Dogs are usually quite instinctive and curious, which is why they often end up getting into trouble. Some like to rummage through garbage, chew on furniture and shoes, and even dig or defecate in the garden. Do you have a dog at home and want to keep it away from a specific area? Don’t know how to chase away the neighbor’s intruding dog?
Here we explain how to make the best homemade dog repellents. They are all-natural, safe, easy to prepare, and very effective.
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How to make a homemade dog repellent?
Because it’s sometimes easier to buy a commercial repellant, we don’t realize that we already have everything we need to fix the problem at home.
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, so a good way to ward them off is through the smell of various common ingredients and products. This includes vinegar, citrus, garlic, cayenne pepper, and alcohol.
All of these share the same characteristic, and that is that their smell is absolutely unpleasant for dogs. The pet will not want to go near the place where these aromas come from.
Did you know…? Depending on the breed or type, a dog’s sense of smell can be 10,000 – 100,000 times better than human smell. Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose, and the part of the brain that analyzes and processes aromas is proportionally 40 times larger than ours.
7 natural homemade dog repellents
- Vinegar spray
- Citrus Fruit Repellent
- Preparation of garlic and cayenne pepper or chili
- Citronella oil spray
- Coffee powder
- Mustard oil spray
- Essential oil spray
Let’s see why they work, how to prepare and how each of them is applied …
1. Vinegar Spray
Why overspend on dog repellant when you already have vinegar in your kitchen? In fact, vinegar is one of the key ingredients in many of these commercial products. Thanks to its intense smell, household vinegar is often one of the strongest and most effective dog repellents.
It is also very versatile; You can use it both indoors and outdoors. Specifically for interior use, it is recommended to apply a clear type of vinegar, such as white or apple cider vinegar. These are better options to prevent the dog from climbing on the sofa or chewing things (furniture, carpets, curtains) since they are less likely to leave stains.
In a spray container, add vinegar and water (50/50). To use it, simply spray the mixture on the areas or objects that you do not want the dog to go near. You can also soak cotton balls and place them around.
In case you want a more powerful vinegar repellent, mix white vinegar with apple cider vinegar, without adding much water.
When using it outdoors, avoid spraying it directly on the ground where there are plants.
2. Citrus Fruit Repellent
Although we find it very pleasant, most dogs and cats do not like the smell of citrus at all. This type of repellent can be an excellent alternative to frighten dogs inside and outside the home.
All parts of the fruit are useful, both the juice and the peel. One way to prepare it is to squeeze the juice from several lemons, add a little water to dilute, and place it in a spray bottle. For added potency, you can add lemon zest to the mix.
Let stand 1-2 hours and proceed to apply it in the chosen areas to scare away the pet.
Do you not want your dog, the neighbor’s dog, or a stray dog to enter your garden? Collect plenty of lemon, orange, grapefruit peels, cut them into pieces, and spread them around the garden or patio. In addition to keeping dogs away, they will help eliminate ants and other insects.
3. Preparation of garlic and cayenne pepper or chili
Two very popular repellant ingredients are hot chili pepper and cayenne pepper. No wonder they are often used in commercial organic repellents. The pungent compounds in these peppers are known to be very irritating to the dog, especially the sensitive skin in and around his nose.
Garlic, another spice with a strong odor and compounds, is also used in this preparation.
To 1 liter of warm water, add several chilies or cayenne pepper (whatever you have on hand), 1-2 crushed garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours. After a day, strain the preparation and pour the resulting liquid into a spray bottle.
The result will be a powerful outdoor repellent, capable of scaring away not only the dog but also any intruding animal.
Note. Be warned that chili, black pepper, and cayenne pepper can irritate or burn your dog’s skin if he comes into direct contact with them.
4. Citronella Oil Spray
Citronella is commonly used as an insect repellant, but did you know that dogs don’t like the smell of it either? Lemongrass essential oil is often very helpful in deterring dogs from digging or defecating in the garden.
Simply mix ½ cup of citronella oil with 6 cups of water, pour the mixture into a spray container, and spray it on the places you don’t want your dog to go. It is recommended to apply consistently for 1 week until the dog understands that it is not allowed to approach.
Warning. A very high concentration of citronella can be harmful to the pet. Likewise, it is not recommended to have the citronella plant at home due to the risk of poisoning by ingestion.
5. Coffee beans or grounds
Do not rush to throw the grounds or remains of ground coffee in the trash. A good way to recycle it is to use it as a dog repellent in the garden or patio. You just have to spread it over the external areas you want to protect. Coffee is effective as a natural dog and cat repellent.
6. Mustard Oil Spray
Perhaps this is one of the least known repellent remedies. Dogs do not like the smell or taste of mustard oil, which is why we can also use it to keep them away. Spray or smear the oil on the areas you want to keep dog-free…and that’s it.
7. Essential oil spray
Don’t know what to do to prevent your dog from rummaging through the garbage? Prepare a mixture of essential oils with repellent action on dogs. To a spray bottle of water, add 2-3 drops of cinnamon, orange, eucalyptus, and lemon oil. Shake well and spray the mixture on garbage containers, corners, and other necessary areas.
Other effective homemade dog repellents
Although they are not exactly natural ingredients, we do not want to fail to mention 2 very popular homemade repellents for dogs: alcohol and ammonia.
Alcohol for external use
Isopropyl alcohol’s strong odor makes it a powerful dog repellant. The best way to use it is to soak some cotton balls and place them strategically in the areas where you don’t want your dog to be. Unlike other repellants, spraying is not recommended.
Ammonia
If ammonia already smells strong enough to us, imagine how unpleasant it can be for dogs. In fact, it is said to be the most effective repellant of all. You can place cotton balls soaked in ammonia both indoors and outdoors. Commonly, it is used to prevent the dog from entering a room or to prevent it from biting and scratching furniture.
If you want to use it to scare dogs away from the garden, it should not be poured directly on the ground, as it can damage the lawn and plants.
Are natural dog repellents safe?
Homemade dog repellents made from natural ingredients are generally safe for most dogs, as long as they are prepared and applied correctly. Consider that some substances, essential oils, and spices should not be ingested by the pet, or applied directly to it.
Many of these ingredients are used in the manufacture of commercial repellents.
Note. Consult your veterinarian before using the repellents listed above, or any other remedy, to deter dogs and cats.
