Commercial or homemade dog repellent products can sometimes cause issues. Dogs, for instance, may detest the smell of pepper in general, but dropping pepper on the ground will burn a pet’s mouth and skin, and rain will quickly wash it away, necessitating regular reapplication. Other substances that are spilled, sprinkled, or sprayed on the ground tend to lose some of their potency once it rains. No matter how often it needs to be reapplied, a decent dog repellent is affordable and safe for pets. Fortunately, there are a few do-it-yourself solutions.
Homemade Sprays
As a DIY spray, mix water with either vinegar or ammonia. You can avoid going to the home improvement store by using these items, which are commonly available and inexpensive things right off the kitchen shelf. All you have to do is mix 50/50 ammonia or vinegar (white or even apple cider vinegar would work) and water in a clean spray bottle, then mist the locations you want to keep dogs away from.
You shouldn’t spray ammonia or vinegar straight onto any lawn grass or landscape plants that you care about because enough of either substance will destroy the plants. The perimeter of your property is where ammonia and vinegar work best as dog repellents since they create an unpleasant, unseen barrier that deters canines.
Warning
Never combine vinegar with ammonia. Utilize each component independently. A salty solution is produced when vinegar and ammonia are combined, despite the fact that doing so is not harmful.
Oranges and Other Citrus Fruits
Citrus is also unappealing to dogs, thus some homeowners use the peels of orange, grapefruit, or lemon as a dog deterrent (for that reason, lemon ammonia can be considered a canine double whammy). Even though these fruit peels are natural and simple to obtain, scattering them over your front yard could make it look like a garbage bag exploded. For this reason, you might choose to keep peels in your backyard, where they are hidden from view. Even so, you should still keep an eye out because fruit peels could tempt rodents to enter your yard. Additionally, use caution when using any citrus, as dogs might be slightly poisonous to it.
What dog repellant works the best?
Best Dog Repellent Sprays: Preventing Dogs from Invading
- PetSafe Spray Shield Citronella Spray is our top pick.
- Safety Sport Personal 911 is the best air horn.
- Halt Dog Deterrent is the best dog pepper spray.
- SABRE Spray is the most potent dog deterrent.
Use dog-repelling scents
Dogs are known for having sensitive noses, and you can benefit from this great sense of smell. Dogs are less inclined to enter your territory if your yard smells bad to them.
Here are some instances of potent odors that deter dogs:
- You may purchase commercial dog repellant sprays online.
- plants, fruits, or juices made from citrus
- plant rust
- Citronella oil or plants
- Garlic
- Vinegar
- Chili pepper
- chilly flakes
- Ammonia
- Rub alcohol with
Spread one or more of these materials along the perimeter of your yard to deter stray dogs. Most of the time, soaking a few cotton balls and placing them around the boundary is sufficient to protect against liquids (such vinegar and rubbing alcohol).
You must be careful where you keep these items because many of them are hazardous to dogs if they consume them. Dogs shouldn’t ever get close enough to ingest the source of the fragrance because the purpose of these aromas is to keep them away.
Avoidable scents include the smell of coyote pee, which is present in certain products used to deter wildlife (such as raccoons, deer, skunks, or rabbits). Smaller animals may be put off by coyote urine, while dogs are drawn to it. If you use such a product and experience persistent dog feces issues in your yard, stop using it immediately away.
Put up a barrier around your yard
The best way to prevent your neighbor’s dogs from entering your yard is to create a high barrier around it, like a fence or hedge. Just make sure there aren’t any gaps in the fence or hedge that a dog may fit through.
The concept of building a large fence around their front yard is opposed by many homeowners, and it isn’t always financially possible. Instead, you may construct a barrier along the ground using pebbles, mulch, or other similar materials that would be uncomfortable for dogs to walk on. They will then be more likely to avoid your yard and urinate somewhere else.
Install motion-activated lawn sprinklers
Did you know that you can program lawn sprinklers to activate automatically anytime a person or a dog enters your yard?
The neighbor’s dog will be startled and hopefully scared away by a sudden stream of water before he can poop on your lawn. Since it’s only water, the pup won’t suffer any harm. Sprinklers that react to movement deter wild creatures like coyotes, foxes, and deer as well.
Does this approach seem appropriate for you? Several well-liked motion-activated sprinklers are listed below for your consideration:
Chili Peppers
Your dog’s nose will be bothered by any type of spicy pepper, such as jalapenos, Thai chilis, habaneros, or chipotle peppers.
Dogs find the smell of capsaicin, the ingredient in chilis that gives them their spicy flavor, so repulsive that they frequently steer clear of kitchens where chilis are being prepared. Use caution when using chili peppers or powders to ward off your dog because they can trigger intense sneezing fits even in very little doses.
Ground Spices
A dog’s sense of smell may be overwhelmed by any strong ground spice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cardamom, mustard, and cayenne pepper are typical home spices that dogs detest the smell of.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are frequently utilized as a fragrant scent enhancer for household products. Citrus fruits’ bright and lively aroma is due to the high oil content in their skins and pith. Dogs’ noses will become greatly offended by the strong scent of oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, which humans find to be enticing and delightful.
Vinegar
Although vinegar is promoted as a safer alternative to stronger household cleaners, even people find its fragrance to be unsettling. Acetic acid, a benign and non-toxic molecule produced naturally as a byproduct of fermentation, is the source of both this odor and vinegar’s cleaning abilities.
Dogs should not be allowed on patio furniture or certain areas of your yard by using a spray bottle filled with a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water.
Fresh Herbs
Freshly grown and harvested basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme all have strong aromas that make them perfect additions to gardens you want to keep dogs out of. These herbs have the ability to discourage dogs since they are rich in volatile fragrant oils.
Alcohol
Dogs find the smell of alcohol to be quite overpowering and repulsive, whether it is regular rubbing alcohol, vodka, or grain neutral spirits. Never use any alcohol as a spray to deter dogs from objects because it can quickly cause skin and respiratory irritation.
Household Cleaners
The two most prevalent chemicals in household cleansers that dogs abhor are chlorine and ammonia. You probably already know how uncomfortable the vapors may be if you’ve ever used a household cleaner in a tiny, enclosed area. Dogs should never be let near surfaces that you are cleaning with abrasive substances.
Strong Perfumes or Colognes
Due to the mixture of denatured alcohol and strong aromatics in perfume and cologne, overdoing your morning beauty regimen can cause dogs to avoid you. Even deodorant can cause this reaction in highly sensitive dogs.
Mothballs
Mothballs are used to prevent moths from destroying stored clothing, and their particular odor indicates how effective they are. The little white balls should never be swallowed by either people or canines due to their great hazard.
Nail Polish and Nail Polish Remover
Dogs’ nostrils are extremely bothered by the strong chemical glue in nail polish and the heavy acetone odor in nail polish remover. Always use them in an area of your home that is very well ventilated.
Onions and Garlic
Allium plants all have a strong, distinctive aroma that people love to use in cooking. Dogs’ sensitive noses will be turned off by the smell of raw or cooked alliums, but we might appreciate the aroma of onions and garlic cooking on the stove.
How can I prevent dogs from entering my home?
Is your dog ruining the garden or yard? You can help curb his shenanigans by creating a simple, secure repellant. PublicDomain Pictures/Linda Greyling
Although dogs are wonderful companions, man’s best friends can wreck havoc on furniture and gardens. There are numerous dog repellents that are simple to produce at home and inexpensive, regardless of the reasons you want to keep a dog away.
These are all completely safe for both pets and the environment.
- Citrus. The scent of lemon is repulsive to dogs. By scattering pieces of oranges or lemons across the flowerbed, you can defend your garden. Put a glass of lemon water on a nearby table or spray the mixture on your furniture to deter your dog from destroying it.
- cayenne chiles Your dog won’t be harmed by cayenne peppers, but they will irritate his eyes, nose, and throat. Sprinkle your garden with ground black pepper and cayenne pepper to deter your dog from digging in your flowerbeds. Put some cayenne pepper in your potpourri or place a bowl of decorative chilies next to the couch to train your dog to stay away from the upholstery.
- Vinegar. Dogs don’t enjoy the smell of vinegar very much. Spraying vinegar on plants could be harmful, so avoid doing it in your yard. As an alternative, soak biodegradable coffee filters in white vinegar and let them air dry. Cut the filters into thin strips that are approximately a toothpick’s length once they have dried completely. By sprinkling the strips across your yard, you can keep your dog away while promoting the growth of your flowers.
- oil of mustard. Spray some mustard oil around the location you want your dog to avoid since they detest the taste and smell of it, and then watch what happens.
- dog waste. You can guarantee that your dog won’t dig in the same holes again if you try tossing some of his waste into them. He will become disinterested in coming across his own feces if you strategically place it in holes near his preferred digging locations.
- espresso grinds. Dogs also dislike the smell of coffee, and coffee grounds are beneficial to the soil in your garden. Your dog won’t go near them if you simply scatter them on top of the ground.
Important information: Never use ammonia to repel dogs. While the smell of ammonia can deter dogs from practically anything since it bothers their nostrils, if they swallow it, it can harm their throats and stomachs. Before utilizing any chemical or material around your pets, always consult your veterinarian.
Dog Repellent FAQ
The scent of citrus fruits repulses dogs. These include oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. Citrus scents are used in sprays to deter dogs from chewing on things for this reason, among others.
A dog will experience unfavorable effects, both physically and mentally, from any sound beyond 20,000 Hz. If exposed to these frequencies for an extended period of time, dogs may get disturbed and anxious and may flee or hide.
Combine 1.5 cups of cold water with 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and 20 drops of any citrus-scented essential oil in a clean spray container. Spray the mixture liberally throughout your house in the areas you wish the dog to avoid.
Some apps emit ultrasonic noises that are meant to deter dogs. These apps can also be used to silence a dog that is growling or attacking. You can find options in the app store on your phone for both Android and iOS.
How do I stop my neighbor’s dog from entering my yard so frequently?
- repeatedly urinates elsewhere on private property than the area where it is usually kept; or
- repeatedly pursues a person, vehicle, or animal (apart from vermin or when droving, caring, working, or defending livestock); or
- risks a person’s or an animal’s health (apart from pests or when driving, tending, working, or defending livestock); or
- causes significant harm on a regular basis to anything outside the property where it is usually stored.
A cat is deemed a nuisance cat under the Companion Animals Act of 1998 if it:
- makes constant, loud noise that reasonably disturbs anyone’s quiet, comfort, or convenience in another place; or
- consistently hurts everything that is not kept on the same piece of property.
If an animal is causing you trouble, you should talk to the owner and try to come to an amicable agreement. Contact your local council if this fails or if you feel uncomfortable using this strategy.
Can vinegar deter dogs?
One of the most popular and efficient dog repellents is chili pepper. It is what is typically present in commercially available organic dog repellents. The dog’s skin will become irritated by the capsicum in the peppers, especially the delicate area around and around the nose. The dog won’t come back because of the annoyance. All dogs can be repelled by a simple chili pepper powder sprayed around the area.
Ammonia
Ammonia odors are not particularly appealing to dogs. Ammonia is strong to our noses, but to a dog’s delicate nose, it is like getting punched in the face. Cotton balls drenched in ammonia should be placed around around the location you want to keep the dog out of. Ammonia should not be applied straight to the ground because it could harm your plants.
VinegarAnother strong-smelling aroma that deters dogs is vinegar. Once more, place cotton balls in vinegar-soaked water in the area you want to keep dogs out of. Pouring vinegar directly into the ground will harm plants, so avoid doing this.
Rough Alcohol
Another pungent chemical that repels dogs is rubbing alcohol. Here as well, the same counsel is applicable. Place cotton balls in areas you want to keep dogs out of after soaking them in rubbing alcohol.
Citrus Aromas
Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, which some dogs find offensive, have something in common. Try chopping up some citrus fruit and scattering it around your yard if the aforementioned powerful scents are too overpowering for your nose. Citrus oil, if you can obtain it, can also be useful.
