The nose knows, right? We’ve taken a casual survey of many of today’s most popular dog breeds to find out just how smelly they are. There are some surprising inclusions in this stinkiest dog breeds roundup! Good thing they’re so adorable. Read on for the smelliest dogs around, then get more details below the list about what makes dogs stink, and how you can help.
The 10 stinkiest dog breeds
In no particular order…
Saint Bernard
Best known for projectile drooling, Saint Bernards are at risk of stench when their face and neck collect too much slobber. Additionally, a thick double coat and active outdoor lifestyle means regular brushing is a necessity.
English bulldog
Bulldogs are prone to teeth misalignment, which can lead to plaque and decay. Their face wrinkles need meticulous attention to avoid buildup and infection, too. Weirdest bulldog cleanliness fact? The skin under their tail stub can get infected too. Some nubs need frequent cleanings.
Beagle
These little hounds were bred to hunt in packs, so they have a distinctive doggy odour that helps the pack keep track of each member when chasing prey. Beagles boast a close, oily coat like most hounds, and longer ears that may get infected if not maintained.
Pug
My mommy said it for me. #pug #puglife #stinky #stinkypug #cute #funny #sign #dog #doggy
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Pugs are renowned for extreme gassiness due to their pushed-in snouts, and have deep facial wrinkles that can hold food or other gunk. Additionally, pugs need regular attention paid to their anal glands.
Bloodhound
Long ears prone to infection and injury help bloodhounds to channel scent up to their nose. A slick and oily hound coat with lots of loose skin folds requires frequent bathing to stay fresh.
Yorkie
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A Yorkie’s long, glamorous coat requires regular trims and bathing to stay fresh. The signature hairy ears also require meticulous cleaning to avoid infection. Long hair around the mouth can get messy from eating, too, which is why many owners opt for a tight puppy cut to make cleaning up easy.
Cocker spaniel
A Cocker’s signature long hairy ears are prone to infection—and getting dragged through the mud and everything else! Cockers have an oily coat that requires frequent bathing to avoid greasy buildup. The victim of overbreeding and inbreeding, as well, these elegant-looking dogs are predisposed to food allergies and the resulting skin conditions and gas associated with them.
Shar Pei
#shake #shakeitoff #sharpei #dog #dogathome #dogsofinstagram #dog #doggy #dogoftheday #itchy #laugh
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A Shar Pei’s distinctive wrinkly appearance is the result of an extremely high amount of hyaluron in the skin (also called mucin). Shar Peis can suffer a condition known as ‘Hereditary Cutaneous Hyaluronosis‘ in which the skin blisters and hyaluron leaks if the blister is broken. This can lead to smelly infections.
Boxer
Boxers make this list for one reason only: profound flatulence. Like all flat-faced dogs, boxers ingest a lot of air when eating, and often do well with a special slow-feed dish. Additionally, boxers can suffer food allergies and may benefit from research into potential allergies, such as choosing a grain-free diet, or figuring out which protein source is most easily digested.
Basset hound
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Long ears prone to infection and injury help basset hounds to channel scent up to their nose. A slick and oily hound coat with lots of loose skin folds requires frequent bathing to stay fresh, too.
The bottom line
Regardless of natural stink-itude, all dogs benefit from regular brushing, bathing, dental checkups, ear cleaning, and anal gland checks. A sudden change in odour in your dog is often a sign of illness and should always be taken seriously.
Why so stinky?
The short answer? It’s probably an infection. Ears, skin wrinkles, and teeth are top areas to check when something smells. Next is anal glands. If you don’t feel comfortable handling this stinky area, your vet or groomer can express the glands for a fee.
Rubbish in, rubbish out
The quality of your dog’s food can seriously affect his health, body odour, and gassiness. Some dogs will do better with different formulations, such as grain-free, or with one of the many different protein sources out there. A dog with food allergies can have a range of stinky symptoms, from dandruff to excess greasiness, gas, bloating, and ugly open wounds from scratching.
Additionally, short-snouted dogs like pugs, boxers, and bulldogs are known for being gassy thanks to their uncanny ability to ingest air as they scarf up their food. Snub-nosed dogs frequently become less gassy when fed from a dish designed to slow the eating process.
Regularly cleaning dog beds, blankets, and hoovering areas where dogs congregate can help your home avoid that lingering “a dog lives here” smell, too.
Remember, if you have to be away from your stinky friend for whatever reason, you can always find a loving dog sitter on Rover.com.
