Fur Goodness Sake Bitter Apple Spray, another effective product, was formerly offered under the OmegaPet name. If you receive a bottle with the OmegaPet logo, don’t be concerned. The same applies.
This was the only anti-chew spray we examined that specified denatonium benzoate, also known as Bitrex, as the bittering agent. One of the most bitter synthetic substances is this one. It is frequently used to coat small things that children would otherwise swallow because it is non-toxic. This is the coating of Nintendo game cartridges. [7]
Does dog chew-prevention spray work?
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Being a puppy is such a lovely time. Except for educating your new puppy that not everything is a chew toy and potty training.
You probably bought a wide variety of chew toys for your new dog in the hopes that they won’t chew on things they shouldn’t.
But no matter what you do, your small dog with the alligator teeth continues to nip at the corners of your furniture, the cords behind the TV, and your shoes.
You can attempt reprimanding them, but some puppies may choose to ignore you if they believe that all attention is positive.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that chewing is a completely normal aspect of growing up as a puppy (and even as a dog!) and that you should always give your puppies lots of appropriate chew toys.
If this situation is similar to you, you might have to turn to the next line of chewing defense: anti-chew dog sprays.
What is an Anti Chew Dog Spray?
For new puppy owners, anti-chew spray for dogs is a really useful tool. These sprays, which may be chemically based or formed of natural deterrents, have the ability to impart an unpleasant taste to whatever they are applied on.
The idea is to spritz your favorite pair of slippers and wait for your puppy to try them again if your dog has a particular fascination with them. They’ll experience a harsh surprise once they do. The flavor of the slippers is awful!
This technique of training is actually very successful since your puppy will experience a natural deterrent without you needing to chastise them.
Your puppy won’t realize that you sprayed the slippers; instead, they will appear to no longer taste edible. The idea is that the puppy will eventually start to link the slippers with an unpleasant taste and stop wanting to chew them.
Because they often don’t leave a lingering smell and dry fast, you can apply these kinds of sprays on a variety of alluring products.
Given the wide variety of brands available, we’ll do some of the research for you.
What to Look for When Choosing an Anti-Chew Dog Spray
Safety and efficacy are two crucial factors to consider when picking an anti-chew spray for your dog.
It’s important to choose a company that uses only safe, non-toxic components because many things that dogs find nasty are actually detrimental for them.
This varies from dog to dog and may involve some trial and error (my dog, for instance, loves lemon; therefore, an anti-chew spray with a lemon basis wouldn’t work for him!)
Proper Use of Anti-Chew Dog Spray
Only when applied properly is Anti-Chew spray secure and efficient. Here are a few fundamental dos and don’ts:
DO’S:
- Spray only on objects your puppy is not allowed to chew. It won’t work to spray the entire house, and it’s not a good idea to spray it everywhere!
- When your puppy first tastes the spray, try to catch them in the act. If you like, you could even build up a small trap for them. After spraying the restricted item, place it in clear view. This is crucial because you want to ensure that your dog doesn’t genuinely enjoy the spray and because you want to keep an eye out for any negative reactions.
- If your dog continues to attempt to gnaw the things, re-spray them once each week. The flavor and scent can fade.
DON’TS:
- Spray your dog or puppy! Never, ever punish your dog with one of these sprays! Spraying the spray on your dog’s face or surrounding vicinity with the substances that give it a terrible taste and probably irritate the eyes could be harmful. It also won’t impart any knowledge to your dog.
- Spray the items in question and let your dog catch you doing it away from where your puppy can see you.
- Directly into your dog’s mouth, spritz the spray. Again, it won’t teach kids anything and it might even be harmful.
- To stop biting, spritz the anti-chew spray over your body. For the first few months of their lives, most puppies play-bite, but you shouldn’t use this spray to stop this hurtful puppy habit. You want to be your puppy’s constant comfort and affection, not have them associate your body with the foul taste of an anti-chew spray.
What If Your Puppy Loves The Taste of Anti-Chew Dog Sprays?
The taste of anti-chew sprays isn’t particularly appealing to certain dogs, which is unfortunate. They are either oblivious to the bitter taste, appreciate it, or find the object so alluring that they are ready to overlook the flavor in favor of the chewing experience.
There are a few things you can do before giving up if your puppy isn’t bothered by the flavor of anti-chew spray:
- Add some more spray. Sometimes a few spritzes are insufficient. Even though you shouldn’t entirely saturate an object, especially if it isn’t absorbent, there are situations when adding a little more spray will work.
- Try a different brand. Some anti-chew products are tolerated by some dogs but are strongly disliked by others. If the initial spray doesn’t work, don’t give up hope—there are a ton of additional ones you can try!
Natural Anti-Chew Dog Remedies
There are a few natural methods you may try at home if you’re not a fan of the commercial anti-chew sprays or your puppy doesn’t appear to react to them.
If you’re at your wits’ end, try them even though they are typically stickier and more pungent than commercial types.
The Verdict – Do Anti-Chew Dog Sprays Work or Not?
After conducting tests, gathering information, and consulting with other dog owners who have experienced chewing issues with their puppies, we have come to the conclusion that anti-chew dog sprays do, in some cases, effective.
Having the brand that YOUR dog dislikes the most is essential for finding the most success with these sprays.
For some dog owners, several of the sprays in this review work beautifully, but for others, they actually stimulate MORE chewing!
Because of this, some of these items have pretty low review ratings even though they work well for some dogs.
If your puppy or dog has a serious chewing issue, you might need to test out numerous anti-chew dog spray brands before you find one that works.
No spray will work, though, in certain situations and with certain dogs. In these circumstances, behavioral training and close supervision are required to help your dog’s chewing problems.
The most well-known natural anti-dog-chew remedy is arguably Grannick’s Bitter Apple spray.
It is manufactured from water and what Grannick refers to as “bitter principles,” is non-toxic, and is safe for a variety of materials (including cloth, wood, etc.).
It has a strong sour apple scent, dries rapidly, and doesn’t leave any sticky residue or lingering odor that people may detect.
I used Grannick’s Bitter Apple on my first dog since I like it. He would not touch anything I sprayed since he detested the taste and smell of it.
My second dog, whom I later acquired, adores Bitter Apple! She treats it so much like a condiment that she even tries to lick the bottle.
It follows that the dog will have a significant impact on Grannick’s Bitter Apple’s effectiveness.
Bitter Apple, on the other hand, is fantastic since it’s safe to put on your dog’s fur, which can be quite useful if your dog has a propensity to chew their feet, hot spots, etc.
Does vinegar spraying on dogs stop them from chewing?
One of the most popular uses for vinegar is to deter dogs from destroying furniture. In comparison to other ways, vinegar is more effective since, among other things, no one needs to be in the room. The price of and potential presence of dangerous chemicals in store-bought repellents make them unsuitable for use on children or animals. Homemade repellents are simpler to make and frequently contain substances that are already in the house. It is simple to stop some damaging activities, such chewing on furniture, simply applying vinegar.
Spray vinegar from a spray bottle on and around furniture that you want to keep your dog away from. However, avoid reusing an old bottle because the remnant of the prior contents may be left behind and may muddle the vinegar’s aroma, making it ineffective. a very concentrated vinegar and water mixture The ratio of 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water works well to deter dogs. The acidic flavor of vinegar might also keep your dog from chewing. Use white vinegar or any transparent vinegar at all times. Another wonderful choice is lightly tinted apple cider vinegar. When spraying substances, you should use caution at all times.
What should I do to stop my dog from chewing everything he sees?
How to Stop a Dog from Chewing Everything When It’s a Puppy or an Adult
- Pay attention.
- Limit the problem.
- Keep your aroma to yourself.
- Put anything a dog could chew on away.
- Pick dog toys carefully.
- then cut off traffic.
- Never offer your dog a pair of worn-out shoes or socks to chew on.
- Daily exercise
What flavor makes dogs stop chewing?
Although dogs only have roughly one-sixth of the taste buds that humans do, they have a significantly better developed sense of smell. Dogs are able to distinguish between flavors that are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, just like humans can. Only salty, sour, and bitter taste receptors are present in cats’ 480 taste buds. Cats, like dogs, have keen senses of smell and don’t care for bitter foods.
Since your pet has such an acute sense of smell, taste deterrents function by affecting this sense. You introduce the flavor, which they later link to the aroma. Once they’ve experienced a bad experience related to that smell, they won’t go near it again. In order to prevent chewing, taste deterrents make use of your pet’s aversion to bitter and hot flavors. Sprays with bitter apples and spiciness or heat are frequent deterrents.
Apply a small amount of the bitter apple spray to a cotton ball or piece of tissue before giving it to your cat or dog. Put this right into your animal’s mouth. Your pet doesn’t enjoy the bitter taste if they spit out the tissue, retch, slobber, or shake their head. These responses are positive because they show that your pet will attempt to avoid the spray’s unpleasant taste in the future.
The same procedure can be used to introduce hot and spicy sprays, but you must deny your pet access to water for 30 minutes after doing so. It won’t be as beneficial if your pet learns that they can get rid of the uncomfortable feeling by drinking water. Never deprive your pet of water for longer than this though, as they require fresh water to remain healthy.
Spray it on anything you don’t want your cat or dog to chew once you’ve determined that they don’t enjoy the taste deterrent and will avoid it. For two to four weeks, you’ll need to reapply it daily until your pet learns not to chew anything you’ve sprayed.
What odor does a dog dislike?
It’s reasonable to say that the majority of dogs adore taking walks, eating chicken, receiving belly rubs, and chasing squirrels. Yes, there are exceptions, but for the most part, this is true of dogs. Similar to what they like, dogs often agree on what they dislike. who is first on the list? Citrus. Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit are typically repulsive to dogs’ senses of taste and smell. Here’s why and how to capitalize on their aversion to citrus.
Can I spray a dog’s lips with a bitter apple?
Mouthy dogs tend to be outgoing, gregarious, spirited, active, and energetic as they become older. These dogs frequently leap up and grab clothing or human limbs with their lips when they are angry, enthusiastic, or trying to get attention. A dog’s mouthing pressure fluctuates and, if left unchecked, could get bad enough to hurt someone. Dogs should not be allowed to chew on people’s skin, clothing, or shoes, but thankfully there are a number of things you can do to manage and change this behavior.
IMPORTANT: While most dogs mouth in a friendly, attention-seeking manner with loose, wiggling bodies, some will do it in a more intense manner. This is not sociable play behavior when a dog chooses to leap up and mouth you in a way that starts to restrict your mobility and prevents you from running away. Instead, you should stop what you’re doing and get in touch with a licensed, force-free professional trainer for more assistance because this is a tactic used to try to dominate their environment. Since these behaviors are often displayed toward anyone who attempts to passively or actively exercise control, several of the strategies listed below may cause a dog’s reaction to escalate. WHS opposes any forms of physical punishment, including beating, screaming, and keeping a dog’s mouth shut. Other aversive training methods include rolling a dog onto their back and holding them down (the “alpha roll”). These techniques run the risk of harming your bond with your dog and may cause the existing behavior to worsen or possibly lead to new behavioral issues.
Potential causes of mouthing
- Puppies taken from their litter too soon (before 8 weeks) or those lacking littermates may develop a greater propensity for mouthing. This can happen if they do not have siblings to warn them when they are biting too firmly, which prevents them from learning proper bite inhibition.
- Even unknowingly, the dog has received positive reinforcement for its activity in the form of playtime, your attention, or another outcome they find appealing.
- insufficient physical activity
- Dogs with too much energy could play with their jaws in an undesirable way.
- insufficient mental challenge
- If a dog is bored, they could learn that they can use their lips to grab your attention and engage you in play (even if your reaction is not positive).
Management
All management guidelines should be continuously followed by anyone who interacts with your dog. The excitement of people coming and departing in the house can lead to mouthing. When young children or less mobile persons are involved, management is especially crucial. During every engagement with your dog, make sure you and your visitors are both aware of and obeying these rules:
- To avoid mouthing during classic issue periods, such as when people arrive or when the environment becomes too exciting or stressful for your dog, keep your dog on a leash, fastened to a sturdy piece of furniture in the space, or behind a barrier (such as a baby gate).
- Plan a game of fetch or some physical activity when you get back home after being away to help them burn off some energy before you try to pet them.
- Keep goodies throughout the home and close to the front entrance so you can throw them on the ground to refocus your dog when they start to get overly excited. In order to prevent them from seeing the treats as a reward for jumping and mouthing, the goodies should ideally be thrown before they jump up and mouth.
- Avoid playing any roughhousing games, especially ones that involve pushing and shoving, with your dog. These actions may encourage your dog to behave inappropriately while using their mouth. Play non-contact games like “fetch” or “tug-of-war” instead.
- If you play tug of war with your dog, make sure the toy is big enough to prevent them from accidently grabbing your hand. Also, make sure your dog is familiar with the “tug” and “drop” cues. If the dog ever starts to lick your skin, simply terminate the game and go away to give them some space to settle down. Allowing your dog to win during a game of tug-of-war does not result in aggressiveness or domineering behavior.
- Redirect your dog’s attention to something more acceptable, such a toy, if they are biting. Give your dog lots of praise and attention when their mouth is on the toy. Try to identify the “what” that causes your dog to mouth so you may offer them an appropriate object before they get a chance to mouth you. Keep a supply of plush toys and chews around the house.
- Always keep an eye on kids with dogs, especially if they’re aggressive dogs. Young children’s reactions (screaming, fleeing, sobbing, etc.) may enthrall the dog more and make it seem like a game to them. If mouthing does happen, an adult should be there to stop it, and if possible, the child should conclude the contact by gently leaving the room. It is recommended to keep kids and dogs apart in the house while training a dog that is consistently mouthy with kids. Baby gates, crates, or placing your dog in a separate room with enrichment materials like toys, a puzzle feeder, or a KONG packed with peanut butter can all be used to keep your dog apart.
- The amount of exercise your dog receives should be increased. You can achieve this by lengthening or increasing the quantity of play sessions. This will enable them to properly expend excess energy and spend more time with you. For further suggestions, consult the “Exercise handout.
- Give your dog engaging toys, and make them work for their rewards, which are often treats. Kongs, food puzzles, and toys that dispense treats are a few examples of interactive toys. To keep kids occupied, you can often switch and rotate these items. For further suggestions, see the “Enriching Your Dog’s Life handout.”
- A substance called Bitter Apple can be sprayed on people’s hands, feet, and clothing. By leaving a bad taste in their lips, it is intended to deter dogs from placing their tongues on things. Never mist your dog’s mouth with bitter apple spray. You can buy this item from other merchants as well as the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Animal Antics store.
