To think whatever I do, getting a dog will make my house stink?

[nicas]

We fancy getting a dog next year. I'm just slightly concerned that the house will smell like a dog lives there regardless of the amount of hoovering and cleaning I do.

Are there any breeds that don't shed as much?

Depends on the dog breed.

Mine has a short, single, shedding coat and even when I stick my face in his fur I can't smell anything unpleasant or especially doggy.

Obviously if he's been rolling or swimming then he can acquire a smell, but that's usually solved with a rinse under clean warm water, with shampoo if necessary.

OTOH I've stroked other people's dogs and my hands have ended up smelling of dog.

We have a whippet, he doesn’t shed much and is fastidious about keeping himself clean (will avoid puddles on walks, hates mud). We also feed him on a raw diet, which I think helps with smells. He honestly doesn’t smell at all - and I regularly check with people I can trust to be honest if the house smells ‘doggy’! He’s 6 now and an absolute joy 😊

People have actually asked me unsolicited why my house doesn't smell of dog.
Because whippet.

We have a yorkie, he doesn't shed and stays quite clean. One example of this is that he doesn't seem to pick up mud or anything on his paws, they always seem to be clean, with a faint popcorn aroma 😍We've been told our house doesn't smell of dog, however I know full well that we can't have a dog and the house remain sterile. Only a moment ago I caught him absent mindedly licking the sofa cushions, and he has had the occasional accident, or rolled in something unpleasant! I think it very much depends on how anxious you are about the house. Just one, well trained dog should be fine though in terms of smells and mess in the average home.

I don't necessarily think it will. I know some people with dogs and their houses smell like dog and some people with multiple dogs and their houses do not! One difference is the people's houses that don't smell are very tidy and the peoples that do are not. No judgement I am not tidy and if I had a dog I know my house would stink 😂

And must depend on the breed ! After reading some comments I can also add that one of the non smelly dog houses have a whippet they also have another dog that's isn't a whippet but is short haired (it's a mixed)

Oh and also, if they’re a bitch, be prepared for a full month of bleeding twice a year. It smells foul. And you can’t take them out whilst they’re in season. You shouldn’t get them spayed before 2yo. And spaying comes with the risk of spay incontinence.

And my friend’s boy dog humps his bed to the point of ejaculation 😖

Wow @FoodFann we haven't had any problems like that.
We let our non-smelling whippet have one season then got her spayed. The season was a major pita, but we could take her out, but kept her on the lead.

We got her spayed and she recovered quickly and has never suffered from incontinence.

OMG, I’ve always noticed that floppy eared dogs smell a lot more! I didn’t know this was why.

Dog houses nearly always smell. The one non-stinky house I know is the one with wooden floors, limited soft furnishings (basket work chairs with separate cushions that are washed regularly instead of a regular sofa etc.), and a houseproud owners.

Not every dog owner smells though. I recommend paying attention to your coat/sweater hygiene and hanging coats up somewhere separate, plus not letting dogs go onto chairs, because some dog owning friends of mine always smell of dog. Other friends, however, are fine.

My friend is a clean freak, but I can still smell the dog when I walk in her house.

Our house didn't smell, though the utility room they went into to dry off and sleep overnight did. Hard floors and lots of cleaning - they were never allowed on sofas or carpets and their bed was washed a lot. My husband had them first and never thought it smelt when I was first visiting them. My sister in law's doesn't smell either but my other in law's house does and plenty I've visited do. It's definitely not inevitable!

Lots of dog owners will tell you their house doesn’t smell, as they have on this thread. Their houses do smell, they have just become nose blind to it. There will always be an animal smell in your house if you have a pet. You just have to decide if you feel it’s worth it because of how much you want a dog.

Yes, you're house will definitely smell, even if just a bit. Some dog owners might say that their house doesn't, but it does. They might say they don't care, which is fair enough.

I came on to say my Greyhound is less smelly than I'm used to with dogs...apart from his farts...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Interesting article in the guardian today about our pet keeping habits.
Could you fancy doing something else than keeping a dog?

I fostered an ex racing v greyhound for a while and he definitely smelt doggy despite getting bathed regularly. He still had his shaggy ‘kennel coat’ which might have had something to do with it.

My whippet in comparison barely smells. Just have to wash his bedding.

unfortunately people get nose blind when it comes to owning dogs but they are so worth it 😍

Get a poodle! They don’t shed and they smell lovely.

I have two small dogs. My house does not smell of dog. I spend a lot of time away so I’d definitely smell it. I have been in houses that stink of dog but not very often.

I have a giant breed dog who always sleeps in the hallway by choice. Her bedding is washed on a high temperature weekly and she is bathed once a fortnight.
I have hard wood floors and leather sofas. The floors are hoovered daily and mopped twice weekly. I like to have my windows open during the day too, so perhaps that helps with odours.
She's not allowed on the furniture, nor in the bedrooms. She was spayed after her first season with no problems after.
I've been told that my home doesn't smell of dog, but I don't actually know if it does or not.
It probably ponged more when my sons were teens tbh.