How To Keep Your Goldendoodle Smelling Fresh

Let’s be honest… no one wants a stinky dog. Most dog owners love to keep their dogs as close to them as possible at all times, but a smelly dog can make things very unpleasant. Goldendoodles are usually renowned for not producing all that much dander, and being low shedding, which makes people view them as a clean breed.

However, these dogs are quite high-maintenance and have extensive grooming needs. Skipping even one of these processes could leave you with a stinky Goldendoodle.

So, what do you do if you end up with a smelly Goldendoodle? Well, a great place to start would be reading this article! We’ll be discussing some of the factors that could be causing the nasty smell your dog is carrying around, and we’ll also explain how you can keep your Groodle smelling good.

If you want to find out more advice about other dog breeds, you can check out our homepage at Barks In the Park.

 

11 Common Reasons Why Your Goldendoodle Smells

There could be many things making your Goldendoodle smell bad, but in this section, we’ll be discussing 11 of the most common reasons for your Goldendoodle’s bad smell.

1. Their fur is matted and dirty

Goldendoodles (like their Golden Retriever parents) love to run around and get dirty, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! However, you will need to make sure to regularly groom and bathe your Goldendoodle if they get particularly dirty during playtime.

If your dog’s fur is caked with dirt, it can trap bacteria, which can cause a bad odor. This is why it is important to regularly groom your Goldendoodle’s coat.

2. They need a bath

As we have mentioned above, grooming and bathing your Goldendoodle when you notice its coat is dirty is important. However, you should still groom regularly regardless of whether they are dirty or not, as dander builds up on dogs’ coats over time, and produces a poor smell.

The best way to combat this is by bathing your dog regularly. You should generally bathe your Goldendoodle once per month unless you notice that they are visibly dirty.

Bathing your dog too often can cause dry skin, which can lead to skin infections that also won’t smell very pleasant. This is why you should avoid bathing your dog too often.

3. They’re on a poor diet

If you have a stinky Goldendoodle, it might be because of your dog’s diet. Feeding your Goldendoodle table scraps or low-quality dog food can cause them to develop gas. Gas may not make Goldendoodles smell all the time, but you won’t be very pleased when your dog does end up passing gas!

A good diet can prevent your dog from passing gas as often, but we’ll go into more detail about that in the next section. It’s not only gas though – low-quality food can also cause your dog to develop skin conditions like yeast infections that will make them smell bad.

4. Unexpressed anal glands

Goldendoodles and all other dogs have anal glands that they use to mark their territory. When these anal glands become impacted it can cause a very bad odor, and will leave your Goldendoodle in some pain.

This is a relatively common problem that dog owners will face a few times in their lives. The best way to tell if your dog has impacted anal glands is if you notice a horrible smell that smells nothing like an ordinary dirty dog. It is often noted as having a vaguely fishy smell.

Another sign of impacted anal glands is if your dog is constantly scooting (rubbing its bottom on the ground). If you notice either of these signs, you should take your Goldendoodle to the vet to have its glands expressed.

5. Ear infection

Both Poodles and Poodle crosses have a lot of ear hair. This often causes ear infections, which can lead to a bad smell and some discharge leaking from your Goldendoodle’s ear canal.

Ear infections can cause serious damage to your Goldendoodle’s ears and hearing. So, if you notice one or both of these signs, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Sometimes your Goldendoodle’s ears may smell even if they don’t develop any ear infections, which is caused by excessive ear hair growth. Thankfully many groomers will trim your Goldendoodle’s ear hair if you ask them to.

6. Skin infection

All types of infections in both dogs and humans can produce a foul odor. Skin infections are no different, and they can make your Goldendoodle smell less than pleasant.

Skin problems are often caused by food allergies and other allergic reactions to environmental factors. You can generally tell whether your Goldendoodle has a skin infection or not quite easily. Some of the signs to look out for include a foul smell, rashes, inflamed skin, and excessive itchiness.

If you notice any of these signs, then you should schedule an appointment with a vet to get some treatment for your dog.

7. They might have ticks or fleas

Parasites like ticks and fleas are known to cause bad odors in dogs and could be making your Goldendoodle smell. While the parasites themselves do not emit any odors, the bites they leave behind often get infected, which can make Goldendoodles smell.

If you notice any ticks or fleas on your dog, then you should head to a vet to find some tick and flea medication. This will keep these parasites off your dog, and give their current bites a chance to heal, so they won’t smell so bad after a while.

8. You are using the wrong grooming products

Bathing and grooming your Goldendoodle is important, but it is also important to make sure you are using the right products. This is especially important if your Goldendoodle has sensitive skin.

You should generally always avoid using human grooming products on your dog, and you should consult with a vet regarding which products they think would be best for your specific dog.

9. They might have gas

We have already mentioned that a poor diet can lead to gas in dogs and a resulting foul smell. However, there are other reasons that could be causing your dog’s flatulence problem.

Dogs that eat too fast and swallow too much air and those that are overweight or lazy generally pass gas more often. In this case, some exercise or a slow-feeding bowl will do the trick.

In some cases, it might be due to a maldigestion disorder. If you suspect that this is the reason for your dog’s flatulence, you should take them to a vet to get tested.

10. Dental problems

If the smell you are worried about is coming from your Goldendoodle’s mouth, then you should make sure that their dental health is in order. Dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and periodontal disease can all cause bad breath in dogs.

Bad breath can be a very unpleasant thing to deal with, but it is also a sign that you should take your Goldendoodle to the vet to get its teeth and gums checked out.

Both Poodles and Golden Retrievers suffer from gum recession, which can cause bacteria to form that leads to bad breath. This is why you should always take care of your Goldendoodle’s teeth and gums as best you can.

11. Outside influences

Many of the reasons your dog smells bad can be linked to health problems or care instructions that aren’t being followed. But, you should also keep in mind that your Goldendoodle might just smell bad because they’ve stepped on or rolled in something that doesn’t smell very good.

If this is the reason you have a smelly Goldendoodle, then all you need to do is give it a bath!

 

9 Tips To Keep Your Goldendoodle Smelling Good

If you want to avoid the problems we have mentioned above and keep your Goldendoodle smelling good, follow the tips listed below.

1. Keep them on a balanced diet

A healthy diet is incredibly important if you want to keep your Goldendoodle smelling good. A good diet will stop your dog from producing and passing as much gas, and it will also prevent them from developing any allergic reactions.

A good diet should consist of high-quality dog food with no extra additives. You can also provide your dog with a fresh or raw food diet to keep it healthy, so long as these meals don’t include anything that could irritate your dog’s stomach.

2. Brush them daily

You should always try to brush your Goldendoodle at least once per day. This will remove any dirt and debris that is stuck in its coat, which will stop bacteria from being trapped and, as a result, will prevent your dog from smelling bad.

Additionally, regularly brushing your Goldendoodle will help spread natural oils around its coat. This will leave your dog with a shiny, healthy-looking coat.

3. Use the right products

Using the right grooming and bathing products on your Goldendoodle is very important. Products made for humans may cause your dog to develop an allergic reaction, which in turn could lead to a foul smell.

If your Goldendoodle has particularly sensitive skin, then you should consult with a vet, and ask them which products they think will be best for your dog.

Goldendoodle fur also tends to mat very easily, so it would be a good idea to find a dog shampoo that has a dematting formula.

4. Bath your Goldendoodle regularly

We have already stated above that not bathing your Goldendoodle regularly will cause it to smell. This is because bacteria and dirt will thrive in these conditions and produce a bad smell.

Bathing your Goldendoodle regularly will rid its coat of all of these unwanted substances, and leave them smelling fresh and clean. However, as mentioned above, you shouldn’t bathe your Goldendoodle too often.

Otherwise, you will dry out their skin and coats, which could lead to itching and infection.

5. Dental hygiene

A Goldendoodle with bad breath is not something you want to be contending with. It doesn’t only smell bad, but could also be the result of poor dental hygiene, which can lead to further issues.

The best way to keep your Goldendoodle’s breath smelling good is by regularly brushing its teeth. You should use a dog-friendly toothbrush, and some dog-friendly toothpaste, and be sure to brush at least once a day.

Another good way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums in good condition is by providing it with dental chew toys and treats. They are usually coarse enough to remove any plaque that has built up.

6. Keep their bedding clean

While keeping your Goldendoodle clean is important, keeping its bedding clean is just as important. Even if you bathe your dog regularly, if it is sleeping on dirty bedding, it will end up smelling bad.

This is because its coat will pick up any dirt and bacteria when your dog lies in its bed. However, this is easily avoidable, as all you need to do is vacuum the area around your dog’s bed and wash it regularly.

7. Trim their fur regularly

As you may know, a Goldendoodle’s fur can get matted very easily, and while regular brushing can prevent this, it isn’t the only thing you should do.

Goldendoodles need to have their fur trimmed every four to six weeks, as it can often grow long and unruly. Trimming your Goldendoodle’s fur regularly will also remove any mats and tangles that can trap dirt and bacteria.

Trimming your Goldendoodle’s fur regularly will also keep it looking neat and tidy.

8. Check their ears regularly

Ear infections are common in Goldendoodles and we have already mentioned this above. However, you can prevent them by looking after your dog’s ears.

To do this, you will need to trim your dog’s ear hair when you trim the rest of its fur. You should also make sure to clean your dog’s ears using cotton balls, and a dog-friendly ear-cleaning solution.

Make sure to never use ear swabs designed for humans, as you could end up damaging your Goldendoodle’s ear canals.

9. Clean their paws

It is always important to keep your Goldendoodle’s paws clean to prevent any bacteria from developing there. This will stop your dog’s paws from smelling bad, and prevent any infection in the area.

Just be sure to dry your dog’s paws thoroughly after washing, or else you could end up creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

 

How To Stop Your Goldendoodle From Getting Stinky In The First Place

It is nearly impossible to keep a Goldendoodle smelling good at all times, especially if you have a muddy outdoor area on your property. However, there are still quite a few things you can do to prevent your Goldendoodle from smelling bad.

We have mentioned some of these methods above, but here is what you can do to stop your dog from getting smelly:

• Bathe your Goldendoodle at least once per month or whenever it gets visibly dirty.
• Brush your Goldendoodle’s coat at least once per day.
• Brush your Goldendoodle’s teeth at least once per day.
• Cut your Goldendoodle’s nails at least once per month.
• Trim your Goldendoodle’s fur at least once per month and keep it at a manageable length.
• Wash your Goldendoodle’s bedding at least once per month.
• Clean your Goldendoodle’s ears at least once per week.

As you can see, there’s a lot of cleaning involved when you have a Doodle!

 

Smell Comparison: Goldendoodles vs Other Breeds

While Goldendoodles are renowned for not shedding all that much, this isn’t always a bonus. When dogs shed, excess hair and dander is removed from their coats.

However, because Goldendoodles don’t shed much, this excess hair and dander will stick to their coats if they aren’t brushed regularly. So, if you don’t regularly bathe and groom your Goldendoodle it will smell much worse than breeds with shorter fur.

 

FAQs

Is it normal for my Goldendoodle to smell?

No, it isn’t really normal for a Goldendoodle or any other dog to smell bad. You should make sure to groom and bathe your dog, and if the smell persists, you should consider taking your dog to the vet. Some infections and diseases can cause your dog to smell even after a bath, so you should keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms.

Why does my Goldendoodle smell like fish?

If your Doodle smells like fish, it is likely because they impacted anal glands. These glands produce a foul-smelling liquid that is often compared to fish