Bitter Spray: Apple Cider Vinegar
If its one flavor dogs hate its bitter apple. Commercial bitter apple sprays are available, but they are easy — and a lot cheaper — to make at home with some apple cider vinegar. Combine two parts apple cider vinegar with one part regular white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well. This makes a highly effective, yet completely safe dog deterrent.
Homemade chewing deterrents arent much good if your dog can easily wash the taste from her mouth. To minimize the chances of that, dont allow your dog to drink for 45 minutes to an hour after shes gotten a taste of spray. Just dont forget to put her water back down after an hour. When applying homemade chewing spray to objects around your home you might want to avoid light-colored objects as the spray could possibly discolor them. At the very least, do a test-spray in a spot that isnt normally visible. Initially you will probably have to apply the spray every day to objects your pup is fond of chewing. Depending on how quick she catches on youll need to use the homemade spray for two to four weeks. During that time, encourage her to chew on her own toys by making them available — dont put them up out of her reach or shell place her oral fixation on your possessions — and increase the appeal of chewing-approved objects by smearing a little cheese spread or peanut butter on them.
Once your pooch to gets a mouthful of a hot and spicy homemade chewing deterrent shes unlikely to go back for more. It wont harm her, but the taste, as well as the unpleasant sensation on her tongue, should be enough to teach her that chewing on the sofa leg is a no-no. Mix up a spicy spray using 2 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 chopped jalapeno, 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of hot pepper sauce, 1 tablespoon of chili powder and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap in 1 quart of water. Let your homemade chewing spray sit for a full 24 hours then strain it through a square of cheesecloth. Place your spicy chewing deterrent in a spray bottle and spritz it on anything you dont want your dog mangling with her mandibles.
Homemade chewing sprays work best if your dog knows beforehand that its not a good idea to take a treated object into her mouth. Of course, shell find out for sure once shes tasted the spray you put on the heels of your favorite pair of shoes, but if you do a little pre-emptive work with her shell be less likely to put her mouth on the off-limits targets in the first place. When you prepare your chewing spray of choice put a little bit on a cotton ball or a tissue, then gently put it in your dogs mouth. Dont wrestle her to the ground or pry her jaws open to get it done. If youre both nervous wait until later. Once your pooch tastes the unpleasant spray on the tissue shell spit it out. She might sniff at it, but thats a good thing. She should associate the nasty taste with the smell so that when she detects the odor again she wont be inclined to chew on it.
Cologne and perfume smell lovely, but if youve ever accidentally gotten a squirt of some in your mouth you know that the taste isnt as pleasant as the scent. The gag-inducing flavor makes perfume useful for mixing up some homemade chewing deterrent spray, and although the taste is horrible it wont hurt your pooch to get some in her mouth. The recipe is blessedly simple: just mix one part perfume to 10 parts water and start spraying.
Elle Di Jensen has been a writer and editor since 1990. She began working in the fitness industry in 1987, and her experience includes editing and publishing a workout manual. She has an extended family of pets, including special needs animals. Jensen attended Idaho and Boise State Universities. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications.
How Do You Use the Anti-Chew Spray?
Spray the anti-chew sprays onto things you do not want your dogs to chew on. Do not use the spray directly into your dog’s faces or mouths as it can harm them. In case your dog is wounded, you can spray the liquid onto your dog’s skin to prevent it from biting itself. But make sure that you’re not using sprays with spices or overly citrusy elements on your dog’s open wounds.
FAQ
What can I spray on things to stop my dog chewing?
- Rocco & Roxie Extreme Bitter Spray. 90% Success Rate. …
- Fooey! Ultra-Bitter Training Spray. …
- Emmy’s Best. 78% Success Rate. …
- Grannick’s Bitter Apple. 76% Success Rate. …
- Pets Are Kids Too Bitter Spray. 70% Success Rate. …
- Fur Goodness Sake Bitter Apple Spray. 64% Success Rate. …
- Out! …
- Vet’s Best Bitter Cherry Spray.
What smells deter dogs chewing?
Does lemon make dogs stop chewing?