Smelly kennels- yuck!

[Macomom]

How do you keep your dog kennels from smelling stale and kind of doggy?
We have our kennels in our computer room and the dogs are free to go in and out of them during the day. We do babygate the computer room though, so their run of the house if limited.

I have tried dog bedding (manufactured pillows) and found they adopted a dog odour. I also had difficulty washing them in a residential washing machine.
I have tried blankets which I launder frequently, but I find I am doing this painstakingly often.

Do you have any suggestions on keeping the pet odour down? The dogs aren't sick or dirty so it is not overwhelming, it just kind of smells like dog.
Now that winter is here, I don't open the windows often enough to get good air circulation either.

When we moved into this house, the previous owners had cats and it smelled like cat urine, so maybe I am just hyper sensitive.
Oh, and I do use an organic, diluted tea tree oil spritz on the kennels, but I find air freshners a bit intense.

Thoughts, oh Great Minds of the Forum?

[Chaser]

When I still used a crate for Kailey I found that an old sleeping bag worked well. It was cushy enough for her, but the outer shell of a sleeping bag doesn't seem to retain odours as much as your average blanket.

[Macomom]

Hey Chaser,
That is a great idea!

[Frenchy]

I like doggy smell

have you tried Febreze ?

[Macomom]

I don't like to use Febreeze on doggy bedding or too close to their kennels.
I am a bit of a hippy

[hazelrunpack]

Hmmmm....what's stale about doggy smell?



Honestly, with 8 in the house, I'm sure we have that Canine Purfume, but we can no longer tell! Your problem, MM, is that you don't have enough dogs yet to burn out the doggy-smell receptors in your nose.

[luckypenny]

Add a tbsp of baking soda to the wash when you do their beds, and 1/4 cup of vinegar or rubbing alcohol to the rinse. I find synthetic fibers get smelly as opposed to cotton .

You can also spray down the kennel area with 50:50 peroxide and water, and wipe down.

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I stuff my dogs' dog bed cover with old unwanted tshirts. A LOT easier to wash consistently.

I bleach their crates and then let them dry. I currently don't generally crate any of them so it's not an issue, but this is what I've always done.

I'm sure I still have dog smell but it's not too bad.

[Gail P]

Originally Posted by hazelrunpack

Hmmmm....what's stale about doggy smell?



Honestly, with 8 in the house, I'm sure we have that Canine Purfume, but we can no longer tell! Your problem, MM, is that you don't have enough dogs yet to burn out the doggy-smell receptors in your nose.

Same here No way do our 9 smell up the house Except when they've been eating/rolling in something gross, or farting My nose is apparently not quite burnt out enough yet. Better get a few more dogs