9 Natural Homemade Dog Repellents That are Safe and Pooch-friendly

If you have a new puppy or an old one with bad manners, you might be facing problems like him/her chewing on furniture and shoes and/or digging up your plants. Let's face it, you can't always monitor their every move to prevent such accidents. So, what do you do? Have you considered homemade dog repellents?

Batul Nafisa Baxamusa

Last Updated: Mar 26, 2018

Dogs are adorable animals we love to keep as pets. Canines have a natural tendency to sniff, chew and dig around the house and gardens. They love to dive in for a treasure hunt in the garbage bins and under the flower beds you have planted with care. Many times dogs chew on furniture, destroying the upholstery. There is no way that you can get them to stop this nasty habit. When dog obedience training doesn't stop your dog 'Rover', from ruining your garden and furniture, you can try to use a repellent to keep your dog away from destroying the things you love.

You have a wide choice of dog repellents available in the market. However, these may contain chemicals that can harm your dog. Thus, a better option is to make homemade repellents.

How to Make a Dog Repellent?

The most simple way to keep your dog off the kitchen counter is filling a spray bottle with water. Whenever you catch your dog crawling up the kitchen counter, spray some water and he will run for his life!

On a serious note, to keep the dog away from your vegetable or flower patch in the garden and furniture, you'll need to take a few concrete measures.

Cayenne Spray

You need to add 1 part of cayenne and 10 parts of water and spray this liquid mixture over the problem areas. Do not make the mixture too concentrated as cayenne can harm the sensitive nose of Rover. Cayenne irritates the eyes, nose and throat of dogs and therefore the dog will avoid it. Try making a potpourri containing cayenne pepper powder next to your curtains or sofa. The dog won't come near it as it will irritate his delicate senses.

Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, cinnamon, or sour apple essential oils are a great way to keep your Rover from visiting garbage cans and other problem areas. Mix the oil with water and spray it all over the area you do not want your dog to visit.

Vinegar and Lime Juice

Dogs hate the smell of vinegar. Soak cotton balls in vinegar and spread them over the problem areas. You can also mix vinegar and lime juice and spray it over the shoes. It will prevent your puppy from chewing it. Never spray vinegar over the plants as it will kill them. Instead, soak coffee filters or blotting papers in white vinegar. Allow it to dry, and cut thin strips of the filter or paper. Place these strips around the plants, flowers, vegetables, problem areas.

Mustard Oil

You can spray mustard oil around the places you do not want Rover hovering. This is an effective and safe way to keep away dogs.

Chili Powder

If you find Rover chewing up your plants, then sprinkle chili powder around your plants. This is a sure-shot deterrent for troublesome plant-chewing dogs.

Ammonia

Ammonia smell repels dogs more than anything else. Soak cotton balls in ammonia and place them in the problem areas. This will keep your dog away from the area.

Alcohol

The smell of alcohol repels dogs. Place cotton balls soaked in alcohol and place them in the problem areas. This will keep your dog away from the area.

Citrus

Cut citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and sweet lime, and spread them in the garden area. You can even spray citrus oils over the furniture to keep your dog away from it. Another way is to place slices or peels of oranges and lemons near your flowerbed or vegetable patch. In case of furniture, you can place a glass of lemon water near on a table near the sofa or chairs you want to protect from Rover.

Dog Poop

You would have never imagined dog poop to be a useful repellent. If your dog has digging problems, you can place his poop in the problem areas. Dogs do not like to dig their poop out and will refrain from visiting that area. Once Rover's interest in the particular spot begins to vain, you can discard the poop, and fill the hole with mud or soil.