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No one likes a stinky dog. If you're interested in learning how to make a dog smell better, it's really not difficult at all. As I'll discuss in this article, a proper grooming regimen is key. There are also a few other things that you can do to keep Fido clean and fresh between bathing.
Every pet owner knows that “dog” smell. It doesn't usually bother us, unless the dog smell is unusually strong. Some dogs are smellier than others, and the scent traces that your dog leaves around your home can build up over time.
Dogs may not sweat like humans, but they do perspire from their paws. They also emit light perspiration through their hair follicles – a smell that is unique to every individual dog. A dog's skin also produces oil, which helps to keep their skin moisturized and their coat in good health.
Did you know that there are glands in the canine ear that produce a slight yeast smell? There are many reasons why dogs emit that doggy smell that no pet owners wants on their furniture and carpeting. The following tips will help you learn how to make a dog smell good in no time at all.
How to Make a Dog Smell Good
1. Regular Baths
When learning how to make a dog smell good, you don't have to bathe Fido every day. In fact, bathing your dog too frequently could actually do more harm than good.
Remember those oils emitted from the hair follicles that I just mentioned? Washing those oils away will leave the skin and coat dry and itchy. Your dog's skin and coat health are dependent on those oils, so it's important that you don't wash them away too often.
Ideally, most dogs should get a bath every 3-4 months. However, some breeds may only require a bath 2-3 times per year. Do your research. Get to know your dog's breed. Learn about his coat type and the grooming that it will require.
If you're unsure about the grooming requirements of your dog, consult an expert. Most professionals groomers would be happy to spend some time consulting with you on your dog's needs.
When you do bathe your dog, use a canine friendly shampoo that will help to maintain a healthy balance of necessary oils on the skin. Select a dog shampoo that is made with natural, soothing ingredients.
It's important that you don't ever use human shampoo on animals. It will strip the oils from your dog's coat and leave it dull and dry.
RELATED: How To Bathe A Dog 101
2. Regular Grooming
Bathing isn't the only thing that you need to worry about when it comes to learning how to make a dog smell good. As I previously mentioned, the glands in a dog's ears naturally emit a slight yeast smell. Stinky breath can also cause unwanted odor.
It's important to keep up on all regular grooming tasks including:
- ear cleaning
- tooth brushing
- expressing anal glands
- brushing
3. Feed A Quality Diet
One of the biggest factors contributing to your dog's odor may be his flatulence. If your dog is excessively gassy, his diet is probably to blame. Lower quality dog food can cause gas and digestive trouble.
Higher quality pet foods are easier to digest. Poorly digestible food causes excessive fermentation in the colon. This fermentation leads to gas and a lot of flatulence.
4. Clean, Clean, Clean
When learning how to make a dog smell good, you need to think about where he spends most of his time. If he's lounging around on a smelly dog bed, kennel pad or blanket, that smell is going to cling to his fur.
Your dog's crate and bedding should be cleaned weekly. Wash any cloth material that you can. Wipe down hard surfaces, like the crate, with bleach water to kill any odor-causing bacteria.
READ NEXT: How To Make A Dog's Breath Smell Better
