Smell of dog - should I say something?

You go nose blind to your own smells so I doubt they have noticed. Many dog owners insist that their houses do not smell, I read somewhere that it is due to the anal gland producing the smell when the dog is stressed or excited.

I know of two people that have dogs and say that each other's houses smell but think that theirs do not, they both smell.
It is the soft furnishings where most noticed and the coats that hang in the hallway.

No point in saying anything, they wont believe you anyway.

I have a dog. I would hate to think my house smells, I do ask my offspring if it does as everyone says I can’t smell it!

I am always thinking my home smells very doggie owning two large long coated dogs. I leave back and front room windows open all the time. I’ve got wooden floors and leather suite.
New rugs once a year. Heavy duty dog beds washed as weather permits. Bedding and dog towels washed weekly. It’s a difficult one for us dog owners, lots of visitors choose to stay on the patio, I can’t say I blame them!

I'd rather visit a house which smelled of dog than a smoker's house any day of the week. Our dog is as much a member of the family as any other, so any visitors who weren't happy about that would not be welcome.

She said they had to steam clean every room, throw away the carpets, decorate throughout and leave windows open for many weeks to get rid of the dog smell

I’ve known people having to do that to get rid of cooking smells!

Not nice , but for the preservation of the relationship with your son and DIL you would be wise to remain silent on this matter.

My SiL is ocd about cleaning their house and she mainly uses bleach, which is why I can’t understand how she doesn’t realise their lounge smells of her dog. However, she has had dogs for over 40 years and this is the first one that smells, it’s a Jack Russell. But then again people’s houses tend to have a unique smell, a mixture of furniture polish, cleaning materials, colognes etc but you wouldn’t mention that, so OP I think you may have to put up with it atm and then should an opportunity arise for you to drop it into the conversation with your son eg Betty’s got a new dog and it smells, and take it from there.

Calendargirl 'Digressing, but how many people, when selling their home, remove any trace of pets from their home when viewings are happening?'

if they are unaware of the smell as they got used to it, then they won't do anything. They can't expect to put dog in kennels for weeks and months- but yes, could make extra effort with washing bedding more often, opening windows, steaming carpets and furnishings, etc.

Or sell to another dog owner

My GD has a friend who still lives at home.
Until recently they had 3 labs, 2 very old.
The beautifully furnished and decorated house stank of dog.
The two older ones had to be PTS around Christmas and I haven’t visited since but they now have an adorable puppy which they brought to visit last weekend and it weed on my carpet so I don’t suppose their house has improved.
They live for their dogs and I am quite sure they don’t notice it.
On the other hand I have a cat who sheds like crazy but as to smell…….

namo

I’m staying with my son and daughter in law. I’ve got a good relationship with them. I like to sit in their living room but it smells of their dog, and there’s nowhere else to sit. Should I say something? What would your advice be? It would be useful to know the dog owner’s perspective.

There is not much your son and DIL can do about it though.

However much you vacuum carpets and upholstery the smell will still be there as it impregnates itself into the fabric.

Opening a window helps a bit - but that may not be practical.

I'd say nothing - the 'scented hanky' another poster suggested would be my remedy, if used regularly, it will lessen the 'impact' of the doggy smell for short periods.

Personally, I think if dogs are allowed to share the sofa, especially if it is fabric and can't be wiped down, it's unhygienic, and the smell will definitely penetrate the fibres. I won't even let my cat sit on mine, unless he's on his own blanket - cats smell, too. Mine's very much an outdoor cat and I can smell the soil that he's been pootling around in, on him and on his blanket.

'Love me, love my dog'! That's the rule, really! Animals are part of our lives.

Calendargirl

As someone else said, dog owners just don’t smell their own dog.

All very well saying you’re only the visitor, the dog lives there. How many other people visit them and go away saying “Ugh, that house smelled of dog”.

But no one mentions it.

I’m not a dog owner, (you can probably tell), but I would feel embarrassed if I thought my house smelled.

Digressing, but how many people, when selling their home, remove any trace of pets from their home when viewings are happening?

I wonder why?

I went into a house where the woman had 4 English Pointers. I cannot describe the stench. It hit you as soon as she opened the door. She was a very smart lady and the house was tidy but she was obviously so used to their smell that she didn’t notice.
She had the house up for sale and I said to my husband that I would just walk straight out if I was viewing.

She did sell eventually though and I met the new owners and we had a laugh about the smell. She said they had to steam clean every room, throw away the carpets, decorate throughout and leave windows open for many weeks to get rid of the dog smell.

Say nothing.

I would say it to the son in the first instance and see what he says.

I seem to be unusual on this.
I definitely would say something.
I would say, "do you realise this room smells of dog"? And see what they say.

As someone else said, dog owners just don’t smell their own dog.

All very well saying you’re only the visitor, the dog lives there. How many other people visit them and go away saying “Ugh, that house smelled of dog”.

But no one mentions it.

I’m not a dog owner, (you can probably tell), but I would feel embarrassed if I thought my house smelled.

Digressing, but how many people, when selling their home, remove any trace of pets from their home when viewings are happening?

I wonder why?

By the way, I love dogs and all animals, but the smell of wet dog is horrible and can be dealt with.

I had a date with a guy who had 3 dogs. When we were saying goodbye, he opened his car door and the smell of wet dog hit me like a tidal wave. That was the end of him as far as I was concerned.

Juliet27

^“love me, love my dog” 🐕^
'I live here, you are only visiting'
My thoughts too

Yep- no need to visit if you don't like it. Your choice.

I'm a lifetime dog lover but I avoid visiting my brother because his house stinks of dog! No amount of window opening would help as the smell is impregnated in the carpets and settees.
"Love me love my dog" is all very well but if you are having visitors you need to show them consideration too!

Plug-ins and nasty chemical “air fresheners” are ghastly not to mention often dangerous to animals as well as (in the case of plug-ins) being a fire hazard. They can be even more unpleasant than dog-smells
for asthma sufferers too.
No, you could be frank and offer to give the room a good airing next fine day while you are there. If I have been away I am conscious that my house may smell musty and I like to throw the doors and windows open whenever I can

It's revolting isn't it? But what can you do? - no dog owner is going to tolerate being told their dog smells and makes the carpets/rugs smell - comment at your peril!!!!

I get an occasional lift from a friend who transports their dog in the car - the smell makes me gag!

I’ve been in houses which absolutely stink of dogs, mainly labs or spaniels. We always had small dogs until a few years ago but they weren’t smelly as I hoovered every day, washed their fabric beds and blankets every couple of weeks, and washed tiled floors regularly.

But these households are not family and I WOULD say something jokey to family about the smell because they know me well enough. It’s a bit late since you are already there but if you go out and return you could say “crikey it smells a bit doggy in here, shall we open some windows?”

After my last visitor with a dog , I had to open all the doors and windows and wipe down the sofa ( I had said he wasn’t allowed up on in )
I washed the floor , I threw rugs and cushions on the washing line , I could still smell him next morning , so I sympathise !!
However the worse odour is visitors with todays , yesterdays and last weeks perfume !!
I hate visiting doggie houses , but I never say anything !

Maybe tell a white lie say your friend who has a dog has dog friendly plug in air fresh spray. Exaggerate the benefits of ridding the house of wet dog smell which (let’s be honest isn’t nice). You could take a small spray for your bag for a quick spray where you sit. But be discreet some people even family are touchy about their pooches.
We are dog owners but we move the dog bed clean and spray if we are having visitors. One of our friends dogs sheds constantly it irritates me. When I get home I have to change and launder my clothes I gave up hinting about it years ago!

“love me, love my dog” 🐕
'I live here, you are only visiting'
My thoughts too