How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in Your House

Britain is a nation of dog lovers - in a recent study it has been revealed that approximately 59% of households currently have a dog as a pet, at an estimated sum of 12 million pet dogs across the country. Dogs are a huge part of our lives, and just like the rest of our family members, we love them regardless of their flaws, and one of these flaws that often comes hand in hand with owning a dog is their smell.

We love our pups no matter what, however, like many of us, you might be wondering what you can do to lessen their smell in your house, and how you can prevent this from happening. This is a challenge faced by many dog owners across the country, so, our experts at Direct4Pet have put together a guide that will teach you everything you need to know about keeping your house clean with dogs, and most importantly - how to get rid of that pesky dog odour in your home.

Why do our dogs smell?

Dogs, just like humans, produce body odour in a variety of ways, and due to the way in which this odour is produced, this can mean that different types of breeds produce varying levels of smells.

We can put a dog's smell down to 4 main causes, the first being their secretion of sweat. You may not have realised it, but dog’s actually sweat through their paw pads which means that this body odour can be passed onto any surfaces that they walk on. Our furry friends also have oily skin and this can lead to a build up in bacteria which releases an unpleasant odour that we commonly associate with ‘wet dog’.

Dogs also have what we call ‘waxy ear build-up’ which can lead to a particularly funky smell, especially in bigger dogs that have larger ear creases - this can be easily prevented with regular ear cleaning.

Lastly - the dreaded scent marking. A dog's smell is part of its identity and mark upon the world, which is why dogs can frequently urinate in the same spots, as well as ‘mark’ over other dogs' scents to assert dominance. This could be an issue in households with multiple pets, especially when introducing new animals into the equation. If you’ve found yourself in this unpleasant situation with your dogs, there’s no need to worry - here at Direct4Pet, our experts share exactly what you need to know to prevent this from happening, as well as how to get rid of other dog smells in the home.

How to prevent your house from smelling like dog

If you’re looking for ways to neutralise a dog smell in your home, here are a number of recommendations you can try that will help to prevent the smell of dog building up, as well as making the scent easier to remove and neutralise.

Bathe your dogs frequently

Bathing your dogs frequently is a great way to prevent an over production of oils in the skin which can lead to unpleasant odours being released into your home. Having clean dogs contributes to maintaining a clean home as it prevents bad smells from being transferred to carpets and soft furnishing such as dog beds and sofas. Whether you choose to take them to the groomers, or like to bathe them yourself, explore our range of grooming products for full wash care, or balms and sprays that will keep them fresh between grooms.

Consider your dogs diet

It is important to consider the specifics of your dog’s breed when buying food for your pets as some dogs may have intolerances which can cause your pets to suffer from stomach upset and gas. A better, properly controlled diet can help to combat bad smells and also contribute to the overall health and happiness of your pooch, check out our collection of breed specific dog food at Direct4Pet online.

Hard flooring

Whilst this may seem like a slightly over-the-top approach to preventing dog smells in the house, having hard flooring in the dog’s entry points to your house can drastically reduce the amount of smells that your pooch brings into the home. Not only are hard floors easier to clean, but they also do not trap smells in the same way that carpet does, meaning they have to be cleaned less frequently.

It is important to remember to clean your dog's paws after long walks to ensure that no dirt and debris is stuck between their pads that could cause them harm or bring bad smells into the home. But if you’re simply letting your dog out into the garden for a short period of time, hard wood floors help to reduce any smells that they may have caught outdoors from coming into the house.

How to get rid of dog smell in the home

However hard we try, prevention can only get us so far, so here are some of our favourite tips and tricks for getting rid of lingering dog smell in your house.

Neutralise the smell

Due to the way in which dogs release smells in oils and sweat, these odours can be more difficult to remove and cannot simply be covered up with air fresheners - the smells must be neutralised. A great tip for neutralising smells is by using natural deodorising solutions such as vinegar and baking soda when washing soft furnishing covers, or simply as a spray fabric refresher between washes. This solution is particularly useful when washing dog beds, and should be added alongside regular washing solutions that you use.

Frequent cleaning

This comes as a given, but frequently cleaning your house can drastically reduce dog smell and help to prevent a build-up of lingering odours. The two main areas to focus on when cleaning specifically to reduce dog smells are soft furnishings and floors.

If you have hard floors around your house, we recommend frequently mopping with an odour eliminating disinfectant such as the Zoflora 3-in-1. A disinfectant solution such as this helps to reduce the build-up of bacteria on your floors which can lead to smelly paw-pads, as well as neutralising any existing smells and leaving a lovely fragrance behind that will mask any previous doggy odours.

For soft furnishings with removable covers, washing these as frequently as possible is maybe our most highly recommended way to reduce dog smells as heavy fabrics like these can hold onto surface odours for much longer. If you can, washing your curtains could be the final step that you need to get rid of the lingering smell, however we do not recommend doing this as frequently as cushion covers and dog beds, this is more of a last resort. As previously mentioned, adding baking soda and vinegar to these washes will have them coming out of the machine smelling brand new and better than ever.

For any fabrics and furniture which your dog frequently lounges on that don’t have removable covers, baking soda is your best friend. Try sprinkling this onto your furnishings and leaving it to sit for a while before brushing it off, and wiping off any excess with a damp cloth.

Targeting accidents

Whether your dog has an accident, or you’re training a new puppy, the smell of dog pee can be a tricky one to remove from the home. At Direct4Pet we have a range of cleaning products that can specifically target this problem, such as the Urine Off odour and stain remover that is perfect for cleaning carpets and removing pee smells from soft furnishings. Urine Off is also available in a handy spray bottle that is a must have in your cleaning supplies to target dog smell.

Prevent dog smell in your home with Direct4Pet

Whether you’re looking for grooming products to keep your pooch looking good and smelling fresh, are wanting to change your dog’s food for a healthier diet, or you need cleaning supplies to help you target that lingering dog smell in your house, Direct4Pet has you covered. Our extensive range of dog supplies has everything you need to keep your pet happy, and your house smelling great.