Freshening Up your Doggie and Dog Collar
The fact is, dogs love smelly stuff. Whether it’s putrefying leaves, dead wildlife or god forbid, unidentified poo, your pooch just can’t get enough of it and will happily roll in it to his heart’s content.
That is your precious doggie’s thing and it’s not going to change anytime soon. You’re not going to convince him that these things aren’t nectar, so what can you do about the unfortunate whiffs that emanate from his fur and dog collar when you’ve got him home from his walk? I mean...short of keeping him in the garden from that point on, you’re going to have to deal with it.
The Answer: Peppermint
Thankfully, for the sake of your nose and doggie’s fur, peppermint-based products can be very effective in eliminating unwanted odours. Peppermint shampoos are a great way to initially address the problem, but as giving him a good wash too often can irritate his skin, you should consider other ways of dealing with occasional mishaps, such as:
Remedy 1: Wash the offending area with a small amount of his shampoo, rinse and then pat dry. Then treat with a solution of 1 part peppermint oil to 50 parts coconut oil/olive oil. This will do 2 things. Firstly, deal with the smell (phew!), but it will also help control any lingering bacteria and moisturise his skin.
Remedy 2: Miss 1 or 2 drops of peppermint oil with a pinch of salt before diluting in a cup of water. Place this solution in a spray bottle and spray your dog. Easy peasy!
Peppermint is such a great way to deal with this problem as it has anti-inflammatory properties, both antiseptic and analgesic.
*When purchasing your oil, make sure it is 100% peppermint oil. This method will work on any doggies, but do not use on medium/large breed puppies under 8 weeks old or small/toy breeds under 10 weeks old. It could be harmful to them.
Don’t forget the dog collar!
Forget to treat the collar and you may still have an unwanted odour problems. The good news is, peppermint products are also very effective at deodorizing your doggie’s collar.
Simply remove the collar and lather it up with peppermint shampoo or soap. Once the lather covers the collar, scrub it with a soft brush (an old toothbrush is ideal) to remove any visible grime.
Rinse in very hot water and do a quick sniff test. If the smell has gone, then great, you’ve finished. If not, repeat the process until the odour is no more. Dry on a towel or hang it up to dry (out of direct sunlight) and you’ve got a whiff-free doggie and lead.
So, next time your little terror runs off and comes back covered in who-knows-what, you’ll know exactly what to do. Just make sure they don’t jump on you or you’ll have a human to clean as well!
For more tips on everyday doggie problems you might face, check back with us again soon or visit www.dogsnug.com for our great range of fun accessories for your pooch.