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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the house might smell?

83 replies

NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:04

Ds and I were just talking to dsd about when we get a puppy. It's been in the pipeline for a while but we've had to puppy proof our garden (we're rural and have lambs out front and calfs to the side so needed to plug the fence). She looked very unimpressed and asked if we were getting just one puppy because, at her mum's house, she has 3 dogs (including a 6 month old puppy) 5 cats, 2 ferrets, 2 hedgehogs (I believe her dm used to breed them at some point), a rabbit, a snake and fish Confused

We knew they had animals but, bloody hell, my nose hurts just thinking about it. The sad thing is she just said she can't play in their garden because it is covered in poo of various types.

Is it possible to keep that many animals and the house not smell?

OP posts:
monkeysox · 04/04/2016 08:14

Unlikely if they're in the house.

shrunkenhead · 04/04/2016 08:20

Highly likely. Even clean dogs smell when wet...I wouldn't risk it.

shrunkenhead · 04/04/2016 08:22

And that IS really sad about not being allowed to play in the garden! I'd get someone onto it as those dogs clearly aren't being taken for long walks or cleaned up after.Sounds like a health hazard to me...

NicknameUsed · 04/04/2016 08:23

"Unlikely if they're in the house."

Seriously? Do you have a poor sense of smell?

MaidOfStars · 04/04/2016 08:30

Nickname I think you've missed a negative there.

Q: Is it possible for the house NOT to smell?
A: Unlikely.

I agree with all above - it will pong. At minimum, even just a 'healthy', earthy sense.

monkeysox · 04/04/2016 08:33

Maid. Exactly. I do think it would smell. I was replying to op's last question.

MartinaJ · 04/04/2016 08:33

I think you'll get used to it. I smelled my cat for like the first week. Afterwards I got used to it. And they are both clean, poo and wee in the field behind our house and are great at grooming. But you still get a bit of a smell. Wonder how we stink to them.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:33

Sounds like a health hazard to me...
That's kind of what I was thinking Sad

OP posts:
BlueMoonRising · 04/04/2016 08:34

I'm just going to say yes.

And not clarify which of the two questions (that ask exactly the opposite to one another) I'm answering ;)

It's no wonder people are getting confused by others answers!

So op, why do you ask?

NicknameUsed · 04/04/2016 08:35

Oops, sorry monkeysox Blush

KP86 · 04/04/2016 08:36

The residents will get used to it (ie. your family) but chances are visitors will notice.

When we had inside dogs I opened windows and doors as much as possible to air the place out. I was so paranoid about doggy smells. I also tried to keep them off the carpet as much as possible.

It's a bit like houses with babies/toddlers tend to get a bit of a permanent nappy smell around the changing area but mum and dad don't notice. Again, airing out as much as possible helps.

Sadmother · 04/04/2016 08:36

What the fuck...? You are judgy mcjudgepants, what is missing in your life op?that you have to speculate about how another house smells?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:37

You're right martine you do get used to it. My friend has a couple of dogs and cats and her house doesn't smell like spring meadows! It chokes you when you walk in but don't notice after a few minutes.

Dsd has just said there are over 20 animals in the house but her dm wants more Confused

OP posts:
merrymouse · 04/04/2016 08:40

Their house probably does smell of animals, but why is that a problem to you?

Do you think you will have to get lots of animals?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:42

sadmother this is an Internet forum that encourages discussion, I asked a question and people answered....kind of how discussions go, no? My life isn't missing anything but thanks for your concern Grin

I do, however, worry about the health risks associated with having 20+ animals in a house.

OP posts:
Cheby · 04/04/2016 08:43

I can always tell if someone has dogs when I enter their house, pets do have a smell. I have two cats, I can't smell them, but maybe other people can. I can't usually smell cats in other people's houses though (unless they have an unclean litter tray, which is a different thing). Ours have a tray but refuse to use it so it's clean all the time.

A family member has 4 cats, with indoor trays, a hamster and a snake. It is very obvious when you walk through the door. And I know she cleans them regularly and keeps the house clean.

So I guess it depends if you are happy to put up with the smell of animals because of the enjoyment you get out of them. I can't face getting anything that has a cage that needs cleaning. I hope DD doesn't ask for stuff like that as she grows up!

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:44

merry no way, one puppy will be enough!

OP posts:
ohtheholidays · 04/04/2016 08:44

18 pets it sounds unlikely and if there's lots of poo in the garden then that's unfair on the animals and any children living there.

Honestly I'd be concerned for your DSD.No child should be unable to play in they're own garden because of pets they're parents have.

We have 3 Dogs and our children can always go into the gardens.The Dogs get walked twice a day and my DH and myself both check the gardens 3 times a day,if there's any dog mess we remove it straight away.

With the house smelling,well we groom the dogs every week and the house is aired and cleaned from top to bottom every day.I have a very sensitive sense of smell,I just couldn't live in a house that smells and there's no way I'd let our 5DC live in a home that was smelly.

Sadmother · 04/04/2016 08:44

What health risks?

BalloonSlayer · 04/04/2016 08:46

I went to my sisters last week to see her new puppy. I haven't been for ages as DCs are allergic to her many animals so any smell would have been very noticeable to me. Her house smelled lovely - not doggy/pooey/weey or of her cats.

raininginspringtime · 04/04/2016 08:50

I love animals and I don't honestly see the problem.

Three dogs and five cats is a lot but it's in relation to space - I have three cats in a one bedroom apartment. Maybe it does smell a bit, I don't know. It probably did more when I had carpets (when I first moved in) but I've since had wooden floors throughout and have a window open throughout the day.

I notice worse smells to be honest.

The issue here isn't the number of animals but the garden.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:51

Dog feces may contain parvovirus, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms,
threadworms, campylobacteriosis, giardia, and coccidia. If left
unattended, these parasites will contaminate the water, soil, and
can even cause infection in both pets and humans (especially
children). The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to another
pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental ingestion
as can other bacteria.

WHICH PARASITES CAN HUMANS ACQUIRE?

Yes, humans are capable of contracting hookworms, tapeworms,
threadworms and campylobacteriosis. This is the most significant
reason to avoid allowing dogs (especially puppies) to like your
face and mouth - affectionately known as "puppy kisses"
Children are especially venerable to infection because they tend to
enjoy playing in the dirt, where parasites such as hookworm larvae
lay dormant waiting for a new host. Young children may also put
dirty hands or toys in their mouth, further increasing the chance
for infectious material consumption.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 04/04/2016 08:51

The dog border that I use has leather furniture, all wooden flooring, including the stairs and tiles in the kitchen/conservatory.

He has two spaniels of his own that love water/mud etc. He has at least five dogs per day in his house and I was amazed that there was no dog smell.

So it is possible.

Having been round ferrets, it would need a lot of daily commitment for them not to smell.

Cats don't necessarily create a smell, either.

What I find with the people that I know with dogs, is that they tend to clean daily and use steam etc. They also open doors/Windows, which makes a difference.

You do get used to smells, btbh, I rather a wife of dog than the smell I've encountered in some people's homes, that aren't as clean as they could be, open windows etc.

Enclosed Human smell, beats any animal smell.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:52

The above was some light reading for sadmother

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 04/04/2016 08:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.