Doggy Smell

[RocketDog]

It sounds to me, like if the smell is worse about a week later, the dog isn't getting dry enough and bacteria (like yeast) are growing.

I'd cut the baths down, make sure the dog DRIES COMPLETELY, and brush regularly.

[Freestep]

I agree with the others, you probably aren't getting his coat thoroughly dry after bathing. Trust me, I know what it takes to dry a GSD coat, and toweling and walking won't cut it. You can probably get away with that in a hot, dry climate, but otherwise, that undercoat is so thick and dense, it traps water and holds it for a long time. This makes a warm, moist, dark environment perfect for yeast and bacteria to grow.

Try this--take your dog to a professional groomer. Make sure they have a force dryer--that is the key to getting the dog's coat bone-dry and clear of dead hair, skin flakes, dirt and debris. See if that doesn't make a difference in the "doggy" smell.

If it works, then you could invest in a force dryer of your own.

As a groomer, my clients always tell me that when I bathe their dogs, they stay clean and smell good far longer than when they bathe the dog at home.

[FlyAway]

My dogs don't smell, and I don't bath them unless they roll in something. The oils in their coat repel dirt.

[Angelina03]

Originally Posted by FlyAway

My dogs don't smell, and I don't bath them unless they roll in something. The oils in their coat repel dirt.

Same here. Rocco doesn't smell unless he's gotten into something. I brush him regularly and always wipe his paws when he comes inside.

[Freestep]

I don't notice much odor coming from my GSDs, either. Then again, I am so used to it that I probably *can't* smell mild cases of doggy odor. I can smell a cocker coming a mile away, though!

I want to say that a strong odor coming from a dog probably means that there's something wrong. But what's strong to you might just be normal mild "dog" smell to me... and there's nothing wrong with that smell, unpleasant as it may seem to some.

[Scarlettsmom]

Originally Posted by Freestep

Try this--take your dog to a professional groomer. Make sure they have a force dryer--that is the key to getting the dog's coat bone-dry and clear of dead hair, skin flakes, dirt and debris. See if that doesn't make a difference in the "doggy" smell.

If it works, then you could invest in a force dryer of your own.

As a groomer, my clients always tell me that when I bathe their dogs, they stay clean and smell good far longer than when they bathe the dog at home.

We no longer bathe at home for this reason. I either take her to a groomer OR a DIY dog bath place WITH a force dryer. She can go months without a bath before she is really funky.

[yuricamp]

Yep. Did the professional groomer and he stays fresh longer. I think think I may need to invest in a dryer.

I' ll ask... Will my wife's hair dryer work though?

He really doesn't smell strong, just noticeable.

[Freestep]

No, a regular human hair dryer will not work. A force dryer is much more powerful and does not have heat. A Metro or K9 dryer will set you back anywhere from $140-400 depending on how much power you want--get the best you can afford, and you will never regret it. I'm eyeing the k9III model as a backup dryer.

Here's a selection for you to peruse:

Dryers | PetEdge.com

[Wild Wolf]

Diet and nutrition.

[Shep's_Shepherd]

Originally Posted by yuricamp

Yep. Did the professional groomer and he stays fresh longer. I think think I may need to invest in a dryer.

I' ll ask... Will my wife's hair dryer work though?

He really doesn't smell strong, just noticeable.

I tried the people hair dryer using the cool setting and it just doesn't have the juice of the pet dryers. Those pet dryers seem more equal to a leaf blower than that of a hair dryer! I go to PetCo's Unleashed and we're able to use a bathing stall for the wash, then after a brief towel dry, the professional blower is used to force any remaining water off the dog. The pet dryers are able to reach down to his undercoat for a through drying, all for 10 dollars. We do that once every three months at most. In between baths, we use a pet coat deodorizer spray. We try and limit the baths since it tends to strip his skin and coat of essential oils, which end up being counterproductive in the effort of keeping him clean.