How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in Your House for Good

By Bree, Skout's Honor 

Originally written by Brianna Harvey (@snortandsnarfle), Skout's Honor ambassador and longtime French Bulldog owner.

TL;DR: A house smells like dog when odor builds up in the places your dog spends the most time: couches, beds, rugs, laundry, and the dog's own coat. Not to toot our own horn but... toot toot. Skout's Honor has an entire line of professional strength cleaners to get rid of any dog smell, permanently. The simplest fix is a two-part routine: Skout's Honor Odor Eliminator and Laundry Booster for the house, and Probiotic Shampoo + Conditioner with Probiotic Deodorizer for the dog. Keep Urine Destroyer on hand for accidents. Wash dog bedding weekly, open the windows, and see your vet if the smell is coming from your dog's ears, mouth, or back end.

Why does my house smell like dog?

Most "dog smell" comes from the soft surfaces your dog sleeps on and the natural oils, bacteria, and yeast on your dog's coat, not from the floors. Breaking down odor on those surfaces with Skout's Honor Odor Eliminator, and keeping your dog's coat fresh, handles most of it.

Brianna Harvey, who shares her home with French Bulldogs, put the goal well in the original version of this post:

"Yes, we all know that every house, every family has their own signature scent. But yours doesn’t need to involve wet dog or the dreaded undertone of puppy potty training."

The numbers behind the smell:

• 49% of 1,136 Australian dog owners surveyed said their dog sleeps in their bed, and another 20% said the dog sleeps in the bedroom (Hoffman, Hazelton and Smith, Canisius College, 2020)
• ~90% of Americans' time is spent indoors, and some indoor pollutants run 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. The EPA lists pet dander among common indoor substances
• No single molecule makes wet dog smell. Bacteria and yeast in the coat produce volatile compounds, and water helps release them into the air (Compound Interest)

What neutralizes dog odor in the house?

Skout's Honor Odor Eliminator breaks down odor molecules on contact with a biodegradable, mineral-based Molecular Deodorizer, instead of covering them up. It's made for carpet, bedding, furniture, and other porous, water-safe surfaces, and it meets California Green Chemistry standards.

• Use on dog beds, couches, car seats, carpet, and most fabrics (35 oz bottle)
• Skip wool, leather, silk, and unsealed wood; spot-test first
• Surfaces only, not for use on your dog

Brianna's routine for the couch is a good one to borrow: "I like to do a light spray on the couch cushions and pillows about once a month to keep any dog or people odors from building up." She also does it at bedtime: "Personally, I like to use it at night so that everything is dry by morning and there are no dogs bouncing on the treated areas while they are still damp." Every dog has a favorite cushion, and it's always the one that needs it most.

How often should I wash my dog's bed?

Once a week. The American Kennel Club recommends washing dog bedding weekly, and adding Skout's Honor Laundry Booster to that load lifts pet stains and odors (urine, feces, mud, blood) that detergent alone can leave behind.

How to wash a dog bed so it actually smells clean:

1. Vacuum or de-hair the bed first, including the seams and sides.
2. Pretreat any spots: saturate with Laundry Booster, rub it in, and let it sit 5 minutes.
3. Wash the cover (or the whole bed, if it fits) with your regular detergent plus 1 to 2 oz of Laundry Booster in the bleach reservoir, or straight into the basket on a top-loader.
4. Dry completely before your dog gets back on it. AKC notes that damp, thick beds invite mold and mildew.

Laundry Booster works in any water temperature, is HE-compatible, and gets up to 32 loads per bottle. It's also the fix for what Brianna calls a universal experience: "I think all of us have forgotten a load of clothes in the washing machine before and have had to do the “rewash of shame.”"

How do I get rid of dog pee smell for good?

Use a cleaner that goes after the odor at the source, not just the visible stain. Skout's Honor Urine Destroyer combines plant-based Bio-Kore with a Molecular Deodorizer to break down and lift urine stains and odor in carpet, upholstery, and other water-safe surfaces. It isn't enzymatic, so it never expires and needs no pretreatment.

Brianna has potty trained more than one French Bulldog puppy, and says it plainly: "There is not a single urine stain in my home! And you can ask any of my friends and family, my home doesn’t smell like a kennel."

For bigger messes (poop, vomit, diarrhea, or the red wine you spilled yourself), reach for Severe Mess Stain & Odor Advanced Formula. Brianna's tip for solid messes on carpet: "If you can block off the mess so your dog can’t get into it and let it dry, that is my first recommendation." Then lift the solids and soak what's left.

Cleaning pee on wood? Our guide on how to clean dog pee on hardwood floors has the step-by-step for wood, and why we moved beyond enzyme cleaners explains the tech.

How do I keep my dog from smelling like a dog?

Bathe with a gentle, microbiome-friendly shampoo on a regular schedule, then freshen up between baths. Skout's Honor Probiotic Shampoo + Conditioner gently cleanses and moisturizes skin and coat with live probiotic kefir, and Probiotic Deodorizer neutralizes odor and leaves a clean scent between baths. Both are Microbiome-Friendly certified.

As Brianna says, "I don’t want to put in all that work to make the house smell nice and then have my dog smell, well, like a dog."

• How often to bathe: for healthy dogs, the product page suggests every 2 to 4 weeks. Groomer Jorge Bendersky tells the AKC that medium to large coats may need a bath anywhere from weekly to every four to six weeks
• Don't overdo it: AKC's experts note that overbathing can strip natural oils, especially in thick or double coats
• Between baths: a few sprays of Probiotic Deodorizer, daily if you like. Applying before meals or walks limits licking

As Brianna puts it, "My dogs aren’t the biggest fans of bath time." Most aren't, which is why a between-bath spray earns its spot on the shelf.

Want it all in one box? The Stinky Dog Bundle pairs Probiotic Shampoo + Conditioner and Deodorizer with Probiotic Ear Cleaner and Odor Eliminator.

Which Skout's Honor product do I need for each odor?

Match the product to where the smell lives: the dog, the fabric you can wash, or the surface you can't. Most dog homes do best with one from each column.

What does a simple routine for an odor-free home look like?

Our take: a dog-friendly house stays fresh with small, regular habits, not a big deep clean before guests arrive. Here's the routine we'd run, built around Odor Eliminator, Laundry Booster, and Probiotic Deodorizer.

Try the sniff test: step outside for five minutes, then walk back in. Whatever you notice first is where to start. Bonus: fewer guests asking whether you got a new dog.

When is dog smell a sign to call the vet?

If the smell is coming from your dog's ears, mouth, or rear end, or it comes back right after a bath, call your vet. Small Door Veterinary's Dr. Dei Hootie tells the AKC that a fishy odor most often comes from the anal glands, a foul mouth odor can point to dental disease, and a foul ear odor with discharge can indicate an ear infection.

Signs it's not a cleaning problem:

• Fishy smell from the back end
• Bad breath that doesn't go away
• Smelly ears, head shaking, or discharge
• A sweet or yeasty smell from the skin

Once your vet has a plan, a regular bath with Probiotic Shampoo + Conditioner can fit right into your dog's routine.

FAQ

Can I spray Odor Eliminator on my dog?

No. Odor Eliminator is for surfaces only. For your dog's coat, use Probiotic Deodorizer.

Is Probiotic Deodorizer safe for cats?

Yes, when used as directed. It's made for dogs and cats.

Do Skout's Honor cleaners disinfect?

No. Urine Destroyer, Severe Mess, Odor Eliminator, and Laundry Booster remove stains and odors. They aren't formulated to disinfect.

Bottom line: Fresh couch, fresh bed, fresh dog. Start with Odor Eliminator and Laundry Booster, keep Probiotic Deodorizer by the door, and let your vet handle any smell that isn't coming from the furniture.

Sources

• American Kennel Club, "How to Clean a Dog Bed," Gemma Johnstone
• American Kennel Club, "How Often Should You Wash Your Dog?," Kristina Lotz
• American Kennel Club, "Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish?," Colt Dodd
• Canisius College, "Majority of Dogs Have Bed Privileges" (Hoffman, Hazelton and Smith, Human Animal Interaction Bulletin, 2020)
• U.S. EPA, "Indoor Air Quality," Report on the Environment
• Compound Interest, "Aroma Chemistry: The Smell of Wet Dog," 2015