Our canine friends have a special place in our hearts and homes. But some breeds can be a little smellier than others. How about a Golden Retriever? As a classic retrieving dog built for the outdoors, does this breed carry a stronger scent than its other counterparts? Like all dogs, Golden Retrievers can smell, but much of this is reduced with proper grooming. Let’s find out what contributes to the scent of these gorgeous canines and where they rank amongst other breeds as well.
Golden Retrievers: Level of Smell Image Credit by Lars_Nissen, Pixabay All dogs develop a smell if they aren’t properly bathed. Just like humans, dogs collect grime and debris on their coats and skin. With proper coat maintenance, they don’t generate much odor. Some hunting breeds like Beagles or Basset Hounds emit a scent that people often refer to as “hound scent.” Wrinkly breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs can smell bad due to the bacteria buildup between their skin flaps. However, Goldens are pretty straightforward when it comes to smell. They generally smell pleasing until they’ve gone too long without a bath. Like many other breeds, you should bathe, brush, and feed your Golden Retriever healthily. What Can Influence Your Golden’s Odors? If your Golden Retriever suffers from allergies, they might have a smell on their skin. Sometimes with these types of allergies, it causes the yeast to grow on the skin. The yeast has a very particular foul smell—and it can cause ear infections in some cases, too. Other symptoms of skin allergies include:
Excessive scratching
Rashes
Hot spots
Yeast overgrowth
Ear infections
Allergies can come from environmental or dietary triggers. If you suspect that your Golden Retriever has allergies, you should make an appointment with your vet for further investigation. Once your vet runs some tests or trials, you can pinpoint and eliminate the trigger.
How to Keep Your Golden Retriever Smelling Fresh Keeping your golden smelling like a million bucks can be a constant task, but you’ll get into a routine that works for you. Here are some tips to keep them tidied up.
- Practice Regular Bathing
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O A K L E Y (@adventures_with_oakley)
Dogs need baths a whole lot less than us—but they do start stinking after a while. On average, you should bathe your Golden Retriever as frequently as most other canines—every 4-6 weeks. Golden Retrievers can have allergy issues or sensitivities to certain shampoos. As a precaution, you could immediately start by using fragrance-free shampoos. Overbathing can cause other issues, like dandruff and dry skin. This can lead to excessive itching. Try to bathe your dog no more than once a month. For Goldens with extra sensitive skin, you might have to wait 6 weeks or longer in between.
- Commit to Daily Brushing
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Caroline Paras (@carolineparas)
It’s a good idea to brush your Golden every day—if nothing else because they have long fur. Brushing has lots of benefits that promote blood circulation, oil production, and good hygiene. But also, brushing helps loosen and remove dirt and debris that can get stuck in the coat. Since this breed has a double coat, occasionally brushing deeply with a de-shedding tool can help combat dander, matting, and shedding. If properly managed with brushing, your Golden can smell good for longer between baths.
- Keep Up with Oral Hygiene
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by AYA (@aya_thegolden_dk)
Does anyone like a full face of hot, stinky breath in their face? Just like humans, your Golden should brush their teeth every day. To combat the aromatic vapors burning holes in your olfactory sense, practice regular brushing as early as you can. Also, it’s best to start as early as possible. Even though puppy teeth will inevitably fall out to make way for larger canines, it can be a trial run to familiarize themselves with the process.
- Offer Dry Baths
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O L L I E (@the_goldenretriever_ollie)
You could always try a bath between baths, so to speak. To keep your Golden’s fur from having oil and debris buildup, you can try natural or store-bought dry shampoos to neutralize odors and keep the fur fresh. Corn starch or powder will do the trick, too, as the substance absorbs oil. You should always be careful with this method, however, as Goldens are prone to having sensitive skin. Try to go fragrance, dye, and chemical-free if you can.
Choose the Correct Diet Image Credit: jagdprinzessin, Pixabay Believe it or not, diet plays a very vital role in how your dog smells. Lots of dogs suffer from some type of food allergy, which can cause yeast to grow on the skin. Cleaner ingredients, as you might guess, equal less smelliness. The general rule of thumb here is—the more natural, the better. That means the higher quality of the diet, the better shape your dog will be in. Many vets and professionals recommend raw food diets, as it mimics their dietary ancestry.
Take Them to a Professional Groomer
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Christins Grooming (@christinsgrooming)
There’s nothing wrong with a little royal treatment. Your goldie can go see their stylist roughly every 6 weeks. Unlike home baths, groomers use lots of tools and resources people often don’t have at home. They can get in deep, making your pup feel fresh from their bare skin to the tips of their fur. It’s refreshing for your dog to have clean, aromatic fur. Plus, it’s a good social outing for them, too. Why not splurge on occasion?
- Wash Bedding & Blankets
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ℳ𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝓀𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓁 (@miracleofangels_kennel)
If you think about it, you can give your dog a bath on schedule. However, if they still have the dirt and grime on their blankets, dog beds, and doggy clothes—they are going to get dirty pretty quickly. Leftover smells remain on the blankets and bedding, causing dirt, debris, bacteria, and skin particles to collect on the material. If your dog lays in the bed, the same smelliness will find your dog again. It’s best if you wash your dog’s bedding and blankets once every 2 weeks.
Conclusion With proper care, diet, and health, your Golden Retriever shouldn’t smell bad often. If you implement good grooming habits, you can keep a clean smelling dog with no lingering odors. So, now you know that Golden Retrievers aren’t a breed that generally has a lot of odor concerns, but it’s still a good idea to maintain their hygiene appropriately, including teeth brushing. Oral health is just as important! Next on your reading list:
Do Golden Retrievers Need Grooming? How Often? Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish? 4 Common Reasons for This
Featured Image Credit: Olena Brodetska, Shutterstock
Our canine friends have a special place in our hearts and homes. But some breeds can be a little smellier than others. How about a Golden Retriever? As a classic retrieving dog built for the outdoors, does this breed carry a stronger scent than its other counterparts?
Like all dogs, Golden Retrievers can smell, but much of this is reduced with proper grooming. Let’s find out what contributes to the scent of these gorgeous canines and where they rank amongst other breeds as well.
Golden Retrievers: Level of Smell
All dogs develop a smell if they aren’t properly bathed. Just like humans, dogs collect grime and debris on their coats and skin. With proper coat maintenance, they don’t generate much odor.
Some hunting breeds like Beagles or Basset Hounds emit a scent that people often refer to as “hound scent.” Wrinkly breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs can smell bad due to the bacteria buildup between their skin flaps.
However, Goldens are pretty straightforward when it comes to smell. They generally smell pleasing until they’ve gone too long without a bath. Like many other breeds, you should bathe, brush, and feed your Golden Retriever healthily.
What Can Influence Your Golden’s Odors?
If your Golden Retriever suffers from allergies, they might have a smell on their skin. Sometimes with these types of allergies, it causes the yeast to grow on the skin. The yeast has a very particular foul smell—and it can cause ear infections in some cases, too.
Other symptoms of skin allergies include:
Excessive scratching
Rashes
Hot spots
Yeast overgrowth
Ear infections
Allergies can come from environmental or dietary triggers. If you suspect that your Golden Retriever has allergies, you should make an appointment with your vet for further investigation. Once your vet runs some tests or trials, you can pinpoint and eliminate the trigger.
- Excessive scratching
- Rashes
- Hot spots
- Yeast overgrowth
- Ear infections
How to Keep Your Golden Retriever Smelling Fresh
Keeping your golden smelling like a million bucks can be a constant task, but you’ll get into a routine that works for you. Here are some tips to keep them tidied up.
1. Practice Regular Bathing
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O A K L E Y (@adventures_with_oakley)
Dogs need baths a whole lot less than us—but they do start stinking after a while. On average, you should bathe your Golden Retriever as frequently as most other canines—every 4-6 weeks.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O A K L E Y (@adventures_with_oakley)
A post shared by O A K L E Y (@adventures_with_oakley)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Golden Retrievers can have allergy issues or sensitivities to certain shampoos. As a precaution, you could immediately start by using fragrance-free shampoos.
Overbathing can cause other issues, like dandruff and dry skin. This can lead to excessive itching. Try to bathe your dog no more than once a month. For Goldens with extra sensitive skin, you might have to wait 6 weeks or longer in between.
2. Commit to Daily Brushing
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Caroline Paras (@carolineparas)
It’s a good idea to brush your Golden every day—if nothing else because they have long fur. Brushing has lots of benefits that promote blood circulation, oil production, and good hygiene. But also, brushing helps loosen and remove dirt and debris that can get stuck in the coat.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Caroline Paras (@carolineparas)
A post shared by Caroline Paras (@carolineparas)
Since this breed has a double coat, occasionally brushing deeply with a de-shedding tool can help combat dander, matting, and shedding. If properly managed with brushing, your Golden can smell good for longer between baths.
3. Keep Up with Oral Hygiene
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by AYA (@aya_thegolden_dk)
Does anyone like a full face of hot, stinky breath in their face? Just like humans, your Golden should brush their teeth every day. To combat the aromatic vapors burning holes in your olfactory sense, practice regular brushing as early as you can.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by AYA (@aya_thegolden_dk)
A post shared by AYA (@aya_thegolden_dk)
Also, it’s best to start as early as possible. Even though puppy teeth will inevitably fall out to make way for larger canines, it can be a trial run to familiarize themselves with the process.
4. Offer Dry Baths
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O L L I E (@the_goldenretriever_ollie)
You could always try a bath between baths, so to speak. To keep your Golden’s fur from having oil and debris buildup, you can try natural or store-bought dry shampoos to neutralize odors and keep the fur fresh.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by O L L I E (@the_goldenretriever_ollie)
A post shared by O L L I E (@the_goldenretriever_ollie)
Corn starch or powder will do the trick, too, as the substance absorbs oil. You should always be careful with this method, however, as Goldens are prone to having sensitive skin. Try to go fragrance, dye, and chemical-free if you can.
5. Choose the Correct Diet
Believe it or not, diet plays a very vital role in how your dog smells. Lots of dogs suffer from some type of food allergy, which can cause yeast to grow on the skin. Cleaner ingredients, as you might guess, equal less smelliness.
The general rule of thumb here is—the more natural, the better. That means the higher quality of the diet, the better shape your dog will be in. Many vets and professionals recommend raw food diets, as it mimics their dietary ancestry.
6. Take Them to a Professional Groomer
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Christins Grooming (@christinsgrooming)
There’s nothing wrong with a little royal treatment. Your goldie can go see their stylist roughly every 6 weeks. Unlike home baths, groomers use lots of tools and resources people often don’t have at home. They can get in deep, making your pup feel fresh from their bare skin to the tips of their fur.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Christins Grooming (@christinsgrooming)
A post shared by Christins Grooming (@christinsgrooming)
It’s refreshing for your dog to have clean, aromatic fur. Plus, it’s a good social outing for them, too. Why not splurge on occasion?
7. Wash Bedding & Blankets
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ℳ𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝓀𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓁 (@miracleofangels_kennel)
If you think about it, you can give your dog a bath on schedule. However, if they still have the dirt and grime on their blankets, dog beds, and doggy clothes—they are going to get dirty pretty quickly.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ℳ𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝓀𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓁 (@miracleofangels_kennel)
A post shared by ℳ𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝓀𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓁 (@miracleofangels_kennel)
Leftover smells remain on the blankets and bedding, causing dirt, debris, bacteria, and skin particles to collect on the material. If your dog lays in the bed, the same smelliness will find your dog again. It’s best if you wash your dog’s bedding and blankets once every 2 weeks.
Conclusion
With proper care, diet, and health, your Golden Retriever shouldn’t smell bad often. If you implement good grooming habits, you can keep a clean smelling dog with no lingering odors.
So, now you know that Golden Retrievers aren’t a breed that generally has a lot of odor concerns, but it’s still a good idea to maintain their hygiene appropriately, including teeth brushing. Oral health is just as important!
Next on your reading list:
- Do Golden Retrievers Need Grooming? How Often?
- Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish? 4 Common Reasons for This
Featured Image Credit: Olena Brodetska, Shutterstock
