Summer is meant for days at the beach or lake, much to the delight of your dog! While you love playing with your dog, you likely do not love the way your dog smells after time playing in the lake. No matter how healthy your dog is, he or she can’t avoid the smell; however, there are steps you can take to help mitigate the smell post-lake. Your dog needs exercise, and time at a dog beach or running around a lake is a great way to let out energy!
Keep Fur Short
During the summer, dogs with long fur can get overheated, so you may want to consider keeping their fur shorter. An additional benefit of this is that short fur helps eliminate the smell of the lake easier. This smell occurs because your dog’s fur traps bacteria and organic matter from the water; their fur is extremely absorbent, meaning that the longer the fur, the more they absorb. As well as keeping their fur shorter during the summer, you can rub baking soda or cornstarch into damp fur and brush it out to help keep the smell down.
Products and Bathing
Both deodorant sprays and oatmeal-based non-soap cleansers can help with a post-lake smell. They work by binding to the dog’s hair to mask the smell; however, this will not eliminate the smell. The only true way to completely eliminate the smell is by giving your dog a bath. Make sure to buy the right products for your dog’s bath, though, because many shampoos cause itchiness and dryness in your dog’s skin. With the right shampoo, your dog can enjoy the lake and you can enjoy a home that still smells great.
Remember that there are factors that affect this smell; while there will likely always be a post-lake stink, the actual lake as well as your dog’s breed will affect this. Dog breeds such as labradoodles or other thick-coated dogs will absorb the most smell, so be ready for baths if you own a thick-coated dog!
Courtesy of: Cottage Life
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