Make Your Dog Smell Better With These 6 Easy Tips

Let’s face it, dogs are the best, but sometimes they can be stinky!

Have no fear. There are several ways to keep your adorable pup smelling fresh and clean.

You can make your dog smell better by bathing them regularly and properly. However, it is normal for dogs to still smell even after a bath. If that is the case, there are also other methods you can use. Those include proper grooming, dietary changes, and quick-fix options for between baths.

In this article, I will break down some quick and easy tips and tricks for deodorizing your smelly companion.

After getting through all of the tips, you will have all the knowledge you need to get rid of that awful smell of theirs.

Let’s get into it!

1. Bathe Your Dog Regularly

The basics of keeping your dog smelling good begin with giving them regular baths. It may be daunting to think of bathing your dog yourself, but it’s really not as complicated as it may seem!

So how often do dogs need a bath? That depends on a few things:

• Breed: On average, a dog with relatively short hair and no skin issues may need a bath every couple of months. Is your dog’s breed known to be oilier? If so, they may need a wash every couple of weeks. If they have no hair, they will likely need weekly baths. Longer-haired dogs that may be prone to matting should have a bath around the one-month to six-week mark.
• Activity level: If your dog is more of the outdoorsy type, they may need washing more often. Getting into dirt, mud, bugs, plants, water, or any other messy doggy adventure will mean more baths for Fido.
• Your dog’s hair and skin conditions: If your dog has allergies or any skin problems, you will want to follow your vet’s instructions for their baths. I recommend calling your vet if your dog has lesions, extra itching, or skin discoloration.
• Your own preferences: Maybe you just want your dog to smell good. Nothing wrong with that! You’ll want to wash your dog enough to keep them smelling nice but not so much that it strips their natural oils. Don’t bathe your dog more than once a month.

Make Sure You Rinse Your Dog’s Coat Thoroughly

No matter how often you wash your dog, you’ll want to make sure that you rinse them well. This will remove any residue that could cause product buildup and clumpy fur.

Quick Tip: Rinse your dog from top to bottom, starting with the back of their neck all the way down their bodies. Make sure you rinse all their hard-to-reach places and rinse until you see the water running down them is clear with no bubbles. If you spot dark, clumpy patches of fur, it may be a sign that you missed rinsing that spot!

Use a Conditioner

Conditioner can help your dog’s hair stay healthy and keep their hair from matting. This can help them stay cleaner and better groomed in general and likely better smelling too.

You will want to use a conditioner formulated for dogs, like the Natural Oatmeal Conditioner.

Human hair conditioners can change your pup’s ph balance, leading them to create more oil and smell worse.

Sometimes Dogs Stink Even After a Bath

It can be frustrating when you realize that your freshly bathed dog still stinks! There are many possible reasons for this, including:

• Oils within the skin released through scratching
• Sweat from the oil inside of paw pads
• Scents emanating from open sores or skin disorders
• Infections or parasites inside your dog’s ears
• Dental disease, causing bad breath
• Impacted anal glands
• Odors picked up from outside or their surrounding environment

2. Wipe Your Dog Between Baths

Since it’s not a good idea to bathe your dog more than once a month, a great way to keep your dog smelling good between baths is to wipe them down with wet wipes.

There are products on the market made for dogs, but good old-fashioned baby wipes work too! Baby wipes are gentle enough for delicate baby skin, so they will generally be mild enough for your dog’s skin too.

3. Frequently Brush Your Dog

Regular brushing can keep your dog smelling fresh by removing any dirt, debris, and buildup. Less gross stuff in your dog’s hair equals less stench.

Also, keeping your dog’s coat detangled and free of particles goes a long way in keeping them smelling fresh.

4. Wash Your Dog’s Bedding Weekly

What use is it to bathe your dog only to have them lay down in a dirty, smelly bed? I recommend cleaning your dog’s bedding weekly. Here are a few quick tips:

• Vacuum your dog’s bed before washing and between washings
• Spray removable dog bed cover with stain remover
• Throw the removable dog bed cover in the wash, using doggy-safe laundry detergent
• Tumble dry on low most of the cycle and air fluff with dog-friendly dryer sheet towards the end or air dry dog bed cover

5. Make Your Own Natural Dog Deodorizer for Between Baths

If you’re looking for a few more methods to keep your dog smelling great, I suggest trying these easy tricks:

• Spritz your dog with a mix of lemon and vinegar; *bonus: this also serves as a flea deterrent
• Sprinkle baking soda on your dog, allow it to absorb, and remove the residue with a damp towel
• Make your own doggy shampoo with baking soda and cornstarch

6. Change Your Dog’s Diet

When trying to keep your dog smelling fresh, make sure not to overlook their diet. The food your dog ingest can drastically change their smell, reducing the need to use all the other methods described earlier.

Usually, your dog will smell the freshest with a clean natural diet. But, if it’s inconvenient for you, instead, you can experiment with different types and brands of dry or wet store-bought food.

You may not get it right the first time you change your dog’s food, but don’t despair and keep looking. It can make a world of difference.

No Matter How Much Your Dog May Stink, They’re Still Your Little Stinker!

Whether your dog smells a little or a whole lot, your dog will inevitably smell unpleasant from time to time.

Some dogs are more stinky than others, and it might take more love, time, and attention to keep them smelling good. Sometimes you can do everything you know to do, and your dog will still smell funky. Situations like this can remind you what a labor of love having a dog can be.

Thankfully, there are so many options to choose from to keep your pup revitalized.

As with a child, you will do whatever it takes to keep them happy, healthy, and smelling like a rose…well, as close to that as humanly possible!