How to Get Rid of a Foul Dog Smell

Your family dog may be truly adorable and sweet, but it can sometimes be difficult to ignore his strong doggie odor. If your dog's body odor is persistent and is making your home smell anything but pleasant, take action and figure out how to conquer the situation. A variety of factors can cause a dog to emit a bad odor, from going outside during the rain to excessive sweat on a hot and humid summer day.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog shampoo
  • Warm water
  • Vinegar
  • Bucket
  • Sponge
  • Baking soda
  • Vacuum
  • Extra dog blankets
  • Comb
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Regularly bathe your dog. Bathing recommendations differ depending on the dog breed, so consult your veterinarian and find out how often is optimal for your beloved pet. To maintain a clean environment (and to ensure that the odor problem doesn't get out of hand again), however, wash your dog periodically, particularly during the summer months. If your dog hasn't bathed in years, it inevitably will cause your home to smell, especially if it spends a lot of time jumping up on couches and sleeping on beds. To bathe your dog properly, always use a shampoo specifically created for canines.

    • 2

      Handle stains immediately. Even if your dog is fully housebroken, the possibility of an accident exists, especially if you were away all day or the dog suddenly got sick. If you notice a vomit or urine spot, for example, clean it up as soon as possible. Allowing the stain to remain for a while will just encourage your dog to revisit it later and continue to repeat the behavior. Mix equal parts warm water and vinegar into a bucket, and dampen a sponge with the solution. Place the sponge over the affected spot and firmly scrub away the stain.

    • 3

      Manage your dog's bedding. One culprit behind offensive dog odor is unclean dog bedding and blankets. Keep a few extra dog blankets on hand so you can thoroughly wash the bedding once a week. Apart from simply washing the sheets, move your dog's bed and wipe up the floor underneath.

    • 4

      Look for hidden food. Dogs often enjoy eating meals and treats in covert areas throughout the home, whether in the corner of the linen closet or under the office desk. From time to time, seek out your dog's favorite hidden areas to make sure it hasn't stashed away food items, which could eventually lead to strong and unpleasant smells throughout the rest of your home.

    • 5

      Groom your pet. Many dog breeds are long haired. Things can easily get stuck on long-haired dogs, especially after being outside for a long time. To eliminate potentially very dirty things from clinging to your dog (and causing aggressive odors in your home), groom your dog regularly. Comb and trim your dog's fur regularly, particularly around its rear area.

    • 6

      Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups. Strong dog odor is often associated with health problems. To ensure that your dog is healthy (and also to take control of the odor situation), schedule an appointment with the veterinarian to check for possible health issues including ear or skin infections, which produce unpleasant-smelling bacteria, and anal sac disease.