Smell of dog - should I say something?

I would not say anything. Not having a dog you’ll
Notice it more, what’s the solution ? There isn’t one really ..

I can't bear the smell of dog, particularly dog pee, but I think it is just dog in general. I feel much the same about small rodenty creatures, though I'm less bothered by the smell of cat, unless they're very old or very active tomcats.

Maybe the dog thinks you smell and it’s the dog’s house if you don’t like it stop in a hotel. If someone told me my dog was smelling unless they had just passed wind I would have agreed with them but if you want to keep your relationship with them I’d say nothing and put up with it after all it’s their house not yours.

I can't bear the smell of dog. It's a bit like smelly feet only worse and makes me feel a bit sick. I have a very keen sense of smell which doen't help in these situations. Some people are better than others at unpleasant smells. I think dog owners manage better but also not all dogs have a strong smell.

I bought a second hand car from a reputable dealer and my only stipulation about any car was that it should not have been previously owned by a dog owner. Initially it was ok but in time the smell that they had successfully covered up with lots of products emerged. I now have to constantly spray my car to cover it up.

I visit a good friend who recently got a new dog and the house smells but I manage to put up with it.

There were anti-smell products adverts on the TV for dog owners saying you might not notice your dog smell but your guests might.

I understand 'love me, love my dog' but owners can do things that make their house more guest friendly as well.

I am a dog owner and have had Bichon Frise and Maltese dogs for 40 years or so. Mine have to be washed and groomed every 4 weeks for their coat and they don’t smell normally but this year I rescued a little girl Bichon and for the first time ever I’ve noticed she develops a ‘doggy’ smell a week or two after grooming, so I use Fabreze on my chairs, carpets etc open my windows every day and wipe the floors over with swifter wipes with a slight floral smell. I don’t like smelly plug ins or normal air fresheners, some of which can be harmful to dog and myself but I must admit after doing the above our home smells sweeter. I wouldn’t be offended by a friend or relative staying in my home mentioning it smells a bit wiffy so I would casually mention it to them and maybe suggest fabreeze or similar. You can also buy the scent boosters to put in with dogs bedding if it’s that bad.

I do feel I need to add that most dog owners keep their dogs condition well, they are deflead, vaccinated and often washed in a dog groomers/dog spa so don’t really think having them on furniture is unhygienic, or out it another way, no less than toddlers and children on soft furnishings, think we’ve all become a bit obsessed with “hygiene” these days and yet the cases of childhood asthma’s and allergies are at an all time high !

Bea0802

I can't believe how many have said not to say anything. I'm a dog owner and try hard to keep the house dog smell free. If someone, anyone, came to visit and could smell dog and didn't say anything, I'd be mortified! So please say something. You'll be nice about it whereas someone else might just say things behind their backs.

Anyone who visits someone's house and then says things about it behind their back isn't someone I'd want in my house in any case!

I can't believe how many have said not to say anything. I'm a dog owner and try hard to keep the house dog smell free. If someone, anyone, came to visit and could smell dog and didn't say anything, I'd be mortified! So please say something. You'll be nice about it whereas someone else might just say things behind their backs.

Oh dear ! Poor you xx We currently have four dogs in our house, but none of our downstairs is carpeted so pretty much every day washed down, I also open the windows and French doors every day whatever the weather and keep the dogs well groomed and groomed and hair short, do not too much dog hair either, but I’m pretty sure non-dog owners would still smell dog - it’s sadly seems to come with the territory and most of us owning dogs either don’t care ir have stopped noticing !

It could be that the dog thinks you smell 🤔 😂

My son's dog smells like a dog he keeps the house fresh by using charcoal air freshers which last 3 yrs they absorb all smells without having a terrible smell that air freshners have .In my opinion the public are like sheep with all the products big firms try to convince people they need .
One is advised to keep clothes smiling fresh for weeks .
Crazy like the dish washer cleaning tablets just put it on hot rinse once in a while .
Buy your son and charcoal pad and say I saw this and wondered if you would like it

We used to have a dog. We were so fond of him. Yes he made the hall where he slept mostly, stink. At 18 I think he was dying before our eyes and we eventually had to have him PTS. Didn’t take long to sort the house out afterwards, but whatever the smell I do miss him. Those in favour of surreptitious spraying be careful dog may have skin allergy..

A good friend of mind told me my house smelled of dogs. I knew it was difficult for her to mention it. I bought a neutrogena gel air freshener and didn’t tell her. Next time she came she commented that the smell had gone. I’ve used them ever since.

I'm sensitive to the smell of dogs, and some are much, much smellier than others.

I wouldn't say anything to your family, though, unless they brought it up first.

I have a cat who sprays (despite him being neutered) and seem to be forever wiping up after him. I would feel ashamed if anybody mentioned the smell, though.

I m thinking it’s probably more long haired dogs than the short close coats and it’s particularly bad when it’s been raining or they ve got wet some other way
Dog owners will be nose blind anyway so it wouldn’t bother them and they notice what others are noticing

My Border Terrier always smells quite pleasant to me Nightsky2 It’s only If he’s been out in the rain he gets a touch of wet dog odour but as soon as he’s dried off it passes.

As OP has referenced smells from the carpet and soft furnishings I wonder if the dog’s anal glands are the problem and it is “scooting” along the floor.
Might be worth trying to initiate a conversation around the subject.
I am grateful that greyhounds don’t seem to suffer from this problem and couldn’t ”scoot” anyway as they don’t sit, and even lying down their bums are well clear of the floor!

Nightsky2

eddiecat78

When looking for carers for MIL there were several on the agency's books who would not work in homes which had a dog

That was more than likely because they didn’t like dogs and nothing to do with a smells. People who have never owned a dog can be frightened if them.

Very common with people who come from parts of the world where dogs are not pets and live in packs in the streets, and can be dangerous and even carry rabies. Understandable.

Friends are so important, but my dog is my friend every day, from morning till night. She greets me with joy, takes me for amazing walks- if by any chance some people would stop vsiting because of her (and this is not the case, I know) - then that would be their problem, not mine, nor my dog's.

Not a dog, but three cats. My ‘boyfriend’, who lives over 40 miles away has a problem with one particular cat. It’s peeing and pooing everywhere. The smell is atrocious. The bachelor house was already unwelcoming and uncared for (he won’t have a cleaner) dirty bathroom etc. I have said outright it stinks and I can’t stand it for a moment and I’m pretty easygoing, my house is nothing special in the way of tidiness etc.
Sadly I now can’t face going to see him or stay there😨 at all. Any ideas?
Maybe I should start another thread.

We have friends who used to have two dogs, their house reeked, two fabric dog baskets, looking grubby, dog hair everywhere. The worst was when we went round for a meal, dog fur dinner anyone?
As they no longer have animals and it was some years ago, it’s fine now.
We didn’t say anything, just avoided visiting.

My sister who lives with me has a wee dog and all my carers love her

I agree.
Almost every house I have ever been in that had a dog / dogs smelled of them, though the strength and unpleasantness varied a lot.

In some houses, it really was very unpleasant, and probably so ingrained in the actual structure of the house that the smell would endure long after any doggie inhabitants had gone.

Our own dogs never smelled, of course. 😉 We only ever had one at once, but if anyone had even hinted that it made our house smell, my mum would have been appalled and it would have had to go!!!

So, I reckon that either my mum's thorough cleaning kept odours at bay, or most people are so used to to the smell of their own dog/house that they don't notice it. Most likely the latter IMO.

I think the majority of houses where dogs live have a dog odour. I say this as a previous dog owner. I think it is inevitable. Best to say nothing - dont risk damaging relationships.

Yes, hard floors help and dog has own bed- not on settee, and not in bedrooms (her choice) and bedding washed regularly.

I’m probably a bit strange, but not opposed to a wet dog smell in the car. It’s unavoidable when it rains. However, I do try to keep the doggy smells to a minimum in the house. Most visitors are dog friendly anyway, so no problem.