Since having our beautiful pup I have wanted to avoid having the house smelling too much of dog(I know it can’t always be helped). I hoover and use my steam mop every evening and wash his toys and bowls etc but is there anything else I can do to keep my house smelling as nice as possible? I know it sounds a silly thing to worry about. I take it febreeze and air fresheners are not safe to use in the house? Thank you
Make sure the dogs bedding and collar are washed too. It tends to be these that smell rather than the dog.
Please don't use febreeze or any air-fresheners. There is a lot of research to show these are really bad not just for the dog but for the people in the house and respiratory systems. I remember one behavioural consultation I did, when I was basically almost gagging or choking the whole way through, these people had so many of those air-freshener things plugged in. I felt so sorry for the dogs with their much more sensitive noses than I had, if that was the effect on me. I couldn't find a way to say anything though as I couldn't find a way to relate it to the behavioural problem and it just seemed excessively critical, but I often wish I had said something. The best way to keep the house smelling good, is to hoover and preferably not to have carpets. What holds 'stink' is unwashed fabrics. Hard floors can't smell and can easily be mopped with a safe and nice smelling substance (I like Ecover!). Blankets and beds should be washed as hot as possible and if you want to add something extra, add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide (food grade) to the wash. This is really safe, much safer than bleach, and it won't bleach fabrics - but it will kill bacteria (which is what causes smells). Use blankets or throws which can be washed, on sofas, so the sofas don't hold the smell. Try not to use Dettol or Napisan or other disinfectants in the wash - except for occasionally when you have to - since those products contain quats (quaternary ammonium disinfectants) and have been associated with several unwanted effects in research - in one study the mice became infertile because their cages were being cleaned with this stuff. It hangs around on surfaces long after and it took many cleanings of the cages before the mice began reproducing normally again.
Sorry to jump on the post but is it ok to have air fresheners in a room away from the dog? I have one at the bottom of the stairs which isn’t near where our new pup is/sleeps and I hadnt even given it a thought til I read this post!!
No, you really shouldn't be using them anywhere in the house - for your own sake and for human health as much as for any pets.
I bought a puripod, you plug it in and it neutralises smells, I bought 2 for £15 from amazon. I think it works
I have hard flooring & throws on the couch that can be thrown in the wash. Other than that wash his bedding as often as possible......if my house smells of dog (I can't smell it) I don't care if visitors don't like it they don't have to visit . I don't actually find the smell of Labrador offensive so don't really care to be honest. I know my car smells of him as my parents so nicely pointed out when I gave them a lift, while complaining about dog hair so I just said don't come in his car then . I don't have or use air fresheners as the smell of them makes feel sick
