Have you ever noticed how your dog digs his hole while sniffing the ground? This behavior will be used against your furry earth-mover.
Yes, you can stop your dog’s digging in its tracks by attempting to impair its excellent sense of smell. All you require is a repulsive fragrance.
Wherever your dog is digging, sprinkling a small amount of powdered powder will help. Your dog will entirely avoid the location after taking a smell.
This red pepper will aggravate your dog’s nostrils when breathed. Your dog will most likely snort, shake his head, or even run after you when it’s successful.
Most dogs don’t find digging to be worth the discomfort, but don’t worry, it’s only short-lived and harmless.
The best part is that you probably already have a bottle of red cayenne pepper in your pantry. particularly if you enjoy hot cuisine as much as I do!
The modest jar in your cupboard might not be enough, though, if your dog is a dig-o-holic. This is why I advise purchasing in bulk—6 lbs. should be more than enough for most yards.
Cayenne pepper: Does it harm dogs?
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.
What odors discourage dogs from digging?
essential oils in a spray Several essential oils are fantastic all-natural deterrents to digging. While certain essential oils are unattractive to dogs, others are used by humans for their refreshing aroma. Eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon, sour apple, orange, and lemon eucalyptus essential oils are suggested by Garden & Happy.
Will a dog’s digging be discouraged by black pepper?
Sprinkle some cayenne pepper or ground black pepper on your lawn, although this is not a guarantee that it will stop all dogs from digging in the grass. Your dog will swiftly leave the area if he smells the spicy food thanks to his keen sense of smell. In areas where your dog spends time, scatter some pepper. Shake some pepper into the holes to discourage your dog if he keeps excavating the same spots. He will sneeze when he comes into contact with the pepper, which will make him rethink continuing to dig.
My dogs keep digging holes; how can I stop them?
If your dog enjoys digging, designate a specific part of the yard as their digging zone and show them where it is:
- Sand or loose dirt should be used to fill in the digging area. Use a kid-sized sandbox instead.
- By hiding secure objects (like toys) for them to discover, you can draw attention to the digging area.
- Praise them when they dig in the designated area.
- If you see your dog digging in an inappropriate place, firmly tell him “No dig” and make a loud noise to stop him. then take them right away to the digging area.
- By covering the undesirable digging locations with pebbles or chicken wire, you can temporarily make them unsightly.
Keep your dog indoors with you and keep an eye on them when they go outside to relieve themselves if you’ve tried all these methods and still can’t get your dog to stop digging. You might also seek out more assistance from a behavior specialist.
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.
When a dog licks cayenne pepper, what happens?
While licking Cayenne pepper won’t harm a dog, eating too much of it can, like in people, lead to heartburn and indigestion. Make sure your dog doesn’t consume too much pepper by keeping a close eye on him.
Will cayenne pepper grow in my yard?
Cayenne pepper: Does it destroy grass? No. Can dogs die from cayenne pepper? No. If handled carelessly, it can hurt people, dogs, cats, worms, and other animals. Cayenne pepper can be an effective, non-toxic natural repellent when used sparingly to keep dogs, squirrels, deer, and insects off of your grass and out of your landscaping.
About Tom Greene
Since I can remember, I’ve had a particular interest in lawn maintenance. I used to be known by friends as the “lawn mower expert” (thus the name of the website), although I’m anything but. Simply put, I like being outside and mowing my lawn. I also enjoy the well-earned coffee and donuts that come afterwards!
Comments
Wild burros wander the canyons and communities where I reside in Southern California. They are eating the $8000 worth of sod I recently laid down, and they enter at all hours of the day and night.
Local Lima regulations I am only permitted to use electric fencing in Linda, California to keep cattle inside and not outside. I’m eager to test the cayenne because I just came on your post, and I hope to have good outcomes. There isn’t much that can be done to keep the burros out without technically bothering them because they are nationally protected. Steep fines are also a result of that.
How is cayenne pepper made into dog repellent?
Use 1 part cayenne pepper to 10 parts water to make a cayenne spray that will quickly get rid of bothersome dogs. Put the mixture in a spray bottle after mixing. The nose, throat, and eyes of a dog are already irritated by cayenne. Cayenne should not be consumed in excess, though, as high doses can damage your dog’s delicate snout.
Making your own cayenne pepper potpourri dog repellent is another option. Add some crushed cayenne pepper to the mixture of dried herbs and flower petals. To keep dogs away from the couch or curtains in your living room, pour this mixture into a pretty dish. Although the cayenne doesn’t harm dogs, it irritates their senses to the point where they won’t want to approach it.
Are dogs prevented from digging by cinnamon?
Cinnamon is sometimes recommended as a home treatment to stop dogs from digging, but most dogs won’t respond to it. Although many dogs dislike the smell of cinnamon, the dislike may not be strong enough to stop them from digging. It should be noted that cinnamon can be harmful to dogs, so if you want to attempt using it as a deterrent, avoid utilizing the essential oil form.
Tips to Prevent Digging
There are plenty alternative methods you can attempt in order to stop dogs from digging, even though cinnamon is unlikely to have much success. Dogs dig for a variety of reasons, including amusement, an attempt at escape, comfort, and hunting. Finding a remedy will be easier if you can determine why your dog is digging. A few things to attempt are as follows:
- Don’t leave your dog outside all day by himself.
- Ensure that your pet receives adequate exercise.
- Give your dog lots of toys to keep him occupied.
- Make sure your dog has a suitable sun shelter.
- Call a humane exterminator to have pests that burrow, like gophers, securely removed if you see any indications of them in your yard.
- Your dog is probably attempting to escape if he is digging close to your fence. Until you figure out how to stop the digging, secure the area around the fence by adding chicken wire or half-burying rocks.
Still Want to Try Cinnamon?
You can discover advice from pet owners that suggest cinnamon as a dog repellent online if you perform a search. It might be challenging to spread enough cinnamon in your yard to be effective, even if it were to repel your dog. Additionally, even while some of the online guidance encourages the use of essential oils, it bears repeating that doing so is harmful to your dog.
