This is How You Can Quickly Turn Your Stinky Pup Into a Bed of Roses

Are you embarrassed that your dog is stinky? There are simple ways to cure a smelly dog.

If you’re dog’s smell enters the room before your pup, then you officially have a smelly dog. Heck, I’ve bent down to kiss my dog, Henry, and gagged at his smell. How do dogs get so smelly?

You may think the only solution is a bath. But bathing your dog too often can cause skin issues. Thankfully, there are several things to tame a smelly dog odor. With this in mind, let’s dig in and discover how to go from a smelly dog to nearly a lovely bed of roses (at least by comparison).

SPOILER ALERT: I’ve included my own PET ODOR ELIMINATOR SPRAY RECIPE in this article. I personally love it!

Budget tip:

If you decide you need to take your dog to the groomer, remember you can still have added value because you don't have to spend time and energy cleaning your dog. But if it's not time for a bath, then you may want to think out-of-the-box and go with a Pet-Friendly spray. It's economical and does a great job between regular grooming visits to cure a smelly dog! Having a good smelling dog is a win-win for your dog and you.

Table of Contents

But first, let’s go to the source of a smelly dog.

1. Digestive Issues

2. Mouth Odors

3. Dirty Paws

4. Dingleberries (these are the poos that hang on to the fur and often get matted into the coat)

5. Rolled in Something Disgusting

6. Unkept Coat or Matted Fur

1. Great Food In Means Great Smells Out

Compare this to yourself. If you eat something you know won’t agree, you will have stomach issues, perhaps gas and constipation or diarrhea. This is the same for your dog. The difference is your dog can’t tell you that the food you’re feeding him is not agreeing and making him a smelly dog.

How do you find great food that will agree with your dog?

I always think this is a discussion that is best suited for you and your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to guide you to a food that will work best for your dog. You can tell your vet that you have a budget and that a good veterinarian will do their best to work within that budget.

2. Dental Care Means a Clean Mouth and Clean Dog Smells

There are many great products to help with your dog’s dental care.

This is a dental spray very similar to the one I’m currently using with my dog, Henry. It works great!

TIP: If your dog’s mouth odor is sudden, keep your eyes on your dog. If he is vomiting, has diarrhea, is lethargic, or exhibits other concerning signs, you will want to consult your veterinarian for help.

3. Clean Paws Keeps Smells Clean

Wiping your dog’s paws when coming in from walks, hikes, or explorations will help with the smelly dog odor. Think about how you wipe your feet on a doormat or leave your shoes on at the front door. Your dog can’t do this so easily. The theory behind wiping down your dog’s paws when coming inside is the same. I even use them for full-body wipe-downs.

I use wipes like these on my dog.

Learn how to easily care for your dog’s nails at home in this article.

4. Seek and Find the Dog Smell

Honestly, the only way you know if your dog has a dingleberry, especially if your dog has long fur, is by looking (and yes, smelling). Dingle berries are more common with longer-furred dogs. But they can occur on any dog. If you discover a dingleberry, the best way I’ve found to remedy the situation is with a paper towel soaked in lukewarm water. This will loosen a stuck dingleberry.

Once you have the offensive hanger-on off, you may notice the smell remains or even a little matting. Continue soaking the area with warm water. Let it dry. Then rub a little baking soda in the area with a towel or your hands. Next, gently brush the area. The smell should be gone and your pup should be ready for a new adventure.

TIP: Make sure to wash your dog’s brush. You don’t want to transfer the yucky dog smell back to your dog. I like to use a simple soak with lukewarm water and Dawn soap. Make sure to rinse the brush thoroughly and let it dry before using it again.

5. Locate and Remove the Smelly Part From Your Dog

If your dog likes to roll in the grossest things he can find and then run inside to cuddle with you, then you will have to do this trick.

Try to locate where the smell is on your dog. You may find the smell is mostly located on your dog’s head. That’s my dog’s favorite spot to start a gross roll. The best way to find the location is by smelling your dog.

Next, I grab the dog wipes and gently scrub the area. I will also do a full-body rub down with the wipes because I know my dog will have done a full-body roll in the disgusting stuff.

Then I wait a few minutes for his fur to dry.

Finally, I will put a bit of baking soda in my hands, rub it into his fur, and brush. Viola! The smell is gone!

Smelly Dog Baking Soda Tip

Baking soda is messy. You may want to do this step outside or in an area where you can easily sweep up when you’re done.

Follow-up Smelly Dog Baking Soda Tip

Make sure to wipe down your dog’s whole body with wipes and baking soda, including paws, back, legs, and belly. While the smell may be the most offensive in one area, your pup most likely rolled through it and spread it everywhere.

Tip If Nothing Else Works For Your Smelly Dog:

If the smelly dog odor is super bad and these steps did not touch the stink, you may need to give your dog a bath or seek professional help from a dog groomer. There are many water-free dog shampoos, which work well especially in these situations or on a trip.

6. Brush Your Dog Regularly to Keep Smell Away

Unkept or matted fur can hide many things. If your dog’s fur is extremely matted, you may need to seek the help of a professional groomer.

Keep in mind that while all dogs are amazing, not all dogs are equal. Some dogs have long fur, such as Yorkies. Others have double-coated fur, such as huskies. And still, others have slick fur, such as vizslas. Each needs to be cared for differently.

Get all your dog brushing questions answered in this article.

Brushing Tip: Brushing your dog also gives you the chance to get to know your dog. You can put your hands all over your dog and you will be able to quickly notice anything new such as a lump or bump. Brushing is also a great time for bonding with your dog. My dog will lay there forever to be brushed.

Other ways to get rid of smelly dog odor in your house

1. Wash Dog Bedding and Dog Smell Improves Immediately

I like to wash my dog’s bedding every time he goes to the groomer. This way he’s clean and his bedding is clean.

clean bedding can help cure a smelly dog

Washing Dog Bedding Tip: It can be tricky to wash some dog beds. I like to wash my dog’s beds on the gentle cycle with 1/4 cup distilled vinegar. If his bedding is very smelly, I will add 1/2 cup baking soda as well. I’ve also been relatively successful with putting my dog’s bedding in the dryer on low heat. However, I encourage you to use your best judgment. Some dog beds are very fragile. I did lose the stuffing on one low-end dog bed in the dryer.

2. Wash Collars, Harnesses, Leashes, and Dog Smell Goes Too

While these all have to be washed by hand, they can become incredibly stinky. I will generally wash my dog’s collar and harness once a month. I only wash his leashes a few times a year as they don’t encounter the abusive smells of his collar and harness.

To wash these items, I like to use lukewarm water with Dawn and a litter hand scrub brush (make sure to scrub his tags as well). If there’s a lot of smell, I’ll also add about 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar to the water. Then simply rinse well and hang to dry. I’m always amazed at how quickly his collar dries.

However, you do have to plan a little. You don’t want your dog to go out without his tags on even if it’s just in your yard. I like to wash my dog’s collar at night for this reason.

Learn more about how to properly clean your dog’s accessories in this article.

3. Wash Furniture Covers and Dog Smell Away

If you have furniture covers, slipcovers, or something similar, remember to wash them regularly. It’s surprising how smelly dog odors get trapped in the fabrics. Make sure to wash the areas where your dog likes to lay down or nap.

If you can’t wash these areas you can make a pet-friendly odor-eliminator spray. This is the one I use all the time. I like to use it for overall cleaning as well.

4. Vacuum, Sweep, and Mop Often to Keep Dog Smell Away

Keeping smelly dog odors out of your house means keeping surfaces clean, which includes the floors. If you have a puppy, you need to remember to spray an odor eliminator wherever your pup has peed or pooped in your house. Otherwise, he’ll continue to mark those spots, and all other dogs that visit will mark those spots as well. If there are many spots, you may want to call in professional help with a deep cleaning.

5. Coconut Oil to Reduce Dog Smell

Maybe you like the idea of rubbing something on your dog to help with the smelly dog odor, but the idea of a baking soda mess is too much. I have a solution. You can use a small amount of coconut oil. Simply rub a very small amount into your palms and massage it into your dog’s coat and skin. The extra benefit of coconut oil is that it’ll make your dog’s coat shine and soothe his skin. You can follow up with a good brushing, just like with baking soda.

You can even massage your dog with coconut oil. Learn how in this article.

No Need To Turn Your Nose Up At Your Smelly Dog

A smelly dog doesn’t need to have a song penned for him. There are solutions that dog parents can easily do to eliminate the odor. There are various ways to do this, including using good dog food, having a good dental routine, and keeping paws and fur clean and brushed. Also, don’t forget to get rid of dog smell in the house by washing dog bedding, collars, furniture covers, brushes, and vacuuming.

My dog enjoys getting dirty and thrills in finding gross things to make him a smelly dog, but I’m always prepared. In no time, his smelly dog odor is gone, and he’s ready for more fun.