I have a client with 2 cockers who always seem to stink when they come in. She has quite a few other dogs and they are never like this, but she says their kennel is spotless and their blankets are changed every day, and they've been like that since they were puppies. I'm struggling to think how to describe the smell, it's not wee or poo, it's sort of like rotten straw or something. I had a search on here but couldn't see any posts on this sort of thing, but I'm sure I've seen people who've had persistently smelly dogs and had some underlying problem. I can wash them twice over and they still smell after. They're coming on on Wednesday so I'll try to describe the smell more then!!

Hi LucyDogs

Don't know if this is the problem but has she thought of "Cocker Mouth"?  "Dogs with large floppy lips, such as cocker spaniels, bulldogs, and Saint Bernards, can develop foul-smelling mouths from a condition called lip fold pyoderma. Saliva, food, and bacteria accumulate in the small creases of the mouth and can lead to infection. "  If this is the cause then it will be obvious and cleaning with salt water twice a day and really scrubbing the area should sort it out without antibiotics.

I have a client with 1 cocker that was really smelly like that, but also had quite a greasy coat too, which never cleaned up with any amount of washing.  It turned out the dog has diabetes and is now being treated for that and is like a different dog, greasy coat gone and smell gone too.  So not sure if that could be an underlying problem for them?

Not a Cocker but my friends BT always stank to high heaven, even if he had just been washed, I always wondered if he had a yeast over growth on his skin.

Can't remember which food but we had 3 dogs all on the same (new) food and one of the STANK, it was in her skin, bathed her -smelt ok until you put your nose right down to her skin and there was the smell - and this was before she was even completely dry!!! The other two finished the bag off without any trace of smell

Thanks all! Don't think it's cocker mouth as the smell is all over, but will sniff around to see if it's stronger anywhere. They've apparently had diet changes and been to the vets, had a urine check which was fine. Their coats do look and feel pretty clean after the bath, but the smell is still there.... I have to leave all the windows open and spray air freshener after they've been or the grooming room stinks! I can suggest possible diabetes, presumably they'd have other symptoms like excessive drinking? Would it be a vet check for yeast too or is that something I could look for?

I remember our dogs began to absolutely stink when I couldn't get their usual food and bought them one to get by.    Think it was Chappie Complete Dry kibble, not only did I need a toxic waste permit to dispose of their poo, and gas mask to pick it up, but the dogs stank and so did the house

This is a breed that doesn't have a pong even when wet! 

Thankfully it was only the 3 kilo bag but we chucked it anyway and put them straight on another food.   Took a week or two but the smell has never returned!

I can always tell when there's a dry chappie fed dog poo in the dog bins, the characteristic smell comes out to meet you!

It could be food related, will be interesting to see if you notice anything different this time.

When I first bought home my pup I immediately noticed a 'doggy' smell in the house. Admittedly I hadn't had a dog in the house for six months, but I couldn't remember my last dogs having this smell. She was on Beta puppy which isn't a food I like so switched her onto Arden Grange. It took a while, but that 'different' smell has gone. Well I think it has, maybe I've got used to a doggy smell in the house again.

I too would say it is probably the diet, it is amazing how foods can cause all types of problems including excess yeast production, some dogs have no problems whatever you feed them, others get reactions.

I would initially mention a change in diet. :-)