Golden Retriever is a bit smelly

[Nopetryagain]

I am fostering a gorgeous 18 month old golden retriever. He’s a sweetheart and a delight!

He has only been with me a few days and I know he had a bath the morning he moved in with me.

However, this is the first time I’ve cared for a dog at my own home and I am noticing he’s a bit smelly. Sort of like a sweaty overly sweet talcum powder scent.

I was just wondering if this was normal and just something I need to get used to or is it a sign he’s stressed?

I’m so thrilled with him I can tolerate a smell but it’s really quite overpowering which is making me question if he’s ok.

Give him a bath?

He might just be smelly. Or it might be something else. Who are you fostering him for? Did he have a vet check? I’d check his ears and have a good sniff - they can smell sweet/yeasty if there’s infection. Or maybe it’s something to do with what he’s being fed - some food allergies can result in a yeasty smell too, allergy to wheat/grains for instance.

I will but I know he was only bathed 3 days ago and he doesn’t know me very well yet so I didn’t want to freak him out unnecessarily, particularly if this scent is normal for goldies. He has only walked on the lead so far and I know he hasn’t rolled around in anything.

I think it’s a normal smell for Goldies. You could always contact a vet or groomer and ask about a powder to freshen him up a bit.

The only time my Goldie has smelt (aside from normal doggy odours) was when she had an ear infection earlier this year. It wasn't a particularly strong smell but it turned my stomach, it was revolting.
But was sorted very quickly with a vets visit when they put drops in and she shook an horrendous amount of gunk back out 🤢

Thanks everyone he has had a very thorough vet check before he came here and I’ve had a good sniff of his ears and they seem fine. I think he might just be a bit whiffy but I’ll give him another bath and will see about some powder. Thanks everyone.

All dogs smell - some worse than others. If you've never had one in your home before it's possible you're just not used to it.

In my experience golden retrievers are on the high end of ‘smelly dogs’.
I’ve had two and both smelt much more strongly of ‘dog’ than any other breed I’ve owned.
not a bad poo smell or farts or because they are dirty. Just a strong dog smell. If you stroked them your hand would smell. Where as a whippet or wire haired terrier doesn’t seem to cause this.
that said, personality wise, they are just the absolute best. So worth the stink ☺️

Dogs with longer hair tend to smell much more I find, especially if they've got wet while out on a walk. I agree that you might just not be used to the dog smell but i think some dogs do seem to smell more than others.
From what I've read it's best not to bath dogs too much as it can remove the oils that keep them water proofed and insulated

Thanks everyone, I am totally in love with him regardless of smell, I just wasn’t sure if it was normal. It sounds like it is.

Oh well, I look forward to enjoying many smelly days with him!

If he was bathed the day you got him they might have spritzed him with dog cologne - the most common scent is baby powder. I sent my dog to the groomers once and she came back doused in it - the smell made me nauseous!

We just had an elderly Goldie come stay with us for 10 days. His coat smelled very ‘dog’. His breath was also bad but his teeth seemed in good order. Goldie had wet food with his kibble and I think that was the culprit. We gave some of the wet food to our resident Pom and it made his breath smell too. Pom doesn’t smell even when wet, but likes to roll in duck poo if he can. Then he really smells 👃! Dogs are disgusting 🤮.

They can get a fungal infection of the hair follicles which smells rank. The the along his back may be greasy too.