Do Curly Coat Retrievers Smell?

I adopted a Curly Coat Retriever a few weeks ago, and while I am enjoying my time with my little puppy, I am concerned about whether or not she will smell.

Interested in learning more about my new puppy and her breed background, I did a little research to help inform me. I bet someone could use this knowledge too.

Do Curly Coated Retrievers Smell?

No, Curly Coat Retrievers do not generally smell, but this can depend on their health, the condition of their fur coat, and what they have been doing, or even when the last time was that they were brushed and bathed. 

The Curly Coat Retriever doesn’t usually smell if they eat a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and exercise.  They also don’t usually smell if they are healthy, and their fur coat is inspected regularly for issues like dirt and debris.  While they are a breed that shouldn’t be bathed or brushed as often as other dogs, they still need this care from time to time. 

Their double coat of fur is best groomed every month or two unless, for some reason, they have gotten extra filthy. This is to keep them looking like they traditionally do.   The Curly Coat Retriever boasts a tightly woven set of small curls that might look similar to other dogs’ breeds but is easy to maintain with a bit of brushing and bathing from time to time.  Supplements can be given to ensure that they have a healthy fur coat, which can also enhance their health and reduce any chance that they may smell unless they have rolled around in something. 

Whereas no supplement will prevent or reduce that smell.  While many dogs can have that doggie odor typical of some breeds, this breed doesn’t usually have that odor unless they have spent a great deal of time outdoors in nature, exploring and possibly discovering new things.

Other things can cause any dog to smell but are not explicitly related to the dog’s breed; these include smelly breath, smelling behinds, and smelly ears. These are related to bacteria and yeast that can accumulate and possibly cause infection.  The cleanliness of these areas is critical even if the dog isn’t bathed or brushed regularly.

All dogs can smell at some time or another, and there are many reasons why they smell.  Curly Coat Retrievers, however, are not a breed that usually smells unless there is a specific reason for it.  Whereas some dogs have a natural doggie odor that never seems to go away no matter what their pet parent does, the Curly Coat Retriever is not one of those dog breeds.

Whether or not the smell is related to their overall health, who they are as a dog, how their fur coat is cared for, and their diet and lifestyle.  If these dogs are eating a healthy diet that can include supplements and live a healthy lifestyle, they most likely won’t smell.

A healthy lifestyle for this breed will include a good amount of rest and exercise and outdoor time, and playtime.  It will consist of a minimal amount of stress and plenty of love and affection, and most importantly, a healthy diet.

This breed is a very easy-care breed for grooming; they only need to be brushed every other month or two unless they have discovered something exciting and explored it.  In which case, they may end up smelling and need to be groomed and bathed.

Their double coat of fur consists of tightly woven curls that can look similar to other dog breeds.  This coat only needs to be groomed and bathed every so often to keep it looking like it should, but if the need arises, they should be bathed and groomed to keep them clean.  Air drying is always recommended over blow-drying as they will end up with frizzy hair otherwise.

While this breed doesn’t usually smell, certain areas of a dog can smell regardless of breed.  These areas include their behind, which for some dogs can cause issues if they have problems with their anal glands.

Some dogs can suffer from issues and need to have their anal glands expressed by their veterinarian.  If there appears to be a fishy smell coming from the curly coat retrievers’ hind side, this is possibly the issue.

Aside from that, they can also smell if they are having issues with their mouth.  Dogs of every breed can suffer dental and mouth issues if their teeth are brushed, and they eat less than a healthy diet.  Brushing their teeth like we do our own can reduce the amount of bacteria that can accumulate in their mouth.

If this bacteria is left unchecked, it can lead to infections which can give off an odor, not to mention detrimental to the dog’s health and well-being. Proper hygiene in this area is necessary to reduce the chance of infection, odor, and health problems that can arise from lack of care.

One final area that many dogs can have an odor is in their ears.  While some dogs are more susceptible than others, any dog can suffer.  The dark, moist recesses of the ear can be a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast to form and grow, causing infections.

This can be especially true for dogs that spend a good deal of time outdoors, as the curly coat retriever.  Checking their ears periodically, regardless of whether they are being groomed, can reduce the chance that they will suffer issues, give off an odor and be unhealthy.  It takes but a few minutes to clean their ears when needed. Better to do it than create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

If my Curly Coat Retriever has an odor, what should I do?

If your Curly Coat Retriever has an odor, the first thing that you should do is attempt to locate where the odor is coming from.

If it appears to be coming from their ears, mouth, or hind side, these areas only need to be addressed.  If they have an all-over stink, then they may need to be brushed and bathed to remove the odor, which may have come from something they rolled around in or encountered while out of doors.

Once they or the area is cleaned, it may be helpful to keep a watchful eye to ensure that it doesn’t continue to happen.  This can require some thoughtful planning on the pet parents part, which requires them investing time, and planning into their dogs health but this should be common place for a dog owner anyway, a little extra time shouldn’t be much different than it already is when caring for a pet.

If their ears were filthy, or their mouth or hind area, it may be helpful to set up a routine check of these areas, perhaps weekly, to ensure that they are clean and healthy.

If the odor was from their whole body, it could be beneficial to watch what they are doing. Simultaneously, outside in case, they have located something delightful and stinky to investigate and roll in.  If this is the case, removing the stink from their area can limit the likelihood that they will stink again in the future.

If my Curly Coat Retrievers’ ears or mouth repeatedly stink even after cleaning, should I take them to the vet?

If your Curly Coat Retrievers’ ears or mouth repeatedly stink, even after cleaning, you might want to take them to the vet.  Stink in these areas can be related to underlying health issues that are often not serious, but it is best to find out.

The veterinarian can check these areas for overgrowth of yeast and discuss their diet and lifestyle, which may contribute to the problem.  They can also evaluate their overall health, increasing the chance they stink from some bodily regions.  If an existing or underlying health issue is the cause of the stink, it is better to treat it as soon as possible for the best possible outcome.

Regular veterinarian visits can prevent issues from happening in the first place as they will check the dogs’ teeth, ears, and other areas of their body to make sure there are not severe health issues that need to be addressed.

A healthy lifestyle always includes regular veterinary visits for your curly coat retriever.

In Conclusion

While any dog can suffer from having an odor at any time in their lives, the Curly Coat Retriever is a breed that generally does not give off that doggie smell.

Each dog is an individual, just like humans, and how they smell will be as unique to them as ours is to us.

If a pet parent discovers that their Curly Coat Retriever suddenly smells, it is best to take a closer look to identify where the issue might be coming from.  Once this is discovered, often, the smell will be gone.  If not, a little air freshener can go a long way to making life more tolerable!