Dogs are very sweet animals, but sometimes they don’t smell so charming. Some breeds are stinkier than others, which could leave you wondering “do Rottweilers smell?“
In general, a Rottweiler that is well taken care of won’t have an odor. However, if the dog is due for a bath or has a medical issue, it may become smelly. Since Rottweilers do have a double coat, they can get stinky when they get too hot.
Are you wondering what to expect when it comes to a Rottweiler’s odor? You’ve come to the right spot. Today, we’re going to discuss whether or not a Rottweiler smells and how to prevent an odor with your dog. We will also discuss some reasons why your Rottie may smell worse than expected. Keep reading to learn more.
Do Rottweilers Smell?
A Rottweiler shouldn’t have a bad smell if it’s taken care of, but it can develop one. Rottweilers are kind of similar to humans in a sense, where if they don’t bathe and keep up with grooming, they could have an odor. However, if the dog’s owner is on top of the pooch’s needs, then the Rottweiler won’t have a smell to it.
One breed that has a bad reputation is the Rottweiler. These dogs are often discriminated against for being aggressive, dirty, and smelly. However, those traits are typically not true at all. A good dog owner can prove that a Rottweiler is neither of those things.
Why Rottweilers Smell
There are a few different factors in a rottweiler’s life that can cause it to have that distinct dog smell. If you’re able to determine why your dog stinks, it’s easier to figure out how to get it to smell better. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why a Rottweiler may have a foul smell coming from it.
Poor Grooming Habits From Owner
Let’s take a look at the most obvious reason for a stench, poor grooming. Your Rottie will stink if you aren’t doing your job by keeping them clean. Rottweilers have a thick coat that does need to be shampooed to keep clean. You don’t have to bathe your Rottie weekly. Depending on its size, activity levels, and lifestyle, the dog should be bathed every 2 to 8 weeks.
Bad Dental Health
The bad smell from the Rottweiler could be coming from its mouth. If the dog isn’t receiving proper dental care, it could develop bad breath. Bacteria can build up in a Rottie’s mouth which can smell foul and lead to other problems. This can be avoided by brushing the dog’s teeth daily or several times a week.
Wet Dog Smell
Does your Rottie ever have a smell after you’ve taken it to a beach or lake? All dogs stink when they get wet. This happens because they have bacteria and microbes that are hidden within their fur. When the dog gets wet, the water ends up separating fecal matter from the microbes. This is what creates that wet dog smell that’s almost unavoidable.
Ear Infections
If you notice a foul smell coming from your Rottweiler, it’s important to try and pinpoint where that smell could be coming from. When the odor is coming from the dog’s ears, it is most likely a sign of an ear infection. Rottweilers are prone to ear infections, which also have a strong smell.
The strength of the odor can often be an indicator of how serious the ear infection is. If the odor is slightly musky, you can help the dog by cleaning its ears with a cotton pad or gauze. However, if the smell is very prominent, it could be a sign of a more serious infection that will need to be examined by the vet.
Too Much Moisture
Rottweilers are very active dogs that need at least 2 hours of exercise each day. For this reason, your Rottie likely spends a lot of time outdoors romping around. If it spends time in moist or dirty environments, it’s going to be smellier sooner than expected. Dogs that love playing in water, mud, and puddles can get dirtier and smellier faster.
Cut The Cheese
Rottweilers are gassy dogs. Even if your Rottie has no present health concerns and eats a very good quality diet, it’s still likely to fart more than you would expect. This all stems down to how the dog eats. Rottweilers have short and squished noses. This causes them to swallow air while they eat.
Dogs that swallow air when they eat tend to burp and fart more than other breeds. If you’ve ever been around a gassy Rottweiler, then you know firsthand how unpleasant they can smell.
Skin Problems
Rottweilers are prone to skin issues, that can cause them to have dry and itchy skin. Not only is this uncomfortable for the dog, but it also makes them smell pretty bad. This is because the dog’s coat is prone to causing fungal and bacterial infections. When this happens, sebum and yeast can build up on the dog’s skin, causing a foul smell.
It’s important to get skin issues examined as soon as you are aware of them. This is because the Rottweiler’s natural instinct is to lick and bite at the infected areas. When they do this, the problem and the smell end up getting worse because the dog has created a secondary infection by picking at it.
How To Prevent Your Rottweiler From Smelling
Does your Rottweiler have a foul smell coming from it? That smell won’t go away on its own unless the dog smells from being wet. In that case, it will smell better once it dries off. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can help your Rottie smell better so you can enjoy cuddling with him.
Give Your Rottweiler a Bath
The easiest way to keep your Rottweiler smelling fresh is to give it a bath. Draw a bath with warm water for your Rottie to get into. Once it’s nice and wet, you can start lathering it with a dog shampoo of choice. When you shampoo the dog, it’s best to start at the head and work your way down to its paws.
Be careful when you’re lathering the shampoo. You don’t want to get any suds in the dog’s eyes or ears. You should also do your best to prevent the dog from licking the shampoo suds. Thoroughly rinse all the shampoo from your Rottie so there isn’t a build-up.
You will also want your Rottweiler to dry off quickly so it doesn’t get a smell. Always allow the dog to shake off, then dry its fur as much as possible with a towel.
Feed Your Rottie a Good Diet
A Rottweiler’s farts smell worse than any other odor its body could make. While you may not be able to 100 % stop a Rottie from farting, you can help to reduce the amount of gas it has. Make sure your Rottweiler is eating good quality food. It should be made with whole ingredients and contain no fillers.
Keep the Rottweiler’s Ears and Mouth Clean
As mentioned in a section above, Rottweilers can have a foul smell due to bad breath or an ear infection. While getting in the habit of regular bathing is important to prevent smells, you can’t ignore the Rottie’s ears and mouth. Brushing its keeps will prevent bacteria from growing in its mouth and clean away plaque and tartar buildup.
Cleaning the dog’s ears will also prevent it from developing an ear infection or other problems in its ears.
Keep the Rottweiler’s Area Clean
One thing you may not consider about preventing an odor in a Rottweiler is that not all of its stenches will come from its body. The Rottweiler’s bed and any blankets or cushions that it sleeps on will also start to smell. If the dog’s environment doesn’t get cleaned often enough, the dog will start to smell sooner than later.
What Type of Shampoo is Best For Rottweilers
If you want your Rottweilers to smell good, regular grooming is a must. Always brush your Rottweiler’s fur and give it a bath with good shampoo for good hygiene. Below are some of the top choice shampoos to keep a Rottie clean:
- Earthbath Shed Control Shampoo
- Buddy Wash Rosemary ; Mint Dog Shampoo
- Buddy Wash Green Tea ; Bergamont Dog Shampoo
- Zesty Paws Oatmeal ; Itch Dog Shampoo
- 4 Legger Organic Dog Shampoo
Final Thoughts
Do Rottweilers smell? If a Rottweiler is well-taken care of, it shouldn’t have a smell. However, certain things can cause a Rottie to have a funky odor.
If the dog is wet, it will stink even if it’s clean. Other reasons it may smell are because it’s overdue for a bath, was playing in dirty, has gas, bad breath, or an ear infection. The dog may also smell due to a medical problem, which should be examined by a vet.