Do dogs smell?

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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. I don't have a dog. If I walk into a house that does have one, I can tell straight away by the whiff.

I have 2 dogs and yes sometimes they smell but they don't stink the entire house out. I know this because when people come over they comment on how we have two and the house doesn't smell at all like dogs.
If your brothers dog stank the place out the dog was likely ill in some way.

Dogs smell.

My foxy smells, has done since a tiny puppy. My whippet though, unless she’s rolled in something, smells of biscuits.

No
I have a Frenchie ( I know)
who absolutely smells of nothing
My mum would certainly tell me if she stunk
I wash my sofa throws twice a week anyway
My sons girlfriends Jack Russell stinks to high heaven
Has a greasy stinky coat despite regular baths

I've had quite a few different breeds of dog and mongrels.
Basset hounds, digestive biscuit / yeasty smell. Beagle, similar.
Lurcher, didn't smell. Greyhound, didn't smell. Mongrels, could smell when wet. Current dog is a goldendoodle, no smell, no shedding. Is bathed and groomed regularly due to coat. Generally smells sweet, does like to roll in smelly things given the chance.

Yep, they do. I keep the smell down by having tiled floors which are hoovered and mopped twice a day. I also bin the “dog couch” and replace it every 18 months, because, despite having washable covers and using throws which are washed daily, after 18 months, it smells of dog. Dog beds are washed daily too. I do have a lot of dogs though….
That said, none of my friends, even those without dogs, are ever reluctant to come to my house so I don’t think it’s terrible. To me? Dogs smell like love and loyalty 🥰🥰
If you are worried that a dog might smell don’t get one.

You use some sort of plug in spray to mask the scent.

Don't do that, @YellowDaffodilRedTulip. The plug-in chemicals are irritants and especially bad for pets as they're at nose level.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/air-fresheners-and-pets

“That said, none of my friends, even those without dogs, are ever reluctant to come to my house so I don’t think it’s terrible.”

My friends have dogs and I love going to their houses and spending time with their dogs. Their houses do smell noticeably of dog though. Not farts (unless they fart) or anything specific. Just ‘dog’.

Depends whether someone thinks that’s terrible.

We have a cat and I don’t think he smells (unless you press your face into his fur, which I regularly do) but I bet non-pet owners who come to our house can smell him.

This x 1000.

Some breeds do, some do not and are known for being virtually odourless. Absolute rubbish about big dogs being smellier than small ones. Plenty of small dogs i know smell badly of dog, some of the larger breeds less so. Labs, terriers, spaniels are particularly on the nose. Been to plenty of homes where you would not know a dog lived there.

Our parsons JRT (now 13) has only started to smell in the last year, previously his coat smelt of slightly burnt hay, it was quite pleasant.
He’s very farty now due to his meds I think and they’re quite loud as well!
Oh and using plug in fresheners is really bad for all animals so either live with the smell or don’t bother. Don’t mask it, dogs have extremely sensitive smell receptors and air fresheners and even oils can cause serious issues including cancer. https://www.preventivevet.com/pets/scents-that-are-harmful-to-your-pets

2 border collies, have had lots. You can stick your nose in their fur,they don't smell, but their hair and dander will make soft furnishings, flooring smell very quickly. You have to vacuum daily,to remove it. I wash the filters in warm soapy water,then rinse and add some undiluted fabric conditioner. Laminate flooring and just a couple of washable cotton rugs. Our last dog a toy,had rotten teeth, his breath smelt awful but he was almost 18 when he died,so the vet wouldn't perform cleaning under a GA. I had a friend with a jack Russell,you stroked him, and your hand stunk. Washable sofa covers,done weekly.

All dogs can smell a bit but you can keep on top of it. We have ours groomed regularly, shower them in between and brush them every day. We have hard floors, change bedding every other day and obviously keep the house clean and aired. A good quality diet really helps. If you go all that, it’s fine.

Yes. No matter how many people say theirs don't.

All dogs smell like dog. I adore dogs and don’t find the smell unpleasant generally but some are much more stinky than others. My pup had a very thin coat and therefore there wasn’t much to hold the smell but I’m sure people visiting could tell we had a dog. Didn’t bother me though, I loved her and her feet that smelled like biscuits. She never really had bad breath either but we lost her last year at almost 9 so her teeth were all pretty good.

IMO people stink much more