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By Joel Vernier
I was dog-tired and deep in REM sleep in my “Comfy Chair.” I found that taking a daily nap, sometimes several, is a great way to get the most out of life. As I was dreaming of days gone by and fried chicken consumed, a Sunday ritual at my house growing up, the smell of golden, crispy, and slightly salty chicken began to morph. The inviting odor turned slightly moldy and musty, with a faint fur smell. As the stench became stronger, I was abruptly woken up!
Of course, it was Nugget and Chloe, my less-than-fragrant golden retrievers. The dogs went swimming in the lake this morning. There is nothing like the smell of a wet dog!
After their morning swim, the wet dog smell transitions from a wet, moldy-like odor to a warm, moist, furry odor and finally to an odd odor, a blend of moisture, fur, humidity, and earwax.
If you take dogs for a walk or a pontoon ride on a sunny day, they will dry off, and the odor becomes stealthy. It’s still there, but you might not smell it overtly. But fear not, the smell will return after the next swim or rain shower.
The worst smell, of course, is a skunk encounter. This time of year, the skunks are out in force! When driving, you may think that you are psychic. You begin to think about a skunk, and a mile later, you spot a poor, dead skunk on the road, and before you can roll up the windows, the odor hits your nose like a sledgehammer; you may also experience a gag reflex. No, you were not psychic; you can detect skunk smell, miles off.
I was out of town, and Nugget was sprayed by one of the black and white demons. They look so cute and playful, until the tail goes up and the repulsive scent comes out like an energy weapon, taking out a ship at sea.
There are many de-skunking home remedies, such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or tomato juice. There are ones you can purchase at the store that may be expensive but are worth it. At my house, we did not have any products that would help with the odor. No tomato juice, so my wife tried using the closest thing we had at home, tomato ketchup!
Take a moment and picture a long-haired dog slathered in ketchup! This is not a pretty sight. Some remedies may help a little, but it is like the dog is possessed by the skunk spirit! Over the next few months, every time the dog gets a little wet, the spirit-odor returns.
Smelly or not, I love my dogs and the joy they often bring to my life.
