in the winter i walked in and was aware of a dog smell so I opened windows and washed the sofa throws.

Yes, imo, yes. I notice it more since my old dog died. I didn’t notice the smell of ‘dog’ as much when I had one, but now I couldn’t be doing with the smell or the mess.

Dogs themselves have a musky scent, but the house doesn’t need to smell badly. Keep the dog clean with regular baths, wash blankets, beds and bedding, clean soft furnishings regularly and air the house. Anyone/thing will smell badly if you don’t keep up hygiene and cleaning.

We have two dogs and, because we live within easy reach of rivers and lochs that they can paddle/swim in, and they do so regularly, they honestly don’t smell much, if at all.

When we have been away from home for a few days, and walk back into the house, neither of us notice a doggy smell - though I accept that other people might notice something.

We do stay on top of washing their bedding regularly, and we have doors and windows open as much as possible, which does help, I think.

But I have to be honest and say that dog farts - particularly Labrador farts and greyhound farts - can strip paintwork, and frankly should be classified as bioterrorist weapons!

Yes they all do. Some worse than others.

Yes they 100% do.

Shiny coated dogs can really stink. My friend has a Labrador and even just stroking him makes my hand stink.

Our old dog didn’t have a smelly coat, but he had extremely smelly breath.

It’s important to get dogs groomed regularly, with baths in between if they roll in shit and clean their bedding weekly.

Yes they do. Whether it’s their breath, their coat or their farts dogs can be very smelly!

Dogs do smell but they shouldn't stink imo. I'm sure our house smells faintly of dog but it's not overpowering. Limited/washable soft furnishings helps.

Diet can play a big part too, my labs rarely fart, don't have bad breath and they don't have greasy coats but I've met plenty who do.

All animals smell, including humans. Dogs will definitely smell, but the effect can be minimised by choosing specific breeds, keeping the house clean and ventilated, and keeping the dog brushed and groomed. Oh, and keeping bedding washed helps massively too.

We have a Labrador who a) has lanolin in his coat which brings a certain aroma, and b) will find the smelliest mud to roll in as often as possible. Luckily he hasn't rolled in fox poo yet, but I'm sure he will.

I've actually been surprised how smell free we have been able to keep the house. It is much easier in the summer. Constant mud is depressing. I know people say that dog owners get nose blind, which is true to an extent, however we have good friends who will be honest enough to tell us. We have hard floors which makes it easier too.

I think it might depend on breed.

My only experience is border collies - admittedly not my own but my aunt/uncle, who live in a very big house (so not small airless rooms). The dogs have never smelled, the rooms don't smell, the only time one of their dogs had bad breath was because they had taken on someone else's dog and it had bad teeth. Once that was sorted the dog's breath didn't smell any more. And the dogs didn't fart.

That's not particularly helpful as a border collie probably won't suit your lifestyle. But it does show that not all dogs are smelly.

Had an estate agent round a while ago, who went out of his way to tell me that the house had no doggy smell
We have one, she is short haired, she has regular baths and her blankets are washed often .

And the dogs didn't fart.

Mine doesn't either. Shame, as I was hoping to be able to blame him periodically.

They do smell, yes. To varying degrees. Some stink, some less so, but they have a distinctive doggy scent and it clings to everything. I can tell immediately on entering a house if they have a dog.

Yes they do.

I have a bull breed which aren’t known for being extra smelly but I’m still aware that I have a dog smell.

You can always smell when someone has a dog.

Yep.
So do cats, i have a cat and notice the smell when i've beem away despite windows being on the latch, an air purifier running and clean bowls/litter tray.

I think it depends on breeds. I've found that furry dogs (dogs with hair that falls out) often smell more than hairy dogs (who have hair and skin more like ours that doesn't shed as much). Hairy dogs are easier to bath but you usually have to get their hair cut periodically because it keeps growing. Big sweeping generalisation but that's my take. Size is a consideration obviously, bigger the dog, bigger the potential for smell.

I had two dogs of the same breed (mini schnauzer) one of whom was a little whiffy as his hair was thicker and tended towards bad teeth/breath and the other smelled sweet and positively delightful imho 😄When they're your dogs and you love them you stop caring, really. If you're really bothered by it, I'd perhaps not get a dog. Its a huge responsibility and probably not for the very fastidious.

Well my spaniel normally smells like someone has sprayed him with expensive aftershave for some reason, and our older lab smells like an older lab...
Then they get wet and they stink 😂
But day to day unless I actually sniff then tbh I can't smell dog. My friends and dm (who is brutally honest!) have assured me the house doesn't smell like dog, but I'm pretty vigilant with cleaning and mopping.
Worth the occasional smell though.

And yes you have to stay on top of washing blankets/throws/dogs etc.

I've never been to a house with a dog that doesn't have a dog smell.
People will say their dog doesn't smell but that's because they're nose blind.