Asked on Jul 29, 2012

How can I get rid of dog smell?

Frances B
by Frances B
We inherited our grandchildren's dog when they moved to Colorado, she's a sweet part Lab part something else dog... but she has ruined by front porch area. She digs big holes to lay in or she sleeps on my front porch, stinky dog smell. Any suggestions?
  69 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 29, 2012
    Dog dig holes in the dirt to get to the cooler soil...this is one response to the heat. As an alternative, our white husky will relax on the granite tile of my office. A dod will be a dog and continue to due what is hard coded in their brains. You may find some relief if you can train them to use a dog bed that has a cover that is removable so it can be washed. I know there are some great "cedar" dog beds out there that reduce the dogginess. http://www.precious-pets-paradise.com/p-SNOOZER-QUILTIE-DOG-BED-621.html Cedar liners smell good and naturally repel fleas
  • Carol R Carol R on Jul 29, 2012
    We used oxyclean and lots of baking soda and scrubbed down our patio area and pool deck. It took care of it until the next really humid day. We repeated the process and over time, the smell subsided. I'll check back to see if someone has a better method.
  • Dee W Dee W on Jul 29, 2012
    If she is an outside dog you may need to specify a spot in the yard for her as well as giving her a bath every few months.
  • Frances B Frances B on Jul 30, 2012
    Thank you for your suggestions, I will try the oxyclean and baking soda. I'm trying to talk my husband into building her a dog run in another part of our yard.
  • Carol S Carol S on Jul 30, 2012
    Pet Stores have many products for just such a problem - Vinager and good smelling disinfectant spray works well too of course Arm and Hammer bakings soda sprinkle and left on over night, followed bya broom or vaccumm is effective and inexspencive. Find a good groomer a good brush out and bath once a year is affordable and shampoos deal with doggie odor as well. To stop the digging and the damp dog smell. You can install an outdoor cooling station for the dog too. Just lay some flagstone or ceramic tiles in a flat, shady area in the yard. You could sit out there with her til she understands that spot is for her. Remember she wants to be close to you or at least have yo insight - She thinks the world off you and yours.
  • Dyana Elkins Dyana Elkins on Jul 31, 2012
    There is an awesome product called Kids N Pets. It is endorsed by Animal Planet and I swear by it! I have 4 dogs and have to clean my carpets quite often and Kids N Pets is all I use. You would not know I had dogs in my house if you did not see them!
  • Rosie Tighe Rosie Tighe on Jul 31, 2012
    Garden lime! We are dealing with this as well. Got a bag of garden lime and some pea gravel and put it down where our dog pees (she pees in the same spot all the time and it has begun to stink). I've also heard that bleach or white vinegar are good solutions for solid surfaces (e.g. patios)
  • Cathy B Cathy B on Jul 31, 2012
    Go to the vet and get some of the disinfectant they use for the floors at night when they clean up. My neighbor was a vet and used it in her home as well.
  • Sonia Y Sonia Y on Jul 31, 2012
    The first thing I smell when I wake up is dog smell coming from the washroom where the dogs sleep. It is all tiled. So vinegar has not helped me. Now it smells like dog smell plus vinegar!
  • Mary Koehler Witkop Mary Koehler Witkop on Jul 31, 2012
    spray with white vinegar and let it dry, check the dog for skin problems,I am a groomer and labs tend to stink if they have issues with their skin or ears.
  • Margaret Callaway Margaret Callaway on Jul 31, 2012
    i have found lemon juice in a spay bottle helps. and it smells alot better than vinegar.
  • Janice J Janice J on Jul 31, 2012
    We had a dog that did the same thing. I was told to try garden lime. You can buy it at Home Depot or Lowes. I sprinkled it around the yard where he used to lay and dig holes and the odor disappeared.
  • Sandra Stephenson Sandra Stephenson on Jul 31, 2012
    Sorry for your problem. I have had several labs and beagles,plus other breeds. Unfortunately, labs are hunting dogs, and hunting dogs have a bad smell regardless. As soon as you give them a bath, they will roll in anything bad smelling they can find to cover their scent. As for your porch area, well you need to give her her own area that wont bother you, just make sure she has shade to get under. I see you live in FL, the humidity is not going to help. Have you thought about making her an inside dog?
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jul 31, 2012
    I feel sorry for this dog....the dog has lost her family and apparently isn't even allowed INSIDE your house? Poor thing is outside in the elements with access only to a porch area and now you want to take even that from her and have your husband build a dog run? Translated: you want the dog shut up in a cage, Why don't you at least try to find a decent home for the poor dog since you obviously don't like dogs.
  • Ellen A Ellen A on Jul 31, 2012
    how about bathing the dog? short haired dogs get body odor easier than long haired dogs, especially if they are mostly outside dogs...a bath once a week or every other will more than likely solve your stinky dog problem.
  • Sally Jenkins Sally Jenkins on Jul 31, 2012
    I have 2 small inside dogs that are very well trained, however they are dogs and accidents happen, my vet says baking soda and a vinegar and water solution and I like oxyclean. Another very good thing is give your dog a bath often (I bath mine at least every 2 weeks) and wash all bedding frequently...and toys, wiping their feet with wipes is good too, but I seldom get this done...I use a bleach solution on my patio and deck...Ill have to try the kids and pets an pass that info on...tks..
  • Jodi M Jodi M on Jul 31, 2012
    A dog with a skin infection will smell foul and will dig holes to cool off the skin,you may want to take him to a vet to rule out an infection.
  • Jodi M Jodi M on Jul 31, 2012
    An oatmeal bath will relieve the itch and help with the smell.
  • Linda Blount Linda Blount on Jul 31, 2012
    clean area with vanilla/ water mixture. I add 1 teas. vanilla to 1 quart water.
  • Susan White Susan White on Jul 31, 2012
    use clarify shampoo like human use it will get rid of skunk smell on a dog so it should work
  • Krickette Krickette on Jul 31, 2012
    Sounds like Suzanne needs to move to England. Over there, the dogs have more rights than the children do. This lady is asking a legitimate question out of concern for her dog. She is OBVIOUSLY taking good care of the dog and has a right to enjoy her front porch without having to smell the unpleasant odors that dogs can leave behind. A dog run is a PERFECTLY humane choice for her to make and it is her RIGHT in America to make it. How you can read so much negative into her simple question is beyond comprehension.
  • Judy V Judy V on Jul 31, 2012
    Our dog used to smell like (I used to say) dirty gym socks...haha. She also always had bad ear infections and was allergic to many things. We got med for the ears, now use a solution weekly for the ears and changed her diet to only chicken, potatos, rice and green vegetables....I know sounds like a lot but she is our family pet. We also use a couple of capfulls of white vinegar in her last rinse water after her bath which we give weekly. She just smells like a regular dog now and we can enjoy her and be physical with her so much more. Good luck!
  • Sheila Ross Sheila Ross on Jul 31, 2012
    Find the dog a home where it will be more appreciated. It's hot out so yes, naturally it's going to dig holes and if it has no shelter then where do you expect it to cool off or stay dry when it rains??? I really am glad you guys are in Florida, at least it may not have to deal with snow in the winter. Some people just are not pet people...send it to a home that will give it the love and affection it needs.
  • Carol Krohnke Carol Krohnke on Jul 31, 2012
    Here is a receipe to get rid of skunk smell from your dogs, mybe it will help you,- 1 quart of peroxide- 1/4 cup of baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap. This works great and their hair is so soft and shinny. Some friends used this mixture to get the smell out of a refrigerator and it worked. Good Luck.
  • Holly R Holly R on Jul 31, 2012
    If your dog spends the majority of the time outside it is not going to smell good, thus the room will also not smell good. I have always had labs since I was a child and one thing we found is keeping their ears healthy and taking them to the groomer once a month makes them smell great! We take them out to play and for walks but then it is back inside. My Mother, Sister, and I all have Labs and none of us have that dog smell. (PS I personally cannot afford the groomer so I bath mine myself once a month.) The gal that said they will try to roll in stuff is absolutely correct! Gotta watch them close, sometimes mine gets a bath 4 times a month depending on what he lays in! lol
  • Linda T Linda T on Jul 31, 2012
    Our dog smelled terrible when she had mange, a yearly occurrence. She scratched and chewed so much, she would cry and bleed, and as you say, lie in freshly scraped damp dirt. Our rescue first told us what to do for her, then later, a lovely vet. When her coat grew back, we took her to be groomed at Pet'sMart. I had bathed her in the garden before and brushed her often, but her coat was so thick, I hardly made a dent. Pet'sMart not only did a wonderful job, even trimming her nails, but gave us a form, listing all the problems they found. And SHE SMELLED WONDERFUL! If you only do it rarely, it's not that expensive either.
  • Dee W Dee W on Jul 31, 2012
    @ Holly-wow, 4x's? They are water dogs so I am sure that is alright for them but my Akita/Chow mix would have severe dermatitis from that much. Good brushing everyday and she has a cot to lay on in the yard during the hot months.
  • Linda T Linda T on Jul 31, 2012
    Our dog smelled terrible when she had mange, a yearly occurrence. She scratched and chewed so much, she would cry and bleed, and as you say, lie in freshly scraped damp dirt. Our rescue first told us what to do for her, then later, a lovely vet. When her coat grew back, we took her to be groomed at Pet'sMart. I had bathed her in the garden before and brushed her often, but her coat was so thick, I hardly made a dent. Pet'sMart not only did a wonderful job, even trimming her nails, but gave us a form, listing all the problems they found. And SHE SMELLED WONDERFUL! If you only do it rarely, it's not that expensive either.
  • Theresa C Theresa C on Jul 31, 2012
    My vet always recommended using a dryer sheet to rub down the dog when he came in
  • Kristine Hawkins Kristine Hawkins on Jul 31, 2012
    why are people being so mean to her, she took the dog in , all she wants to know is how to care for it and be happy to, gees. baths and purfume. brushings
  • Dee W Dee W on Jul 31, 2012
    @ Holly-wow, 4x's? They are water dogs so I am sure that is alright for them but my Akita/Chow mix would have severe dermatitis from that much. Good brushing everyday and she has a cot to lay on in the yard during the hot months. She still smells "hot" but we expect that now.
  • Miriam Illions Miriam Illions on Jul 31, 2012
    Hi everyone, thanks to all who shared helpful suggestions on this post, I want to remind everyone to please adhere to Hometalk's content guidelines and be respectful of each other when posting. Differences of opinion are standard in an online community, but please keep it friendly. http://www.hometalk.com/about/terms
  • Diane H Diane H on Jul 31, 2012
    Yep, ear infections and allergies. Where ever smelly dog lays will smell like smelly dog. Probably your porch mat. The hands down solution to smelly (especially skunk) is: small box of baking soda, large bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a dash of liquid soap. Full strength for the dog, diluted to spray down the front porch and door mat with pump up sprayer. Rinse after. Sprinkle cayenne pepper where you don't want holes. My Molly Blaze is a Lab/ Border Collie mix. Allergies and ear infections....10 years...ugh....
  • Dee W Dee W on Jul 31, 2012
    @Frances-how did your grandchildren take care of the dog? Maybe like some have suggested she has an allergy to something and you can correct it, or that is just how she smells which means you will need to keep her off the porch-at least until cooler weather. I think it is wonderful that you were even willing to take the "family dog" in. That must have been such a comfort to your grandchildren and their parents. Best of Luck to you.
  • Carol Kavanagh Carol Kavanagh on Jul 31, 2012
    I often give our pets an oatmeal cornstarch bath. It helps them cool off in the hot summer months, and also helps with itching and odors. As a side note to both Suzanne and Sheila: where in this womans question do either of you see that this dog is unliked, unappriciated or neglected? I mean, talk about reading between the lines... sheeeshhh!
  • Frances B Frances B on Jul 31, 2012
    Thank you for all the recommendations, obviously we love the dog or she wouldn't be here. She has a dog house, but refuses to go in it. She can't come in our house, as we have another grandchild, less an year old living with us, and she already has allergies. The dog has no medical problems, she just has that dog smell. And as for giving her to someone else, YOU explain that to the grandchildren when they come to visit!!
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jul 31, 2012
    Um.....the grandchildren abandoned the dog, remember? Plus, they gave her to someone who leaves her outside ALL the time...in the Deep South! What kind of life is that for mans best friend? I have 2 young grandchildren and my 3 dogs come in and out as they please. Dogs are mans best friend for good reason!
  • Kleo NaWolf Kleo NaWolf on Jul 31, 2012
    This is the one site I thought I could read and not get immediately upset by stupid stuff people type.
  • Sharyna A Sharyna A on Jul 31, 2012
    I just bought an over the counter Hartz Mountain product that smells like green apple. So far so good, Tippy is smelling good!
  • Alicia Clark Alicia Clark on Jul 31, 2012
    get her one of those plastic kiddie pools for her to cool off in that should cut down on the digging. Fabreez her sleeping area often and brush her. Some of the "doggie smell" comes from dead hair trapped near the skin. Removing the hair allows her skin to breath better as well.
  • Sharon H Sharon H on Jul 31, 2012
    I use white vinegar to combat pet smell all the time. You can mix a solution of white vinegar and peroxide and water and use that to clean. When I do that, I usually leave it on the area for awhile. As it is outside, it would hurt nothing; just don't get the solution on any plants!
  • Margaret B Margaret B on Jul 31, 2012
    Take her for loong walks. You can ride a bike, go-cart, the dogs strides by your side. Catch her at her digging (misbehavior) and use a squirt gn and firm command, NO. After about the third time they stop. Sharon H. offered an excellent solution. Try distracting her when she does something you do not want her to do with another toy. (no treats) Sounds like she is missing her family. Give her a special area to dig if possible. Some people, with large dogs, try mouse traps, the snap startles them. Sounds like she is jusy lonely for her family.
  • Frances B Frances B on Jul 31, 2012
    Suzanne, I'm sorry that you think that we don't love this dog, you don't know us so there is no way you can make that assumption. The grandchildren are 6 and 4, so they did not choose to abandon this dog, because of the horrible economic situation they had to move where there are jobs, and their parents chose not to make a large dog live in a small apartment. Maybe you have never seen a dog run, but around here, they are big spaces with shelter and lots of room to move around in, not just some open area with a fence around it. Sorry that I don't live up to your standards and let the dog live in the house, but as I said, we have another grandchild living with us, and I will not make that child sick. We take good care of this dog, my only questions were if someone had some ideas how to get rid of the smell and maybe some way to keep her from digging. A small swimming pool will not help, as she hates water.
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jul 31, 2012
    Frances, she digs because she is hot and this is the way she cools off....so anything you can do that will keep her cooler will help with the digging. One of my dogs is a digger, but it's not much of a problem for me because I have a huge fenced back yard and they are never left out there for more then 30 minutes at a time in the heat of summer. The dog probably seeks out your porch because it is shady/cool and is also as close as she can get to the humans in the house. I have 4 kids and have lived in many an apartment while they were young...and the family dog and cat went with us. Pet ownership is a tremendous responsibility with many rewards. And sorry, but a pet left outside 24/7 is not getting "good care." The grandchild in your house could get allergy shots.....they've worked for many people and are a plus because they build up the immune system. Anyway, I won't post here again, I've said my piece and you've said yours. I wish you luck with the dog and I hope the situation improves.
  • Susan Sostack Susan Sostack on Jul 31, 2012
    We have a kiddie pool for our lab , she loves it! geets in, walks in acircle real fast then plops down, her own jacuzzi, but she would still rather play in the hose. hose off the front porch with a solution of oxyclean, and maybe give her a designated spot on the porch, she may just be looking for love & confirmation that she gets to stay with you. Dogs dig "usually " to get a cooler place, it is not really a mis-havior, but a natural instinct. If she has already discovered that digging was ok in her previous home, it could be difficult break her of it with the squirt gun, but if it's new spray bottle could work. Lots of luck. Labs can be pretty stubborn,
  • Mop your floors and steam clean your carpets/rugs with vinegar. The smell will disappear when dry.
  • Harmony Anderson Harmony Anderson on Jul 31, 2012
    not all dogs dig from being hot. I had a lab that dug out of total bordom. he also ate ( yes ate) my rose bushes. make sure the dog has plenty to do. I've also heard of people using channel pepper in the dig spots, I am not sure if it works but I know it must b applied frequently. I also use straight vinegar for a deodorizer. I add it to my laundry and put it straight on the carpet with a spray bottle. is your patio concrete? or more like a wood deck? either could b scrubbed sealed painted ect. any porous will absorb wet dog smell and you either have to scrub it out or seal it in and stop more from being absorbed. good luck. my lab passed away at 15 and everything he slept on eventually went in the trash because of smell lol
  • If the doggie has odors, then there can be a few things that cause this. If you believe the odor is from the dog itself, and not from something he or she brought in on their coat, then there are two things you can do to help that out. One being a visit to the local vet. As some dogs when their ill can begin to emit foul odors. A vet can rule that out. Another reason why doggies smell is diet. I know this first hand. If we change our dogs diet just a small amount, he stinks for several days after. So that plays a large part in the process. So choose your food carefully. A Vet should be able to assist you with a proper selection and brand. If the odor seems to appear from outside sources such as odors from digging in the dirt that the dog brings in, you simply need to keep the dog bathed and try to keep him or her from digging. As some said here if its hot they dig to cool off, So perhaps more shade or simple kitty pool in which they can dunk themselves. Also providing lots of cold water. We run a hose on a very low trickle all day in a large bucket when dog is outside to keep him cool. If he or she has a dog house, the bedding needs to be addressed. Older blankets, straw etc can become foul when the dog brings in outside dirt and moisture. Keeping the dog house vented and clean helps a lot. Bathing the dog also has its limitations as well. Some dogs just cannot have frequent washings as it drys out their coat. So a good brushing comes into play here as well. But if you must dip and dunk your dog to keep odors under control, use high quality dog shampoos and rinse the dog well. To rid the room of the smell, Natures Miracle sold at most pet stores and larger shopping centers works great. This will rid any urine smells in short order. If the dog is limited to a smaller area of the yard, they can pick up odors from their droppings and urine as well. So the larger the run area the better. I am not a big advocate of putting dogs in runs or on chains, but if space is limited and this needs to occur for the dogs safety etc. You need to be really diligent on keeping those areas clean. A spray every day of Lestoil and water to disinfect the area is suggested. This not only stops odors from blowing around the yard, but keeps down flies and insects that often feed on dog by products. Just be sure that the area is dry before returning the dog to it.
  • Maria C Maria C on Jul 31, 2012
    maybe all she needs its just a little attention. Sorry Frances i don't want to get this any bigger or get in between. I wasn't a dog person my self, but when we get our home i give it a try because my son wanted one, so we got a puppy my husband trained her, she live inside and everything and then she started to digging my garden as soon as she got out and i got so mad at her because of that and told my husband it seems that she did it purposely, he tell me she need your attention ( i dint believe that ) but one day i give her a bath and talk to her and everything change sounds silly but its true...
  • Diane W Diane W on Jul 31, 2012
    My adult son and his family adopted a beautiful purebred bloodhound puppy and within a few weeks, the whole house began to really stink. We live in an attached area of the house and the dog is not allowed in here and we don't have the smell. Frances, you said the dog hated water, so many of the suggestions won't work for you. My kids use air fresheners which only work if you stand right next to it. I'm sorry I have no suggestions because it's a problem I've never had to deal with, and my kids either don't notice the horrendous smell or they don't care (I suspect the latter). But I guess my real point is that it saddens me that she is kept outside 24/7. Please tell me you spend a lot of time outside with her, playing with her, telling her what a good dog she is and that she is well loved. Also that she has a place for her to go that keeps her safe, comfortable and free from the elements.
  • Frances B Frances B on Jul 31, 2012
    Diane, yes she gets lots of love and attention. She has never been an inside dog, even when her first owners had her, she was outside dog, my son and his family tried her inside, and she didn't like it. Rather have the room to run, I guess.
  • Sharlene Palermo Sharlene Palermo on Jul 31, 2012
    We have two dogs & a pool! They both go into the pool every day & then dig, so it's a never ending job. I am always wiping them off before they come into the house. One is a Jack Russell so she will always dig. I put the smellie plug in's the outlets & sprinkle backing soda which has a sent in to keep it smelling good! This seems to help & no one has complained.
  • Linda S Linda S on Jul 31, 2012
    sharlene palermo please tell me how to get my 7month old chow/lab mostly lab pup in the water, she will now run after hose but i have huge country pond and inground pool i want her to swim she has webb feet of lab and yes my baby digs, i am yard freak but also love my babies 2 cats and lab. does anyone know how. she got knocked in pool can swim but was scared to death. :(
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 31, 2012
    The very best thing I have found for odor is OdoBan from Sam's Club. You may be able to find it on line. It used to be at WalMart but I could not find it last week when I looked for it. I am going to do some research and see if I can find it. If I do, I will let you know.
  • Dawn Baldi Dawn Baldi on Jul 31, 2012
    A friend of mine had a stinky dog too and was told to change their diet get rid of anything that had chicken in it and use lamb or venison.Needless to say the dog no longer smells or scratches. As for the deck a good thorough scrubbing with vinegar and lemon juice should do the trick. Or do as Jeanette say try the OdoBan that stuff is strong and works too but I would try the cheaper method first! Good Luck and I hope the doggie finds some relief. :-)
  • Terri Styer Terri Styer on Jul 31, 2012
    I have fed my dogs food with lamb for years and they still have a smell to them and the one still has hot spots on him. I rub him down with hydrocordisone, which helps but the lamb food didn't.
  • Judy Davis Judy Davis on Jul 31, 2012
    My Sister suggested we give our lab a bath periodically. Because of his skin type-water dog-we use an oatmeal shampoo that we got from a pet store. Since he loves to go swimming and being in lake water we do bathe him mayby every 4 to 6 weeks. He is very healthy and our vet approves
  • Katrina R Katrina R on Aug 01, 2012
    Seems as though the list for vinegar never ends! I have been battling fleas this summer and one of the sites was saying that fleas don't like vinegar and you could use a diluted solution to help keep them off of the pets by spraying it on their fur. Now I've learned it will help control their odor too. Sweet! I love this site!
  • Linda T Linda T on Aug 01, 2012
    @ Mary Styer. If the hydrocortisone works for you, good, but be sure that it is that, because when Gally had mange, I would put cortisone 10 on her itches (OTC and cheap, and we had it in the house). After we finally broke down and took her to our vet', she almost 'yelled' at me! "Cortisone is like vitamins to demodex! (the horrible creatures that cause mange) so I was unwittingly making her worse! According to the vet, all dogs have a few, but are usually immune. Some, however inherit a gene that makes them spread. When our girl had it very badly, she reeked, even when we washed her with her medicine.
  • Diane W Diane W on Aug 01, 2012
    Thank you, Frances for that reassurance. I don't see anything wrong with an outside dog, only if they are tied to a short leash or neglected or left to fare in extreme weather conditions while living outside. I don't believe that's a problem in this place, but really, this issue is no one's business, since you wrote in to ask about how to get rid of that stinky dog smell.
  • Sharlene Palermo Sharlene Palermo on Aug 01, 2012
    Linda S, and I hope I'm doing this right! lol I'm new to this site, but my Jack Russell loves the water & we can't keep her out but that type of dog likes water. The other one only puts his feet in takes a drink then gets out.
  • Carolyn W Carolyn W on Aug 01, 2012
    Sprtz with white vinegar. Gets rid of Stunk smell in area as well as on dog. Well, it takes BOTTLES of vinegar to ge the smell of the dog. Much easier to se than Tomamo juice, and vinegar is a less expensive acidic clearner than TJ. I learned this from an animal control guy when a skunk let loose just outside our company's storage shed which was loaded with paper - very absorbant paper. Vinegar did the trick in less than 24 hours!
  • Carol S Carol S on Aug 02, 2012
    Katrina - Flea problem?? My ACO & Vet both swear by dawn. I found a kitten being eaten alive by them and adopted a dog who was crawling with them. Something about the blue coloring. When I combed out live ones they died immediately as I rinsed the comd off in ther detergent solution.
  • Cass Cass on Aug 02, 2012
    I spray my Black Lab and brush into her coat a mixture of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water once a day. Her coat is soft and beautiful. This also helps with shedding. She smells like a pickle, but better than dog smell. I also recommend having the ears cleaned professionally, your vet will advise how often.
  • Linda T Linda T on Aug 02, 2012
    Dawn is a miracle for lots of reasons. Better than Woolite for sweaters, and if take a tic of an animal, you put a drop into a plastic cup, enough to drown it. It's too thick for them to get out and they suffocate. Also you can knock a stick bug in, with the same results.
  • Janet A Janet A on Aug 06, 2012
    She sleeps in holes that she digs because she is hot. The loose sand cools her. The weather in Florida is almost too hot to keep a pet outside. I live here and I would never leave a dog in the heat, even with shelter. No offense intended but perhaps if you don't really want her inside maybe you could find her another home. Dogs are just like children, when they are outside playing, they come in smelly. Some of these suggestions might not help and rather make the problem worse. Go to a reputable pet store and ask the groomers what to use. And give the girl a break. It's hot outside!
  • Debi M Debi M on Aug 06, 2012
    How often are you bathing her? During the hot summer months we bathe every 4 to 5 weeks, using oatmeal shampoo (we have several shar pei) We also have a kid's swimming pool for them to play in, not a lot of water, but enough they can walk around in, or even lay down in. Instead of digging to keep cool, they get in the pool. We change the water daily. Is your dog itchy or is her skin infected? If she is that smelly it may be some type of fungal infection. Rinse her with water and sea salt, then a final rinse with clear water. Try giving her a cool place to lay. You can purchase cool mats for your dog at the local pet stores or by ordering through a catalog or on line. It depends on how much you love her as to what you want to do. We have had up to 9 dogs at a time and we've never experienced the type of problems that you seem to be having, but then again our fur kidz live in our house...and before you ask, no, my house doesn't smell like dogs :-)
  • Kristine Hawkins Kristine Hawkins on Sep 11, 2012
    oatmeal can dry their skin.
  • Capernius Capernius on Jan 26, 2016
    I think 2 things will solve most, if not all, of your problems. to stop her from digging hole in the yard to lay in, buy a kiddy pool big enough for her to lay in & fill it as often as needed with the coldest water possible. you keep doing that & she(hopefully) won't be digging any more. Now about bathing her: someone said Dawn Dish soap, but I disagree. I was told by my vet the baby shampoo is best. it gets the animal clean, kills the fleas & ticks AND, it will not cause his/her eyes to burn if soap gets in the eyes. Dish Soap will burn like crazy. anything other than baby shampoo will burn the eyes... Now, about the ears: someone said to have the vet check & clean the ears. I think this is an excellent idea. matter of fact, it would not hurt to have the dog checked at least 2 times a year by the vet. get the dog a routine check up, clean the ears if needed, & by doing this, if he/she begins to develop an illness of some kind, you'll stand a better chance of catching it early enough to stop it, which boils down to spending less money in the long run.