Your Goldendoodle may be the best thing in your life, and if he starts to smell bad, typically, you would want to fix that as soon as possible.
There are a few reasons why your Goldendoodle might start to smell bad, and luckily, there are also a few solutions.
In this article, we will discuss the causes of bad dog odor and how to get rid of it.
We will also provide tips for keeping your Goldendoodle smelling good in the future!
So, how to keep Your Goldendoodle smelling good? You can keep your Goldendoodle smelling good by regularly bathing them and using the right products to do so, never leaving them wet for too long, keeping them on a balanced diet, keeping their bedding clean, and brushing them daily to keep their fur clean and fresh.
There are plenty of ways to keep your dog smelling good, but you may be surprised at how easy it is for people to skip the basics and mess up a few things and suddenly end up with a smelly pup. Goldendoodles are a high-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming, and if you don’t want dog smell all over your house, you need to know what you are doing.
So, keep reading as I explain to you exactly what you need to do to make sure your Goldendoodle smells great at all times…
How To keep Goldendoodle Smelling Good?

There are many ways to keep your Goldendoodle smelling good, you may be already doing some of them.
However, you may not be doing them the right way, in the right frequency, or doing them well enough to have consistent results. Don’t worry, we are going to cover all the basics and more in this guide, and let’s start with the 7 things you absolutely must do to keep your Goldendoodle smelling great:
- Bathe your Goldendoodle regularly.
- Never leave them wet for too long.
- Keep them on a balanced diet.
- Brush them daily
- Keep their bedding clean.
- Use the right products
- Dental hygiene
Now, let’s get to the good stuff; let’s talk about each of these in more detail…
Bathe Your Goldendoodle Regularly
Bathing your Goldendoodle is crucial for keeping them smelling fresh and nice, but you should always try to strike the balance for striking them the right way and in the right frequency, as bathing them too often can be bad for their coats, and bathing them too little leaves them smelly.
You should bathe them at least once a month, but if they start to smell bad, you may need to do it more often.
Goldendoodles are energetic and love to play whenever they can and wherever they are, so you will find them often jumping in the snow, mud, or pools, even though you have just given them a bath. That’s why you can find yourself bathing them twice a month because they got dirty right after you have given them a bath, but that’s just part of owning a Goldendoodle.
Never Leave Them Wet For Too Long
After bathing your Goldendoodle, you should make sure to dry them off completely before letting them go.
Leaving them wet for too long can cause a bad odor because the moisture will create an environment in which bacteria can grow and multiply.
So make sure to use the blowdryer to dry them off but use it on the lowest setting so it won’t harm their fur or skin.
However, since there are some dogs that are too afraid of the blowdryer, you can dry them with a towel but make sure to dry all of their fur and don’t miss any spot because it can cause a bad odor with time. I have a guide on how to dry your dog quickly after a bath here that is definitely worth checking out.
Keep Them On A Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is important for all dogs, but it’s especially important for Goldendoodles because they are a mix of two different breeds and so their nutritional needs can be a bit different.
If your Goldendoodle isn’t getting the right nutrients, they can start to smell bad because their body will be working harder than normal to try and compensate for their poor diet.
Poor diets can also make them bloat, and you should always check with their vet for the proper diet for your pup and make sure that they are not allergic to any of the food in their diet.
The right diet for your Goldendoodle can make their coat shinier, healthier, and smoother, and it’s going to keep their skin healthy as well.
Brush Them Daily
Brushing your Goldendoodle’s fur every day is a great way to keep them clean and smelling good.
The bristles of the brush will help remove any dirt or debris that might be trapped in their fur, and it will also distribute the natural oils throughout their coat which will help keep their skin healthy and their fur shiny.
Start from the head to the tail, tangled fur can cause matting and bad odor, and brushing them daily can prevent all of that.
Keep Their Bedding Clean
Another important factor in keeping your Goldendoodle smelling good is making sure their bedding is always clean.
If they are sleeping on a dirty surface, their fur will become covered in dirt and dust which can cause them to smell as bad as their bedding. The easiest way to avoid this is by washing their bedding regularly and vacuuming their sleeping area often.
However, you should never clean their bedding with fabric softener, yeah it might seem like a good idea because it smells nice but it can irritate your Goldendoodle’s skin.
You can wash their bedding with baking soda it can get rid of bad odors, plus it kills any bacteria.
You should also Put their bedding once a week in the sun to keep it clean and prevent any bacteria or fleas.
Use The Right Products
There are a lot of different products on the market that claim to be able to get rid of the bad dog odor, but not all of them work.
If you have been struggling to find a product that works for your Goldendoodle, we recommend trying out some natural remedies.
One such remedy is using baking soda and water to create a paste which you can then apply to your dog’s fur. Leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing it off and then shampoo them as normal.
Another remedy is apple cider vinegar, which you can add to their water or use in a spray bottle to spritz on their coat.
However, there are some shampoos and conditioners that never failed me and always give me the result I need.
So if you tried many shampoos and none of them worked with your pup then I recommend checking these out.
Burt’s Bees for Dogs 2 in 1 Dog Shampoo and conditioner.
Both the shampoo and conditioner are great, it’s really light and perfect for dogs with sensitive skin, the ingredients are natural and it’s lightly fragranced so it won’t irritate your puppy’s skin, and it’s not expensive.
TropiClean Dog Shampoo.
This one is a little more expensive than the above but it’s totally worth it, it smells amazing, it helps with itchy skin, and really helps with dogs with skin problems such as allergies or dry skin.
Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo For Dogs.
It’s perfect for its price, it gets rid of any bad odor and gonna leave your pup with an amazing smell, however, it doesn’t work with all dogs, it can make some dogs itchier while it can work wonders with others and cure any itchiness or dryness.
Moisturizing Dog Shampoo & Conditioner For Itchy Skin and Smelly dogs
This one is a little overpriced but for a very good reason, it works really well with dogs with allergies, and I wanna say it’s just made for dogs with bad odors, and it leaves your dog with a nice smell that lasts for a while.
However, you should always consult their vet about the right shampoo and conditioner for your Goldendoodle because they know your pup better than anyone, and they will make sure to recommend something that your dog isn’t allergic to.
Dental Hygiene
One of the most common causes of bad dog odor is dental disease.
If your Goldendoodle isn’t getting their teeth cleaned on a regular basis, plaque and bacteria will start to build up which can cause them to start to smell bad.
The best way to prevent this is by brushing their teeth at least once a day and taking them for a cleaning at the vet at least once a year.
9 Reasons Your Goldendoodle Smells Bad.

You know what is really the best way to make sure your Goldendoodle doesn’t smell bad? Finding out why they smell bad in the first place and then preventing it from happening. So, let’s look at the 9 most common reasons why Goldendoodles can smell bad so you can prevent them in the future:
- Skin infection.
- Dirty and matted fur.
- Fleas or ticks.
- Ear infection.
- Bad Breath
- Wrong products
- Anal Glands
- Needs a bathe
- Poor diet
Let’s go over each of these quickly:
Skin Infections
If your Goldendoodle is scratching or licking themselves a lot, it’s possible they might have a skin infection. Skin infections can be caused by a variety of things, such as bacteria, fungus, or parasites.
The best way to treat a skin infection is with antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.
Here are some signs of skin infections in Goldendoodles;
- Redness
- Thickened skin
- Scaly skin
- Musty odor
- Itchiness
- Hyperpigmentation
- Chronic Ear Infections
- Flaky skin
Dirty And Matted Fur
If your Goldendoodle’s fur isn’t cleaned and groomed on a regular basis, it can start to become dirty and matted.
Dirty and matted fur can trap moisture and bacteria which can cause your Goldendoodle to start to smell bad. The best way to avoid this is by brushing their fur every day and giving them a bath at least once a month.
You can also learn how to prevent your Goldendoodle’s hair from getting matted here.
Fleas Or Ticks
If your Goldendoodle has fleas or ticks, they will start to smell bad very quickly.
Fleas can be treated with a topical medication prescribed by your veterinarian, and ticks can be removed with special tick tweezers.
You can help by bathing and brushing them regularly, and keeping their bedding clean as well.
Ear Infections
If your Goldendoodle’s ears are infected, they will start to smell bad. Ear infections can be caused by a variety of things, such as bacteria, fungus, or parasites.
The best way to treat an ear infection is with antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.
You should also clean their ears with damped cotton after every bath to prevent any ear infections.
Bad Breath
If your Goldendoodle’s breath smells bad, it might be a sign that they have dental disease.
The best way to prevent bad breath is by brushing their teeth at least once a day and taking them for a cleaning at the vet at least once a year.
If your pup has bad breath it can leave them with a really bad smell because they tend to lick themselves and will leave that odor on their fur.
You should take them to the vet for a check-up because there might be something wrong with their teeth and gums.
Wrong Products
If you are using the wrong products to clean your Goldendoodle, they will start to smell bad because their skin and coat aren’t responding well to these products and you should switch their shampoo and conditioner.
You can also avoid this is by using natural remedies such as baking soda and water or apple cider vinegar.
Anal Glands
If your Goldendoodle’s anal glands aren’t expressed on a regular basis, they will start to smell bad.
Anal glands can be expressed by your veterinarian or by you at home.
You can also take them to a professional groomer and they will clean your Goldendoodle and express their anal glands as well.
Need A Bathe
If your Goldendoodle hasn’t been bathed in a while, naturally, they will start to smell bad. The best way to avoid this is by bathing them at least once a month.
If you do bathe them regularly and they still smell bad, you can get them a dry shampoo, or a spray and use it whenever they start to smell because you don’t want to bathe them too often.
You can also damp a piece of cloth with warm water and some of their shampoo and just wipe their coat with it, it can help with the smell for a while.
Poor Diet
If your Goldendoodle is eating a poor diet, they will start to smell bad.
The best way to avoid this is by feeding them a portion of high-quality dog food that is specifically made for Goldendoodles.
So Consult their vet for the proper diet for them.
How To Remove Your Goldendoodle’s Bad Odor?
There are a few different ways that you can remove your Goldendoodle’s bad odor.
- One way is to make a paste out of baking soda and water, which you can then apply to their fur. Leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing it off and then shampoo them as normal.
- Another way is to use apple cider vinegar. Wet their coat completely, then pour apple cider vinegar over their fur and massage it in. Leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing it off and then shampoo them as normal.
5 Tips For Grooming A Smelly Goldendoodle.
- If your Goldendoodle is smelly, there are a few tips that you can follow in order to help get the smell out
- One thing is to make sure that you bathe them with a shampoo and conditioner that is made for dogs with sensitive skin.
- You can also use a dry shampoo, which will help absorb the smell.
- Another thing is to make sure that you brush their fur every day. This will help get rid of any loose hair or dirt that might be causing the bad odor.
- Last but not least, make sure that your Goldendoodle is getting all the nutrients they need, you can also add omega-3 to their diet because it improves their coat and skin and makes them healthier.
How To Stop Your Goldendoodle From Developing A Bad Smell in The Future? A Summary:

There are a few things that you can do in order to stop your Goldendoodle from developing a bad smell in the future.
One thing is to make sure that they are groomed on a regular basis. This means brushing their fur every day and taking them for a bath at least once a month.
Another thing is to make sure that they are eating a healthy diet. This means feeding them high-quality dog food that is specifically made for Goldendoodles.
And lastly, make sure that their anal glands are expressed on a regular basis. This can be done by your veterinarian, professional groomer, or by you at home.
Related Questions
How Often Should Goldendoodles Be Bathed?
Goldendoodles should be bathed at least once a month in order to keep them smelling good, however, puppies can be bathed once every two months, and with adult Goldendoodles, you shouldn’t bathe them too often because it dries their skin and can lead to dandruff, itching, and eventually bad odor.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Smell Like Fish?
Your Goldendoodle might be smelling like fish is because they have a case of bad breath, which is caused by bacteria in their mouth, skin infection, anal glands that need to be expressed, or they may have eaten something bad and they developed diarrhea, which will make them smell bad.
Helpful Resources
Natural Ways to Make a Dog Smell Better
How to Make Your Dog Smell Better
Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources
- Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here – Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats!
- Looking for new toys? These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing.
- Make them look GLAMOROUS with the best shampoos and conditioners and the best brushes here.
- Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find.
- Find my list of recommendations here.
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