We pet parents love our pups more than anything.

I’m sure that just like me, your dog is your world and you love to look after him or her as well as you can. The good news is, having a dog is great for us humans too!

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Happy Pet Parent

Have you decided to get a new dog? This article can help you decide on how to choose a new dog, or how your next dog might choose you!

The golden retriever is a popular choice for a family dog – check out why it might be a good choice for your family.

Lots of families these days like the idea of a doodle dog, as they’re known to shed less hair. That’s not always the case though. Find out more about doodles in this article.

Sometimes life is full-on and we don’t have as much time with our dogs as we’d like. Here are tips for keeping your dog happy even when you’re crazy busy.

One thing that’s often hard to keep on top of as a pet parent: keeping the house clean! Get the best tips for keeping your house clean with a dog in this article.

Get a fantastic picture of your pup made: Personalised dog art

The Hardest Part of Being a Pet Parent: Pet Loss

Unless you’ve never had a dog before, you’ll know exactly how heart breaking it is when you have to say goodbye to your beautiful fur baby. Here are some resources that I hope will help you through that process.

Grieving The Loss Of A Dog

Dog Cremation And Dog Memorials

An eBook Pet Grief Journal to assist on working through the grieving process – this can be used for any pets, not just dogs.

Dog Mom DIY Projects

Do you like sewing? Make a bat bow tie for your dog to celebrate Halloween.

This article shows you how to make a bow tie for your pup and a matching face mask for you.

Alternatively, you might like to see your dog in a bandana, rather than a bow-tie: here’s the pattern for an easy-sew dog bandana.

DIY Dog Toys

If you like to make your own dog toys, try these homemade dog toy projects.

5 Easy DIY Dog Toys To Make From Rubbish!

How To Make A Snuffle Mat For Your Dog

Make a dishwasher-washable, silicone snuffle mat for your dog

Other dog topics you might like:

Dog toys and games to play with your dog

Dog treats and dog food information

Dog care – keeping your dog happy and healthy – including dog DIY articles such as DIY dog paw balm

The post Pet Parents appeared first on Canine Compilation.

I love halloween, but there may be some aspects of it that our dogs don’t appreciate. Here are some tips for a spooky but safe Halloween for you and your dog.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

WALK YOUR DOG BEFORE DARK

All the things that make Halloween such fun for us – weird face painting, freaky costumes, spooky lighting – can make it equally scary for a dog.

Even the calmest dog can be spooked by something otherworldly and out-of-the-ordinary. If you walk your pup before dark, you should be able to avoid any such encounters.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

There are some really cute Halloween costume for dogs, but what if your dog hates being put in a costume?

I’m lucky, I could put my girl in anything and she wouldn’t have a problem with it. However, not all pups are like that. If your dog is uncomfortable in costumes, how about a more simple Halloween costume that won’t upset her?

There are lots of lovely bow ties for dogs that you can buy, or make your own dog bow tie. You could even make your pup a gorgeous, bat-shaped Halloween bowtie like the one below – no sewing required!

HALLOWEEN DOG FOOD

All festive occasions involve food – a delicious treat for us but potentially problematic for our pups.

If you’re having a Halloween party, make sure Fido can’t get at the kids’ sugary trick-or-treat bowl. Not only is the sugar really bad for dogs (or potentially even worse, the toxic sugar replacement, xylitol), but they could choke on a candy and its wrapper.

Just because some human food is bad for your dog though, doesn’t mean your fur baby has to go without.

You could have a bowl of treats that are just for your dog and make sure that any guests know they can only give your dog those treats.

Dehydrated dog treats like chicken jerky are great for parties – if any of the 2-legged guests accidentally eat them, they’ll probably not even realise they were for your dog! Here’s a tutorial for how to make chicken jerky for your dog.

Making celebration cakes for a dog is fantastic fun. Here’s a recipe for a Halloween cake for dogs.

One of the things I most enjoy about Halloween is pumpkins, and that’s something I can share with my dog. Pumpkin is super healthy for dogs and there are plenty of pumpkin treats for dogs you can make.

TRICK OR TREATERS AT THE DOOR

Where I live, the general rule of thumb if you’re participating in Halloween is to put a carved, lit pumpkin in the window, a sign to the local kids that there’s a bowl of yummy trick-or-treat candies waiting for them. Otherwise, close your curtains and you won’t be bothered by trick-or-treaters (these days there’s only treats, no tricks!)

Thankfully, my dog doesn’t get upset when people come to the door or ring the bell, but not all dogs are like that. If your pup does get upset with people coming to the house, make sure she has a safe space to snuggle up in, where she can get some distance from all the excitement at the front door.

Even dogs that don’t normally have problems with visitors can end up feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of excited children in strange looking costumes. If you keep your dog in another room, both she and your visitors will stay safe and calm.

You could also put some calming music for dogs on in whatever room she’s in.

HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS

Sadly, most candles nowadays are bad for dogs. They’re made with potentially toxic things like synthetic fragrance oils and paraffin.

Dog-safe candles can be made from beeswax, coconut wax, natural soy or vegetable-based wax, with something like a cotton, lead-free wick. Since some essential oils are toxic to dogs, beware using scented candles. If you want to know more about essential oils for dogs, see this article.

So if your dog is in the same part of the house as your lit pumpkin, could you use a pet-friendly candle in it instead of a standard tea-light?

Another consideration is to make sure that Fido can’t jump up and knock any candles over. The last thing you want is to be putting out house fires!

With a little careful consideration, Halloween can be a hoot for you and your dog!

The post Halloween For Dogs: Tricks, Treats and No Trauma appeared first on Canine Compilation.

Some dog smells are wonderful – take the smell of a new puppy, for instance. If they sold that smell in fragranced candles we’d all have candles in every room. However, not all dog smells are so appealing. Some dogs smell more than others and the smells can range from a bit whiffy to downright unbearable!

And what pet parent doesn’t want to be rid of bad dog smells and keep their dog from stinking? If dog odor elimination is a problem in your home, you’re not alone. Most of us experience it at one point or another. From a stinky couch or car, to accidents on the carpet, or, that delightful wet dog smell after a walk, eliminating dog odors from the house is a big concern for many pet parents.

Whether you’re looking for a DIY, natural dog odor eliminator or the best commercial product available, we’ve got you covered. We’ll go over some of the common reasons that dogs smell bad and then share simple strategies to keep your dog, home and car smelling beautiful. Finally, we’ll look at natural products you can use to get rid of musty dog smells and recommend the top pet odor eliminator products you can buy.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

WHY DOES MY DOG SMELL?

There are lots of reasons why your dog may be stinking up the place, including illness, being dirty, certain medical conditions, and diet. All dogs naturally have a dog odor, they’re dogs! But when that doggy smell starts to build up or linger, we need to do something about it.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Several skin diseases can make your dog smell bad. If the sebaceous glands are overactive, producing too much sebum, dogs can suffer from oily skin, or rough, dandruff-like skin, hair loss and clogged hair follicles. This skin disease is called seborrhea and it can be very smelly, especially if it’s due to a fungal infection.

Dermatitis and allergies can also produce similar symptoms, again resulting in an unpleasant smell. That smell of course gets transferred to the furniture and rooms that your dog lives in.

Unfortunately, there is no magic dog-odor-eliminator product that can solve all of these problems. This type of dog smell is best treated with a combination of methods – daily brushing, regular bathing with a gentle dog shampoo and regular cleaning of dog beds/sofa covers.

In the above cases, daily brushing alone will make a big difference in the quality of your dog’s coat and cut down the smell by removing old, dead skin cells, oil build-up and dander.

Bacterial skin infections such as pyoderma are common in dogs with allergies or other conditions that cause their immune system to be out of whack. The result is an overgrowth of bacteria on the dog’s skin which can lead to a bad smell and a whole host of other symptoms, including swelling and ulcers. Antibiotics and regular baths with medicated shampoos are often prescribed in this case.

EARS

If dog skin infections are the problem, your dog may be having repeated issues with his ears. Bacterial and yeast infections are very common in dogs’ ears and can be particularly smelly.

A build-up of wax in your dog’s ears is another cause of unpleasant smells.

If you’re not sure why your dog’s ears smell bad, get her checked by a vet so you can identify what the problem is and the correct way to treat it. Most likely it will involve cleaning the ears, something you can learn to do yourself.

You can avoid many ear problems by keeping your dog’s ears clean and making sure they are always dried properly after your dog gets wet. Bacteria just loves to build up in moist spots like ears.

DOG DENTAL PROBLEMS

If your dog has a bad smell coming from his mouth, it’s time to take him for a dental check-up. It could be caused by several different things.

Regular teeth cleaning, using dog dental chew toys and adding a natural seaweed supplement all help to keep your dog’s teeth in great shape – see this article for more details on dog dental health.

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED YOU COULD JUST CALL A VET WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR DOG?

Now you can! Vidivet is like having a vet at your fingertips, 24/7.

Get personalised advice from a real vet, whenever you need it. Send a text, audio message or video, or organise a 1-2-1 video call with one of the vets.

There are plans to suit every pet parent’s budget, and even a free trial. What do you have to lose?

I WANT TO KNOW MORE!

YOUR DOG IS IN HEAT

Sometimes dogs in heat can have a stronger body odor. This isn’t the case with every dog though.

YOUR DOG IS DIRTY

Rolling in poop, playing in mud, or just getting a little mucky on a walk might make your pup smell more ‘doggy’! My girl likes to start every day off with a nice long roll in the grass. We live in the countryside so who knows what she’s massaging into her back – squirrels, hedgehogs, badgers, moles and foxes all frequent the garden so it could be anything.

Rolling in fox poo seems to be a universal dog activity, and I don’t even try to stop her doing it. Yes, it honks. But it’s also totally natural behaviour.

Instead, I keep dog wipes by the door and I give her a quick wipe down. For most days, that’s enough.

DIET

A dog’s diet has a big impact on how they smell. Lots of pet parents report an improvement in this when they feed a raw diet. I too feed raw, but I know that not every dog dad or mom wants to.

If you suspect your dog’s diet might be causing bad smells – especially in the case of gassy dogs – try switching her to another diet. If she’s not eating the best quality food, her coat might also suffer. Are her fur and skin dull and dry, or silky and shiny? Apart from looking unhealthy, a poor coat can give off an unpleasant smell too.

GLANDS 

You’ll know when your dog’s anal glands get clogged and compacted. These little glands, located at either side of the anus, are the bane of many a pet parent’s life.

Signs your dog may need his glands expressed are lots of licking around his butt, scooting or dragging his butt along the ground, not to mention that rather revolting smell coming from his back end…

Your dog needs a little help expelling the stinky dog oil trapped inside his glands. You can do it yourself – ask your vet or groomer to show you how. If this seems too gross for you, pay them to do it. Honestly, they’re very experienced at it and will probably do it in a faster, less painful way.

Some dogs suffer from it more than others though so to save your wallet you might need to learn how to deal with it yourself.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOG SMELL BETTER

Some of the above problems can be resolved by keeping your pooch clean.

REGULAR BRUSHING

Regular brushing not only helps to control bad doggy smells, it also helps keep your dog’s skin and fur in good shape. Brushing removes dead hair, flaky skin and excess oil, all things that combine to create that very dog smell we’re trying to avoid.

Some dogs need to be brushed more than others. I can sometimes get away with just once a week.

My girl sleeps on my bed, so brushing her helps reduce the number of hairs on the blanket. When I notice she has that unwelcome dog ‘aroma’, I brush her down with some of my DIY dry dog shampoo recipe. It absorbs the excess oils, helps protect her against fleas AND it smells lovely. It takes just seconds too, which is welcome as I’m quite a lazy dog mom! Get the recipe here.

BEST BUDGET DRY SHAMPOO – FOAM

WAHL WATERLESS SHAMPOO FOAM

• 100% natural
• A little goes a long way
• Different fragrances
• Calming formula
• Cleans, conditions and moisturises

BUY ON AMAZON

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION

BURT’S BEES WATERLESS SHAMPOO SPRAY

• No artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals
• Soothes and softens dry skin
• Includes apple and honey
• Suitable for dogs and puppies
• Leaves the fur shiny

BUY ON AMAZON

THE BEST DOG WIPES

COMPOSTABLE DOG GROOMING WIPES

Dog wipes are so handy to have. Compostable ones like these, with natural ingredients, are even better.

• Plant-based
• Compostable
• Hypoallergenic
• Lavender scented
• Suitable for paws, body AND butt!

BUY ON AMAZON

DON’T LET YOUR DOG STAY WET

If your dog gets wet out on a walk, you can really cut down on bad dog smells by drying her off properly. Even just letting your pup run into the house with wet paws adds to the wet dog smell in your house. Avoid it by keeping little paw wipes or towels at the door and quickly dry off paws before she runs to her bed.

Bacteria is never happier than in warm, wet dog fur. Stop it building up by thoroughly drying your dog off after she gets wet. Don’t forget her ears!

CLEAN DOGGY ‘STUFF’

Have you ever taken your dog’s collar off and smelled it? It stinks, it really does!

Keep smells down by regular washing or cleaning toys, bowls, collars, leashes, dog coats and dog beds.

Whatever kind of dog bed you have, it should have removable covers and/or be machine washable – it just doesn’t make sense to have a dog bed that you can’t properly clean. The best dog bed odor eliminator is simply to wash it! Add half a cup of vinegar to the washing machine cycle to get rid of the doggy smell. See this article for more information on dog beds.

BATH YOUR DOG

Some dogs need to be bathed more often than others. I have a dobermann, and she has very short fur. Keeping a dog like her clean is way easier than say, a long-haired dog that drools down her jowls, gets mud in her coat and whose ears dangle in her food. I still have to deal with those things on my girl, but they wipe up in seconds, often not even requiring a bath.

WHAT KILLS DEAD ANIMAL SMELL

However, one big problem I do have to manage – and you may too most likely – is the smell after she’s rolled in something. My girl LOVES to roll in fox and badger poo. Oh and sometimes dead animals too. Yuk.

Because my girl is short-haired, I can sometimes get away with using pet wipes to get rid of the dead animal or poo smell from her fur. That doesn’t always cut it though, so of course, from time to time you need to properly bath your dog. See this article on bathing your dog for more info.

CLEANING IN-BETWEEN BATHING

For in between those baths though, I have an arsenal of quick-to-use tools. These things are especially useful to have in your car if you drive your pup to her walk.

This is what I have in my Clean Dog Tool Kit:

THE BEST PAW CLEANER
After any walk, your dog’s paws will get dirty. If they’ve been in mud or they have long fur, cleaning their paws can be a tedious task. Not with this fabulous little tool though! It’s a fantastic no-fuss solution to dirty paws.

Just fill the tub with warm water and pop a paw in at a time. Soft silicone bristles gently dislodge muck from your pup’s paws.

It comes apart to clean really easily too.

BUY ON AMAZON

BUY ON CHEWY

HOW TO REMOVE PET ODOR FROM FURNITURE

Remove any linen covers, including sofa cushion covers, bedspreads and pillowcases. Don’t forget to clean your dog’s bed too!

To help protect my bedlinen and sofa, I put a throw over each of them. The throw gets all the hairs and dirt, saving my furniture. I then wash the throws on a higher temperature, and I was them separate from other laundry.

If you follow this technique and don’t overfill the washing machine, it’ll be easier to get rid of lingering bad smells and not have dog hair permanently stuck to your bed linen!

NATURAL PRODUCTS TO ELIMINATE DOG ODOR: VINEGAR

I prefer to use natural products and not chemicals for this kind of cleaning job because my dog is in contact with these surfaces all the time – the sofa, the bed, the floors – and I don’t want the harmful chemicals in many cleaning products to affect her.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an essential supply in my house. I add a capful to my dog’s dinner every day to help deter fleas and ticks, as well as it being good for her health in other ways.

When used for cleaning, vinegar can also deodorize unpleasant odors, help dislodge the dog hairs from the fabric, and kill many germs and bacteria.

I recommend you add half a cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV) or cleaning vinegar to the rinse cycle. Don’t worry, your washing won’t come out of the machine smelling like a vinegar bottle!

Once you’ve got the linen on a wash cycle, vacuum down into the crevices and creases of the sofas and chairs to remove any built-up fur. You might even need to steam clean the furniture – some carpet cleaners have a furniture attachment.

NATURAL PRODUCTS TO GET RID OF DOG SMELL: BAKING SODA (US) / BICARBONATE OF SODA (UK)

Let’s introduce another natural product that we can use in the fight against the dreaded doggy smell: Baking Soda / Bicarbonate of Soda. It has antibacterial properties and can help absorb bad odors.

To get rid of lingering smells, sprinkle some bicarb / baking soda on the upholstery and the carpets or rugs too. I make a 50/50 mix of bicarb with diatomaceous earth (DE) so it also helps combat pests like fleas or ticks. Leave the powder for as long as you can – overnight if possible – to absorb smells, then vacuum clean.

If your dog sleeps on your bed, don’t forget to pull the mattress off the bed base, vacuum it and clean thoroughly under the bed too. If you plan to sprinkle baking soda here too, do this job first thing in the morning to give the baking soda time to absorb the smells.

ANGRY ORANGE PET ODOR ELIMINATOR

• Lovely orange fragrance
• Pet friendly
• Enzyme cleaner
• Natural ingredients

BUY ON AMAZON

SIMPLE SOLUTION PET ODOR ELIMINATOR

• Great budget option
• Pet friendly
• Enzyme cleaner
• Top rated

BUY ON AMAZON

FEBREZE PET ODOR FRESHENER

• Fresh fragrance
• Pet friendly
• Use on all fabrics

BUY ON AMAZON

HOW TO REMOVE GENERAL PET ODOR FROM CARPETS AND RUGS

Carpeted floors are harder to handle of course. It’s worth investing in a carpet cleaner if you have dogs and carpets in the same house! If your budget doesn’t stretch to buying a carpet cleaner, for occasional deep-clean sessions you could always rent a carpet cleaner. Alternatively, ask around family and friends – someone may have one they can lend you.

Having a powerful vacuum cleaner is essential in any home with a pet, especially if you also have carpets. I love my Shark Liftaway vacuum. It’s so powerful I have to turn down the suction power sometimes. However, even the best vacuum will perform poorly if you don’t clean and replace the filters when necessary. They soon clog up with dust and dirt which ends up churning bad odours back into your home. Not helpful!

Deodorizing carpet powders can help remove dog smells from your carpet. However, not all products are pet-friendly. In fact, some cleaning products can make your fur baby very ill, so be sure to check anything before you use it.

HOW TO REMOVE PET ODOR FROM HARD FLOORS

For wood, lino or tiled floors, mop often. A steam mop is another great investment, killing off bacteria too.

For manual mopping, half a cup of vinegar in a gallon of water makes a fantastic floor cleaner. Cleaning vinegar is better here than any other kind of vinegar as it has a higher acidity percentage. It will leave your house smelling a little of vinegar though, but that has to better than smelling of dog, right? To reduce the vinegar smell, add a few drops of dog-safe essential oil to the bucket.

HOW TO GET RID OF PET ACCIDENT SMELLS

Puppies, sick dogs, older dogs… sooner or later your fur baby is going to have a little accident. It might be a toileting accident, vomit, or even blood.

Whatever it is, mopping up accidents and cleaning them thoroughly as soon as they happen will help to avoid longer-lasting bad odors. Both vinegar solutions and enzyme cleaners are really effective at cutting through stains and odors.

DOG URINE ODOR REMOVER HOME REMEDY OPTIONS

On fabric, carpets and rugs, you’ll have to work as fast as you can to mop up the mess before it soaks even further into the carpet. Use paper towels or an old towel (I have a pile of old towels that I use to dry off the dogs, for instance) and pat the area dry. If the towel gets wet, replace it with a dry towel to continue patting the spot dry. If you have a wet/dry vacuum, use that after you’ve blotted up most of the liquid.

Next, get out the good old vinegar again. Make up a 1:1 vinegar/water solution and wet the soiled area liberally with it. This will make sure the underside of the carpet will be reached too. The acid in the vinegar helps to break down the stain. Leave it to work for 5 minutes. Alternatively, you could use an enzyme cleaner instead of a vinegar solution.

Blot it dry with an old towel or paper towels. Sprinkle some baking soda on it to absorb any remaining odor and leave it overnight / all day before vacuuming.

On a hard floor like lino, tiles or wood, mop up the mess with paper towels. Once it’s dry, spray the entire area with either an enzyme cleaner and leave it for 10 minutes before wiping it up, or, scrub it with a vinegar/water solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water. Be sure to really clean into cracks and grooves, or grout if the floor is tiled.

DOG VOMIT STAIN AND ODOR REMOVER HOME REMEDY

I had a really stubborn carpet stain where my pup vomited months ago. I wasn’t around to clean it all up at the time, and it left a mark that I couldn’t remove with commercial carpet cleaning products. I tried zillions of them, to no avail. So, when researching this post I decided to do an experiment – who doesn’t love an experiment?

I wanted to see if vinegar would work where commercial products failed, and whether there was any difference in adding baking soda or not. I treated the stain differently in 3 sections, separated with a tooth pick in the pictures.

I prepared a 50/50 vinegar solution and doused the whole stain. In section one I added baking soda immediately. I added bicarb to section 2 after 5 mins. Section 3 had no bicarb at all. 10 mins after soaking it with vinegar solution, I scrubbed it, then blotted it dry. I left it overnight to dry out.

I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see that it worked well! There was one small area that was still stained (in the upper right corner of photo 6) – this was in the section that had no baking soda applied.

If you have an old carpet stain from a pet accident, try this method! Please note though that both vinegar and baking soda can lighten fabrics, so you might want to do a small patch test on a hidden area of carpet first – the last thing you want is to clean your carpet stain but leave a lighter patch in its place!

HOW TO GET RID OF DOG SMELL FROM YOUR CAR

Obviously, the first thing to do is a thorough clean. Remove all the mats and carpeting that you can and get down into the crevices with a vacuum upholstery attachment – dog hairs collect in the seat folds really quickly.

Once the car is clean, use a pet-friendly, odor-eliminating enzyme cleaner on the upholstery to cut through stains and odors. Alternatively, you could sprinkle baking soda and then vacuum it up – this will help with odor elimination but won’t get rid of any stains.

Unless it’s freezing outside, one of the simplest, most effective – not to mention cheapest – ways to improve the smell of your home or car is to open the windows.

If you can still detect a musty dog smell after all that, get the air filter replaced too – clogged up filters will make the car smell worse when you turn on the fan or A/C.

After the car has been cleaned, I spray a watered-down essential oil solution on the upholstery (using only dog-safe oils of course). If you prefer a ready-made freshener, go with a pet-friendly one like Febreze Pet Odor Freshener.

ADD A NICER SMELL TO YOUR HOME

I use a nebulising oil burner in my home, using only dog-safe essential oils. Not all dogs are the same though, so whatever product you choose to try, monitor your pet to see if she has a reaction to it or tries to avoid being near it. You can see more information about dog-safe essential oils in this article.

THE BEST DOG ODOR ELIMINATOR PRODUCTS TO BUY AND HOW THEY WORK

ANGRY ORANGE PET ODOR ELIMINATOR

• Lovely orange fragrance
• Pet friendly
• Enzyme cleaner
• Natural ingredients

BUY ON AMAZON

SIMPLE SOLUTION PET ODOR ELIMINATOR

• Great budget option
• Pet friendly
• Enzyme cleaner
• Top rated

BUY ON AMAZON

FEBREZE PET ODOR FRESHENER

• Fresh fragrance
• Pet friendly
• Use on all fabrics

BUY ON AMAZON

WHAT IS THE BEST PET ODOR ELIMINATOR?

The best dog odor eliminators you can buy are enzyme cleaners. Instead of just masking smells under perfume scents, an enzyme cleaner uses ‘good’ bacteria to break down odors and stains, leaving behind no smell at all.

For the creme de la creme enzyme cleaner, go for Angry Orange – it has a slight orange smell to it and is made from natural ingredients – nothing that could harm your precious pet.

A budget option, yet still a very effective cleaner and odor eliminator, is Simple Solutions. Again, it’s pet friendly and is the highest-rated enzyme cleaner for pet stains and smells on Amazon.

If you want something to just freshen up the smell, go for a pet-friendly product like Febreze Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator. Bear in mind though that just like us, our dogs can be sensitive to certain products too – if you see that your dog tries to escape the room when you use one of these products, find something else. Something about it clearly doesn’t agree with him!

Now your house and car should be nice and clean, and smelling wonderful. Just in time to take your dog for a walk and start the whole cycle all over again!

The post 13 DOG ODOR ELIMINATOR IDEAS appeared first on Canine Compilation.

If you have some, you’ll probably reach for the dry dog shampoo. It’s a really convenient option to get you out of a jam. If you don’t have any, and you’ve now only got 10 minutes left til your mother-in-law rings the doorbell, jump straight to the DIY recipe to make your own dry shampoo for dogs.

As with anything dog-related, there always seem to be pros and cons to consider before you whip out your credit card or head over to your local store. This post will address those points so that you can make an informed decision about whether to buy dry shampoo for your furry friend.

I’ve compiled a short list of the best products, including recommendations made by other pet parents and professional groomers, and my own personal favourite. I’ve also included a recipe for an easy DIY version that will make your pup smell fresh and clean without sacrificing any of their natural oils.

This article may contain affiliate links. As an Associate with Amazon and other companies, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you!

BEST BUDGET DRY SHAMPOO – FOAM

WAHL WATERLESS SHAMPOO FOAM

• 100% natural
• A little goes a long way
• Different fragrances
• Calming formula
• Cleans, conditions and moisturises

BUY ON AMAZON

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION

BURT’S BEES WATERLESS SHAMPOO SPRAY

• No artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals
• Soothes and softens dry skin
• Includes apple and honey
• Suitable for dogs and puppies
• Leaves the fur shiny

BUY ON AMAZON

WHY USE A DRY SHAMPOO FOR DOGS?

A dry shampoo helps to quickly remove odors and improve a greasy-looking coat. It is usually a powder, mousse or spray that you can apply directly to your dog’s fur, without having to use water.

It’s a great time-saving product to use when your dog needs some cleaning up, but you don’t have the time or energy to give her a proper bath.

It’s often a less stressful option for dogs that hate being bathed too.

My girl dislikes getting wet, so occasionally I use dry dog shampoos just to freshen her up a little between baths.

I also use it in the winter rather than bath her. Dobermanns really feel the cold so I don’t want her shivering away after a bath.

If you tend to take your dog out with you on the road, keeping a bottle of dry shampoo in your travel bag is a great idea. My dog’s sure to find something revolting to roll in when we go for a walk in the countryside, and cleaning her off before we head home saves me having to drive back with all the windows open.

HOW DO DRY SHAMPOOS WORK?

Most dry shampoo powders contain oil absorbing ingredients to soak up excess oil in your dog’s fur.

Spray, foam or mousse shampoos have chemical surfactants to help you wipe away dirt more easily. Once you’ve rubbed the mousse or foam into the fur, you need to wipe it off with a towel or absorbent paper.

Most products on the market are spray / foam / mousses – there are far fewer commercial dry shampoo powders.

Both types usually contain perfume too. That’s great for combatting that fox poo smell, but the fragrance might irritate some dogs.

CAN YOU USE DRY SHAMPOO ON DOGS TO CLEAN THEM?

What dry shampoo doesn’t do is properly clean your dog. The only way to do that is to bath your dog.

However, if you want to do a spot clean, a mousse or foam dry shampoo will do a pretty good job.

For an all-over fragrance freshen-up, I would use a spray.

And to reduce a greasy looking coat, I would use a powder shampoo.

USE A BIT OF ELBOW GREASE

However, brushing your dog down well might even save you the trouble of applying a dry shampoo.

Loose hairs trap excess oil and smells, and they clump together with bits of dirt in your dog’s coat.

A good brushing helps to distribute natural oils and gets rid of dead fur, resulting in a cleaner-looking, less smelly dog!

If after thoroughly brushing your dog she still looks like she had a fight with a bottle of olive oil, apply the shampoo.

Waterless dog bathing doesn’t mean bathing them in powder / mousse instead of water though, so just add a little shampoo at a time and brush it well through your dog’s fur. If you’re using a spray or mousse, wipe it away with a towel or kitchen paper completely after brushing or massaging it in.

When you finish, you shouldn’t be able to see any product left in your dog’s coat. If there’s anything still there, your dog will end up licking it off, which is best avoided.

If you’re worried about leftover product in your dog’s fur, wipe her down with a damp cloth or a dog grooming wipe.

COMPOSTABLE DOG GROOMING WIPES

Dog grooming wipes are so handy to have, but compostable ones like these, with natural ingredients in them, are even better:

• plant based
• compostable
• hypoallergenic
• lavender scented
• suitable for paws, body AND butt!

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Of course, not all brands are created equally and some dry shampoos contain particularly harsh or potentially dangerous products.

IS DRY SHAMPOO SAFE FOR DOGS?

Your dog’s coat needs some oil, so using too much dry shampoo, or using it too often, will soon begin to upset this natural balance, leading to dry, flaky skin.

Used in moderation though, in between proper bathing, it is fine for most dogs.

Some dogs are more sensitive and might not respond well to a particular product. Clearly, if this happens, stop using it.

WHAT TO AVOID IN A DRY SHAMPOO FOR DOGS

If you want to keep your dog as healthy as possible while giving her the occasional dry shampooing session, try to avoid products with a really long list of ingredients, especially if you can’t pronounce any of them.

Bear in mind, whatever you put on your dog is going to end up in her stomach. Dog’s lick themselves clean all the time, so there’s no way I would want any of these common dry shampoo ingredients going in my dog’s mouth:

WHAT IS THE BEST DRY SHAMPOO FOR DOGS?

I’ve included a mousse, a spray and a powder version, so whichever style you prefer, I’ve got you covered.

BEST BUDGET OPTION: WAHL NO RINSE SHAMPOO – FOAM

Who would have thought that an electric hair strimmer manufacturer could create such well-respected dog care products?

Everyone seems to love the WAHL pet range. I’m not surprised, this shampoo:

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• is made with from natural, plant-based ingredients
• contains no parabens or alcohol
• pH balanced for dog’s skin and fur, so suitable for sensitive skin
• is gently scented to leave your dog smelling fresh
• massage in, wipe off foam / mousse

BEST PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION: BURT’S BEES SPRAY

This is my personal favourite. I’ve been using Burt’s Bees products for years (for humans, not dogs!) and I love the quality and care that goes into them. They focus on making natural products with great ingredients. It’s fantastic that I can now also use Burt’s Bees on my dog!

It comes in a bottle with a top spray mechanism. I don’t like this style as much as a trigger mechanism, but it’s a minor thing.

Their All Natural Waterless Shampoo Spray:

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• is no rinse – spray on and towel off
• pH balanced for dog’s skin and fur, so suitable for sensitive skin
• contains no colourants, sulphates, parabens or alcohol
• made with natural products, including apple and honey
• soothes the skin
• leaves a shiny coat
• so gentle it can be used on puppies and adults

BEST POWDER DRY SHAMPOO

I use my own DIY powder shampoo (see how to make it below) but if you’d rather buy one, here are the ones I’d recommend:

BEST DRY SHAMPOO – POWDER (USA)

COAT DEFENSE WATERLESS DRY SHAMPOO POWDER

This powder is a little different to most dry shampoos, as it is designed to help with skin problems such as hot spots and itching. Lots of pet parents have reported that their dogs’ symptoms have eased using this product.

• promotes hot spot healing
• helps with rashes and itching
• safe for use around the face and ears
• helps reduce odors
• suitable for sensitive skin

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BEST DRY SHAMPOO – POWDER (UK)

SNIFFE & LIKKIT NO RINSE DRY SHAMPOO POWDER SHOWER

With just 100% organic, natural ingredients in it, this product is as close to perfect as you can get. Its base is Fullers Earth, with added fragrance using high quality essential oils

• no artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals
• suitable for sensitive and itchy skin
• naturally scented with essential oils
• pH balanced for a dog’s skin
• helps reduce odors

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DIY DRY SHAMPOO FOR DOGS RECIPE

There are 3 main ingredients that do the job of absorbing excess oil:

1. cornstarch
2. baking soda / bicarbonate of soda
3. Fullers Earth powder

You can use any one of these on its own, straight from the packet.

To use, sprinkle a little on your dog and brush it through their fur. As you brush it out, you’ll brush out clumped up loose hair, excess oil and some dirt too.

Avoid sensitive areas like the face and groin, and make sure your dog isn’t breathing in dry shampoo dust clouds!

If you want to make your homemade shampoo more functional, add in a little DE (diatomaceous earth). This is a great natural flea killer – for more information on how to combat fleas naturally, see this article.

And if you want to make your dog smell nicer, you can add some dog-safe essential oil to the powder – I used peppermint. See more about dog-safe essential oils in this article.

To make a scented dry dog shampoo:

• get a small jar (preferably a shaker jar)
• put a heaped tablespoon of whichever absorbing powder you’re using in the jar
• add 3-4 drops of dog-safe essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint
• add another heaped tablespoon of powder
• add 3-4 drops of dog-safe essential oil,
• to make it a de-flea powder too, add a teaspoon of DE
• stir to combine all the ingredients

It’s good to go!

CONCLUSION

Dry shampoo can be a great fix to quickly freshen up your dog’s coat when you don’t have time to bath her properly, but it isn’t a long-term replacement for a proper bath.

Look for a dry shampoo with limited, recognisable ingredients to avoid feeding your dog chemicals.

Alternatively, whip up a batch of DIY dry dog shampoo powder with our recipe.

References

Safety Assessment of EDTA

Chemicals to avoid in beauty products

The post Dry Shampoo For Dogs – Top Rated Products, Risks, and DIY Recipe appeared first on Canine Compilation.

DOG CARE IN THE HOLIDAYS

First up… how can we best look after our fur-babies at this time of year? We need to take special care in the Holidays, as there are additional risks and concerns. These 2 articles address very real issues that face us all, and help us plan ahead to navigate potential holiday problems.

Top tips to keep your dog and cat safe during the holidays by The Pets Digest

This next article helps us understand the stress of the Holidays from a dog’s point of view, and to see how we can make it as enjoyable as possible for our dogs too.

Tips to reduce your dog’s stress this Christmas by Vet After Hours

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR DOGS AND DOG MOMS

We hoomans love to give our dogs – and each other – gifts at Christmas. Here are a few fantastic things to buy or make for your loved ones for the Holidays.

Make a reverse advent calendar for your dog by Go Dog Nashville

Make a DIY Holiday Snuffle Mat by Wear Wag Repeat

Not-so-typical Holiday gift ideas for dogs and dog moms by Canine Compilation

Sometimes, people think about getting a puppy as a present at Christmas. This might be the perfect gift, and the perfect time to give it: this article helps you think through your options.

What to Consider Before Getting a Puppy for Christmas by Spoiled Hounds

Once you’ve bought your gifts, why not finish them off pawfectly with some printable gift tags? Within the gift tag article you’ll also find an option to get a cute, pet-themed printable wrapping paper.

Gift tag printable by The Emerald Hound

HEALTHY CHRISTMAS CAKE FOR DOGS

These mini snowmen cakes for dogs will look great on any dinner table. They’re really not that hard to make, and your pup will love them.

Healthy Christmas Cakes For Dogs Recipe by Canine Compilation

Whatever, and however, you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, may you and your dog have a safe and wonderful time

Thanks to all the fantastic dog bloggers who took part in this round up!

The post Dog Parent Guide To Happy Holidays appeared first on Canine Compilation.

HOW TO MAKE A BOW TIE FOR A DOG

This diy dog bow tie needs minimal sewing and very little fabric. The dog bow tie pattern itself needs just 2 pieces of fabric.

You will need

• 10.5″ x 7” (27x18cm) rectangle and a smaller 5″ x 3” (13x8cm) rectangle of cotton fabric 
• Scissors or rotary blade
• Ruler / tape measure
• Sewing machine

Step 1. Sew the fabric. Fold the larger rectangle along its length, right sides together, and sew along the long side, leaving both ends open.

Step 2. Turn right side out. Press

Step 3. Tuck end in and press. Tuck 5mm (1/4″) of fabric in on one of the open ends and press flat.

Step 4. Pop the un-pressed end into the pressed end. Like a snake eating its own tail, pop the unpressed open end into the end you’ve just pressed. Overlap by about 1cm.

Step 5.  With the overlap in the centre, press flat 

Step 6. Sew over the overlapped seam through to the front of the bow tie

Optional: The bow tie will hold its shape better if you pop a stay-stitch through the middle of the bow. Alternatively, wrap a small elastic band round it in the middle to hold a pinch in place, or, put a dab of glue into the pinch.

TO MAKE THE LOOP FOR THE BOW TIE

Step 7. Fold the smaller 5″ x 3” (13x8cm) rectangle of cotton fabric in half along it’s length, with right sides facing out. Press.

Turn in 5mm (1/4″) of fabric along both long ends and press flat.

Step 8. Sew the long sides together, creating a long strip.

Step 9. Measure and Sew. If you plan to just slide the bow tie on to your dog’s collar, wrap the fabric strip for the loop around your dog’s collar at its widest part, usually the buckle. Bear in mind that you need to leave enough space for the bow tie body to pass through the loop too, not just the collar. Mark the fabric strip where you need to sew it closed.

If you intend to attach it with a grip or velcro, simply make a loop for the bow tie as tight as you want it to be.

Step 10. Sew the strip into a loop and cut off the excess. Turn the seam to the inside of the loop.

Step 11. Push the bow tie body into the loop.

HOW TO ATTACH BOW TIE TO DOG COLLAR

The simplest way to attach the dog bow tie to a collar is to make the loop big enough to just slip onto your dog’s collar, with the bow tie in it.

By clip. You might prefer to use a clip. If so, you can either sew a clip to the loop or use a glue gun to glue the clip to the back of the loop.

By velcro. Sew or glue velcro to the loop – be sure to put the velcro the right way round (I speak from experience, having attached it the wrong way the first time…). Make sure the strips are long enough to wrap round your dog’s collar.

For this bow tie, I attached a velcro fastening:

HOW TO MAKE DOG BOW TIES WITHOUT SEWING

The bat-shaped hair decoration in the photo above is another bow tie pattern.

If you don’t feel like sewing, and you’d like a bow tie that is even more Halloween, try this no-sew Bat bow tie for dogs (or for you!)

If you’d like to make a matching bandana for your dog, you can find that tutorial here.

DIY FACE MASK WITH POCKET FOR NON-WOVEN FILTER

This pattern design includes a pocket where you can pop in a piece of non-woven material as a filter. Studies have shown that non-woven material is much more effective at blocking small particles. However, since you don’t want to walk around with a piece of kitchen towel taped to your face, this face mask is a prettier option! Plus, it’s reversible and washable.

FOR THE FACE MASK YOU WILL NEED

2 pieces 9″x7″cotton – a tightly woven cotton is best. I made this Halloween mask with the same print on both sides but of course you could use a contrasting pattern on one side. Some cotton shrinks when it is first washed, so if you can, pre-wash it before making up the mask. If using patterned fabric, be sure to cut the longer measurement as the top and bottom.
2 pieces elastic, 7″ long for a man’s mask (or if you have a large head!) and 5.5″ for a lady’s mask
10cm nose bridge

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWING THE FACE MASK

Full, step-by-step instructions, with photos, can be found here

OTHER DIY HALLOWEEN PROJECTS

Spooky spectre cakes for dogs – recipe

No sew bat bow ties

The post Make A Matching Face Mask and Dog Bow Tie For Halloween appeared first on Canine Compilation.

I love to make cute things for my dogs – so long as they don’t make my dogs feel uncomfortable of course. These Halloween bat bow ties for dogs are incredibly easy to make, and they don’t pester a dog the way many dog Halloween costumes do. They look pretty on us humans too! I made one for me that I’ve used as a neck bow tie and hair accessory, as well as a matching facemask in Halloween fabric.

Halloween costumes are so fun. We get to make something that is essentially scary, into something cute and friendly. Bow ties for dogs are really elegant alternatives to bandanas, and making an oversized bat bow tie is a perfect combination for a Halloween accessory.

Maybe you’re planning on taking your dog out with you for Trick or Treat, or perhaps you just want to make the walk to the park a little more playful. Either way this dog bow tie for Halloween will have heads turning.

HALLOWEEN BAT BOW TIE FOR DOGS – TUTORIAL

There are 2 ways to make this bow tie: use a glue gun or sew it. The sewing is minimal though.

If you use leather or faux leather, you don’t even need to finish the edges since this type of fabric leaves a clean cut and doesn’t fray.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Bat bow tie for dogs pattern – print out here
• Sewing machine or glue gun
• Faux leather fabric – another option is to recycle some old leather clothing and cut the pattern out of it.
• Velcro strips / clip to attach the bow tie to your dog’s collar

INSTRUCTIONS

• Using the downloadable pattern, print and cut out the 2 pattern pieces on paper. Draw around the 2 pieces (the bat wings and the bat body) onto the back of your fabric and cut them out.

• Pinch the bat wings together in the centre

IF USING A GLUE GUN

Dab glue in the folds to hold the pinch together

IF SEWING

Tack a stay stitch to keep the bat pinched together

• Take the strips of velcro and either glue or sew them to the back of the bat body where indicated on the pattern. They need to be long enough to go around your dog’s collar.
• Also, make sure you attach them to the bat body going in the right direction. The arrows on the pattern remind you to attach the velcro vertically to the bat body, not horizontally. See below if you’re using a clip rather then velcro

• Take the bat body and fold at the indicated line to create a loop by gluing or stitching the bottom edge to the back of the body

IF USING A GLUE GUN

Put glue on back of bat body ready to fold it into a loop

IF USING A GLUE GUN

Bat body folded into a loop and glued – a clip is used here instead of velcro

IF SEWING

Fold the the bat body over and sew into a loop

• If you are using a clip instead of velcro, you could glue the clip in place onto the back of the bat body loop. Otherwise, simply clip it on to the loop without gluing.
• Squish the bat wings together to thread them through the loop of the bat body, then spread the wings out nicely. Done!

OVERSIZED BAT BOW TIE FOR DOGS

If you’d like to make a really theatrical bow tie, trace around the pattern to get it as big as you’d like and make as above. Add an extra couple of loops of velcro to the middle of the backs of the wings to connect the wings to the collar too, otherwise they may flop under their own weight.

If you like the idea of making matching items for you and your dog, maybe you’d also like to check out this Halloween bow tie for dogs with matching human face mask, or, a matching dog bandana and human face mask tutorial. If all you want is a simple bow tie for dogs, here’s a tutorial for that

NO WASTE!

With the fabric scraps, why not make some cute little Halloween cupcake toppers?

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Now that your dog is looking all dapper, how about a truly amazing, spooky spectre, Halloween cake to complete the experience (the cake’s for your dog, not for you!). You can follow the step-by-step photo tutorial to make it here.

CONCLUSION

You can whip up this super cute bat bow tie for dogs in a matter of minutes and it will make your pooch into the perfect Spook at Halloween!

BTW: Lots of people are scared of bats, but there are over 1000 types of bat and they’re not all ugly, or scary, or vampires! Check out this really cute baby bat yawning. How can you not want to stroke it…?

The post DIY Halloween, Bat Bow Tie For Dogs appeared first on Canine Compilation.