Dogs are wonderful creatures; they can be your most trusted companion, bravest protector, or favorite snuggle buddy.

One-third of every household in the entire world has at least one dog as their family pet.

Feeding, walking, and picking up poop are all things that anyone who is getting a dog knows they are in for.

But those are just the basics for proper pet care.

One thing that many owners miss is that their dogs also need to be groomed.

Whether that is taking them to a groomer for a monthly shave, or doing it yourself, dogs need to be groomed regularly.

A dog’s coat is very important to them; depending on the breed it can help them reach their full potential in any number of ways.

Hairless dogs should be bathed weekly as they don’t have the same natural oils that dogs with longer coats have, and these oils are meant to protect the skin.

Other than hairless dogs though, all dogs should get pampered every once in a while.

And it can be pampering to your nose as well, as dogs tend to get a little stinky after a while with no baths.

As the opposite of the hairless dogs, those with long fur can get smells trapped in the oils in their coats, and those smells stick around until they are properly cleaned.

It is easy to tell when a dog has picked up a different smell than what it may normally have.

You know your dog and what they are supposed to smell like, if that changes it is time for a bath.

If after the bath the dog still has a strange smell, it is best to take it to a vet so the animal can be checked over.

Dogs can pick up bacteria that can cause infection if left too long without being treated.

Noticing a strange smell on your dog, especially after washing, might be a sign of something else going on with them.

Once you have had your animal checked out, and the vet says it is just a case of a stinky dog, there are other solutions to smell problems.

There are tons of products on the market geared towards dog grooming.

Brushes, nail clippers, shampoos, and sprays are all designed to help ease your dog’s smell.

Some products are better than others though, and some are meant for certain dog breeds over others.

Do your research and find what you think will work the best for your pet.

A soothing shampoo, there are even some conditioners, containing oatmeal to help soothe skin is a good place to start.

Then towel dry your pet as thoroughly as possible, maybe even give them a once over with a low-powered hairdryer, brush out their fur, and add a lightly scented spray if you want.

Look up your breed and their grooming requirements, then move forward from there to have your best friends looking, and smelling, like a million bucks.

Check out the Pet MD link here for more detailed information on why your dog might smell.

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Source: Animal Channel, AKC, Pet MD,