How to keep your indoor dog smelling good?


Your dog is your little furry child. You love how it cuddles you, but what you don’t like about your pup is its smell. At times, the doggo stinks so severely you cannot bear it. So, how to keep your indoor dog smelling good?

indoor dog smelling good

Let’s find out: 

  • What to use to keep dog smell out of the house
  • Why does your indoor dog smell
  • How keep your dog smelling good
  • Keep dog odor out of your house
  • How to keep dog smelling clean

However, finding the causes is better before getting to the answer. Indeed, common sense demands finding out the problem’s source before fixing it. In this way, you can solve the issue accurately. 

Reasons for dogs stinking 

Why does my indoor dog smell? You may be curious. The three common reasons are below;

  1. Physiological reasons: Dog’s skin possesses multiple glands. These glands excrete liquids that produce a smell. Thus, the more the fur gets wet, the more particles are expelled. As a result, the unpleasant smell increases. However, these glands are also essential for the skin’s protection. That’s because oil, dander, and dirt start building on their body. But usually, older or unhealthy doggies have this problem. Lastly, dogs’ farts can be a culprit too. 
  2. Medical reasons: An ear infection can be a reason behind the stench coming from your dog. Moreover, specific allergies can also cause your pup to stink. Furthermore, Halitosis, an oral problem, can also produce an unpleasant smell. That’s because its common symptom is bad-smelling breath. Usually, plaque, tartar, or food develops bacteria in the mouth that causes Halitosis. Finally, food allergies or bowel diseases can cause dogs to fart more than usual and, thus, stink a lot. 
  3. Environmental reasons: When dogs go out, they come in contact with various dirty things. For example, doggos are exposed to other pups’ feces. Moreover, they may go close to skunks. In addition, they may roll around in mud or unclean water. Consequently, they smell unpleasant to the extent that it gets unbearable. Hence, cleaning them becomes mandatory. 

Seven ways to keep your dog smelling good

cleaning dogs ear

You come home from work and realize the entire house smells unpleasant. Unfortunately, you cannot figure out the source of the odor. However, later you find out it’s your doggy causing it. 

The following are some of the ways how to keep your indoor dog smelling good

Keep the home clean

It’s necessary to keep your home clean if you have a furry kid. You can do that through vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping. Dog fur can spread all over the place. Thus, vacuuming carpets, curtains, rugs, etc., is essential. However, ensure that you keep your vacuum filter dirt-free. 

Furthermore, sweeping the floor also helps to get rid of the stink. Finally, mopping ensures no hair or dander remains on the floor. Thus, cleaning your place every day keeps the odor away. 

Wash the dog’s bed

clean dog bed

Your pet’s bed is the focal point of everything that produces the stench. You can find dust, dirt, bacteria, environmental debris, dander, fur, saliva, and urine on it daily. Hence, it’s essential to wash the bedding regularly. 

Groom your dog 

Although canines can take care of themselves, but they still need your help. Assist your furry baby in staying clean. You can use professional service in this matter. 

Regularly brushing your hound’s coat is necessary to avert the bad smell. It would help if you also rinsed your pet’s coat and feet after they come back from playing outside. Also, bathe your furry friend as per the advice of its veterinarian. 

Furthermore, gently clean the dirt and crust gathered around your puppy’s eyes with a soft, moist cloth. In addition, wipe the dog’s ears every few weeks. Last, trimming the extra hair and nails is also essential for eliminating the stink. 

Let the fresh air into your home

Airing out your house is a fundamental and simple way to keep the indoors smell-free. You can open all windows and doors for this purpose. The stink will go out along with dander particles after a few hours. 

Brushing dog’s teeth 

dog teeth brushing

Keeping your furry baby’s teeth clean daily is mandatory for an odor-free home. If you don’t brush your doggo’s teeth, it may develop bacteria in the dog’s mouth. Your doggy may also experience an oral problem like Halitosis. Eventually, it will start stinking terribly. Thus, to prevent smell, brush your pet’s teeth with water or special dog toothpaste.

Proper dog diet 

Some food items can cause digestive problems in canines. These issues can eventually lead to gas issues and, thus, a bad smell. Therefore, serving your pups the right food is essential. Please provide them with uncooked meat and doggy-friendly fruits & vegetables. Fresh herbs like parsley also aid in keeping dog odor out of your house as they are breath fresheners. 

A visit to the vet 

As discussed earlier, the bad doggy smell can also occur for various medical reasons. Thus, a visit to the vet becomes mandatory. Your veterinarian can examine the dog professionally and better tell the actual problem. The doctor may also recommend a remedy or medicine. Thus, a check-up is a wise choice rather than trying to find the stench’s source at home. 

What to use to keep dog smell out of house? 

Now you know how to keep your indoor dog smelling good, but that’s not enough! You should also get informed about products that can help you perform the task better. They can turn out as practical tools in the process of keeping your home odor-free. Thus, some of them are as follows;

Candles, oil diffusers, and flowers

One of the effective remedies to a dog’s stench is using products that spread fragrance all over the home. They create your space aesthetic and add a delightful aroma to it. 

Also, there are a variety of pet candles on the market now. You can use them to mask the odor. Hence, the three best pet candles are;  

  • Pet Odor Exterminator Candle
  • Pet House Candle Natural Soy Candle
  • Yankee Candle 5 Wick Tumbler Candle

Another tool to combat the unpleasant smell is essential oil diffusers. These products send a calming cent into the atmosphere. So, if you are upset because of doggies’ stench, an oil diffuser will kill two birds with one stone.

Finally, flowers are almost everyone’s weakness. Humans love them! They spread a fragrance throughout the place. Thus, flowers are helpful tools to combat the lab’s smell. 

However, all these items only mask the pup’s odor. These items don’t remove the exact source. Therefore, you need other products to eliminate the cause of the smell. 

Baking soda and vinegar  

Baking soda has no smell but neutralizes the odor from other objects. Vinegar also works best to offset the stench. You can sprinkle baking soda on spots your pet usually sits. Wait to remove the soda before morning. Let it absorb the odor. Finally, vacuum it up the next day. In addition, you can also pat baking soda on your pet’s fur to neutralize the stink. 

You can use vinegar to make your furniture odor-free. For example, wipe the leather furniture with vinegar and water. You can also spray the mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate the dog’s smell. Then, pour a small quantity of it. 

Air purifier 

An air purifier is another tool to fight the bad smell. You can set the device in one corner, turn it on, and see the magic. 

The device draws air from the atmosphere into its system. Then, it filters out the stench particles. Eventually, the air purifier sends back the odor-free air into your surroundings. 

Moreover, the device also catches the dog’s dander and hair present in the air. Thus, it not only keeps your space odor-free but also cleaned. 

The plus point is you don’t have to put any energy into the whole process. Just turn the purifier on and let it work without any manual labor.  

Waterless shampoo 

bathing a dog

Bathing your dog daily to eliminate stink may not be feasible for you. Thus, waterless shampoo is the best solution; you can use the shampoo with grooming wipes on no-bath days. Doing so will make your canine odor-free.. However, please don’t overdo it; it could affect your dog’s skin.

Enzymatic cleaners

Enzymatic cleaners are another solution to the problem. They are best for killing bacteria. In addition, they remove stains from furniture and fabric. Hence, they are excellent odor eliminators. Thus, if you notice a dog’s urine on a place like a carpet, use this stench eliminator promptly. It will both remove the smell and stain of urine from your carpet. 

No one likes their home to stink all the time because of their pet. But at the same time, no one desires to abandon their furry kid just because it smells terrible. Thus, the right choice is to find out how to keep your indoor dog smelling good. This way, you can stay with your canine companion while keeping your home fragrant – a happy ending for everyone! 

Aliza Mehfooz

Aliza Mehfooz is a freelance content writer with a special bond with animals. She has spent her childhood around numerous homeless dogs and cats and is fond of her little furry friends. She is well-informed about animal rights activism and often advocates for the cause. Her interests lie in General Studies and Sociology and has written digital tabloids regarding social, political, economic, and psychological matters.

Recent Posts