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Housekeeping

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Original poster

If you have a dog but your house doesn't smell of dog...

58 replies

wheresmymojo · 04/03/2023 09:49

We've had a dog for a year now and I bloody love her.

She's not the worst smelling dog at all...definitely not that 'wet dog' or musty smell but nonetheless there is an odour.

She only has a bath (shower) 2 or 3 times a year because she's not the kind of dog that needs to be groomed and I keep reading how bad it is for their skin to be bathed as it strips all the natural oils out.

I do spray her now and then with some 'natural' spray but it only lasts a day and makes her skin dry too.

We have LVT floors so that's fine. But we have large area rugs in the living room and kitchen that I don't want to get rid of.

We have fabric sofas but keep them covered with throws (ours) and a mattress protector (hers) unless we have guests over. Obvs I wash these regularly.

She sleeps on the bed which is changed weekly. Her own beds get washed but probably need to be done more regularly - fortnightly?

The carpet up the stairs and in the bedroom is the worst I think even though I'm forever Vax-ing the damn thing. Hoping to have this taken up and replaced with LVT upstairs and wood/a runner on the stairs.

I've started using 2 x Febreeze plug ins which obvs help but are basically masking a smell rather than getting rid.

What else can I do?

(I also have 3 cats but they're not smelly)

OP posts:
Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 04/03/2023 09:53

Are you sure it’s the dog? Surely the smell would be everywhere not mainly on the stairs and in the bedroom?
Have you had her teeth check?
I have a dog (and luckily she never smells doggy) and I think masking it with ‘natural’ spray or using Febreeze plug-ins isn’t the answer (not to mention that I thought they were toxic to cats?)
I think I would start with a vet check.

Woopdee · 04/03/2023 09:56

From what I've read it only starts to get bad for their skin if you wash more often than once a month? The RSPCA suggests a bath every 4 weeks.
I'd say if she's smelly she needs more baths..

picklemewalnuts · 04/03/2023 09:58

Try changing her food. My dog doesn't seem to smell, he's raw fed. He doesn't even get bathed once a year, just rubbed down with a towel if he's got muddy tummy and paws.

Botheredland · 04/03/2023 10:02

Every single house I've been to that has a dog, smells of dog. Even the most pristine house and owner.

I grew up with a dog in the house and never noticed a smell but I was probably nose blind.

MyAnacondaMight · 04/03/2023 10:03

It’ll be her bed that really smells. Needs to be something readily washable on a hot setting. Also monthly baths will help.

gloriousnamechangesgalore · 04/03/2023 10:04

Yes I'm sorry - but dog=house smelling of dog.
You become nose blind to it yourself, but the smell remains no matter what you do.

SpeckledlyHen · 04/03/2023 10:07

What kind of dog is she? Personally if it’s a short haired dog I can’t understand why you would wash a dog (unless they’ve rolled in something yucky or are really muddy). I never wash my dog and her body doesn’t smell. When she gets a houndy smell about her it’s her ears that need cleaning. She has long hanging hound ears that don’t get any air to them. Also as a pp said washing her bed makes a massive difference.

picklemewalnuts · 04/03/2023 10:11

I do ask my non dog friend if it's getting doggy smelly. She says not.

Workinghardeveryday · 04/03/2023 10:19

i will get backlash from this but… our chihuahua has a bath every 7-10 days. He loves it and loves being clean after.

I wash him with baby shampoo and he always smells of baby’s not dogs. His coat is beautiful and skin fine.

Always hair dry after a bath or he would smell doggie.

his bed and blankets washed every time he has a bath.

Our living room fabreezed every other day.

Floors mopped weekly.

I agree most people who have pets are nose blind so I am extra paranoid about it. My friends often comment how lovely my home smells

JustJamie5 · 04/03/2023 10:21

We have a dog and my mum keeps saying how odd it is that our house doesn’t smell doggy. Shes a none/minimal shedding dog but is home groomed and rarely bathed because she’s so scared (rescue and came to us very matted). The only time she’s smelt is when she needed her glands ‘done’ so maybe it’s a medical thing? Or a breed thing… I’ve read that some dogs are more stinky.

Neverknowinglyunderbold · 04/03/2023 10:24

Workinghardeveryday · 04/03/2023 10:19

i will get backlash from this but… our chihuahua has a bath every 7-10 days. He loves it and loves being clean after.

I wash him with baby shampoo and he always smells of baby’s not dogs. His coat is beautiful and skin fine.

Always hair dry after a bath or he would smell doggie.

his bed and blankets washed every time he has a bath.

Our living room fabreezed every other day.

Floors mopped weekly.

I agree most people who have pets are nose blind so I am extra paranoid about it. My friends often comment how lovely my home smells

Same here. Short haired chihuahua and we give him a bath around twice a month at least.

Tulipvase · 04/03/2023 10:26

We have a 2 year old lab that has never been bathed, I don’t particularly care if my house smells a bit doggy, as we have a dog. Our house is quite old and draughty which I do think helps with the smell and we do use throws on the sofa and the floor is mostly wooden/stone.

sugarspices · 04/03/2023 10:26

You can buy carpet powder that you sprinkle on, leave for 10 minutes and then hoover up. You could use that on the rugs/carpets once a week. I really notice the fresh smell! Although my house is 80% carpet so it makes a huge difference! You can get it from most supermarkets and honestly I've found that the more expensive stuff is no better than the cheap stuff you can get at home bargains

America12 · 04/03/2023 10:36

All houses with a dog smell of dog.

Seeline · 04/03/2023 10:40

I have never been in a house that has a dog that doesn't smell of dog.
I can usually smell it in their cars
I can usually smell it on their owners too - even people I don't know/don't know well enough to know they have a dog.

Workinghardeveryday · 04/03/2023 10:41

America12 · 04/03/2023 10:36

All houses with a dog smell of dog.

Not true! But you do have to put the effort in to stop it

Chocolatecoinsba · 04/03/2023 10:44

Most houses with dogs smell doggy .. as to their cars . I have a couple of friends whose houses don’t but one house has virtually no soft furnishings at all and the other cleans daily

ToBeOrNotToBee · 04/03/2023 10:45

Are her ears pongy.

If the ears need to be cleaned, the smell definitely lingers more than normal.

PutYourBackIntoit · 04/03/2023 10:48

@sugarspices I make my own. I bulk buy a vat of bicarb of soda, fill a jar with it and add your fav essential oils.
Cheap as chips, and I use it every time I hoover.

pastaandpesto · 04/03/2023 10:48

I've never lived with a dog and I am very sensitive to doggy smells. I remember dreading having to visit friends with dogs as a child, it made me feel physically sick.

On the whole I think people's houses smell less of dogs now - I reckon it's a combination of less carpet and better diet. I have two dog owing friends whose houses (and dogs) honestly do not smell at all - both have hard floors and raw feed. Another friend has hard floors but feeds his dog cheap tinned dog food and the whole house reeks.

BelindaMelinda · 04/03/2023 10:53

Knew the 'noseblind' people would be along to scoff and insist that every house that has a dog stinks of dog 😂

Ours doesn't (scoff if you want, I don't care).

  • We have a spaniel with very short fur.
  • We have hard floors downstairs. No rugs. Hoovered and mopped often.
  • She doesn't go upstairs, ever (baby gate) so doesn't get near carpets or beds.
  • We have leather sofas which are covered with fitting throws. The throws are washed and tumbled once a week.
  • Her bed (washable) and bedding are washed once a week.
  • She's on a very expensive food.
  • She's outdoors and exercised loads.
  • Bathed once a month with deoderising shampoo. Washed down with water in between if there's mud. Hairdryed after each wash or bath.
  • Fur is kept to a minimum because DH hoovers her nearly every day (yes really 😂). Small attachment with brush on the shark and then hoovers her all over. She loves it, it's her favourite time of day.

I have a number of dog free and very honest relatives who have confirmed they can't smell dog in my house at all.

Original poster
wheresmymojo · 04/03/2023 10:58

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 04/03/2023 09:53

Are you sure it’s the dog? Surely the smell would be everywhere not mainly on the stairs and in the bedroom?
Have you had her teeth check?
I have a dog (and luckily she never smells doggy) and I think masking it with ‘natural’ spray or using Febreeze plug-ins isn’t the answer (not to mention that I thought they were toxic to cats?)
I think I would start with a vet check.

The smell is everywhere - just worst where there are fabrics (e.g. carpet and fabric sofa) where the smell clings to.

I have to say her breath is very non-offensive - good teeth, no breath smell at all

OP posts:
Original poster
wheresmymojo · 04/03/2023 10:59

Woopdee · 04/03/2023 09:56

From what I've read it only starts to get bad for their skin if you wash more often than once a month? The RSPCA suggests a bath every 4 weeks.
I'd say if she's smelly she needs more baths..

That's interesting - everywhere I've read has said once every 3 months.

If anyone has any recommendations for dog shampoo that doesn't leave them with dry flaky skin and dandruff I'd be happy to have them!

OP posts:
kitsuneghost · 04/03/2023 11:00

Sorry houses with dogs will smell of dog. Dog owners will smell of dog. Dogs are smelly. You wouldn't expect to smoke indoors and your house not to smell of smoke.

Original poster
wheresmymojo · 04/03/2023 11:03

SpeckledlyHen · 04/03/2023 10:07

What kind of dog is she? Personally if it’s a short haired dog I can’t understand why you would wash a dog (unless they’ve rolled in something yucky or are really muddy). I never wash my dog and her body doesn’t smell. When she gets a houndy smell about her it’s her ears that need cleaning. She has long hanging hound ears that don’t get any air to them. Also as a pp said washing her bed makes a massive difference.

She's short-ish haired.

German shepherd cross - her summer coat is very short (think Doberman short), her winter coat is longer/more floofy with a neck ruff.

I also agree with the PP - all dogs smell. You may not smell it if youve gone nose blind to it. My husband can't smell it.

The smell her isn't unpleasant per se...I know some dogs (labs for example) are naturally a bit whiffy because they have more oils in their coat.

It's just...there. I'd say it smells like that slightly yeasty smell their paws smell of but lighter.

It's just her natural oils and what not. Nothing gross or musty but...still...I'd like to smell it less.

OP posts: