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Is your dog causing chaos in your yard or garden? You can easily make a safe and effective repellent to stop their troublesome behavior. Lynn Greyling/PublicDomain PicturesKey Takeaways
- Homemade dog repellents can feature natural ingredients such as citrus, cayenne pepper, vinegar, mustard oil, and coffee grounds, all of which dogs typically dislike due to their strong scents and flavors.
- These repellents are simple to make, environmentally friendly, and effective at keeping dogs out of your garden and off your furniture without harming their health.
- Avoid using ammonia as a repellent, as it may be dangerous if a dog ingests it.
Man's best friends may offer great companionship, but they can certainly cause a mess in gardens and on furniture. No matter the reason you wish to keep a dog at bay, there are plenty of simple and affordable homemade dog repellents you can create.
All of the options listed here are 100 percent safe for both dogs and the environment:
- Citrus. Dogs can’t stand the scent of citrus. Protect your garden by placing slices of oranges or lemons around your flowerbeds. To keep your dog off the furniture, put a glass of lemon water on a nearby table or spray your furniture with the solution.
- Cayenne peppers. While cayenne peppers won’t harm your dog, they will irritate their eyes, nose, and throat. To deter your dog from your flowerbed, mix black pepper with cayenne pepper and sprinkle it throughout the garden. For furniture, sprinkle cayenne pepper in your potpourri or leave a bowl of ornamental chilies near the sofa.
- Vinegar. Dogs strongly dislike the smell of vinegar. Although vinegar can be harmful to plants, avoid spraying it directly in your garden. Instead, soak biodegradable coffee filters in white vinegar, let them dry in the sun, and then cut them into toothpick-length strips. Distribute the strips around your garden to repel your dog while allowing your flowers to thrive.
- Mustard oil. Dogs find the smell and taste of mustard oil unbearable, so spray it around areas you want them to stay away from and watch it work wonders.
- Dog poop. Place some of your dog’s poop into holes that he’s dug, and he’ll likely stop digging in them. Strategically place it in his favorite digging spots to discourage him from encountering his own waste.
- Coffee grounds. Dogs dislike the scent of coffee, and coffee grounds are also beneficial for your garden soil. Scatter them on top of the soil, and your dog will avoid the area.
Important note: Never use ammonia as a dog repellent. While ammonia’s strong odor will keep dogs away, it can harm their throats and stomachs if ingested. Always consult your vet before using any chemical or substance around your pets.
According to rover.com, one effective method to stop Fido from digging is to bury flat rocks just below the surface in his favorite digging spots. Alternatively, if you have a sprinkler system, you can set up a motion detector to spray your dog whenever he starts digging, sending him running in no time.
