Keeping your furry friends off the furniture can be a challenge, and the pet repellents in stores often are expensive and full of chemicals. Making your own dog-safe furniture repellent is easy and less expensive. You may have to try several odors before you find the one that works.
Pour one tablespoon of ground cayenne pepper into a plastic spray bottle. Ground habanero pepper also may be used. Make sure to use a new spray bottle, since leftover residue from a previously used bottle may add chemicals or odors that will cause the spray to work less efficiently.
Test the spray on a part of the furniture that is out of view to ensure that no staining or discoloration occurs. If none does, spray lightly over the entire piece of furniture. Reapply as needed.
Add five to six drops of essential oil to the water. Fragrances that work well to repel dogs include citrus, cinnamon, eucalyptus and sour apple. Shake bottle well to distribute the oil evenly.
Find a hidden part of the furniture to test the spray on first, to be sure it will not stain. Spray all over the furniture and reapply as the smell wears off. If the spray does not seem to be working, add more of the essential oil to the mix and try again.
Products to Keep Pets off Furniture
There are many kinds of pet repellent products from which to choose, but you always want to make safety a priority. One of the best sprays to keep dogs off furniture is Keep Off!, which also works for cats and lasts for 24 hours. The active ingredient is methyl nonyl ketone, an oil that occurs naturally in fruits like strawberries and bananas; it is also produced synthetically. Other sprays include Nature’s Miracle Pet Block Repellent Spray and Halt! Dog Repellent Spray.
Products to keep pets off furniture also include some controversial ones. Some pet owners swear by their scat mats, which are used to deter pets from going on furniture. Life Falcon explains that some of these vinyl mats have batteries and emit electrostatic pulses that pets do not like. They can keep track of how many times the pet goes on the mat, which should decrease in time. Once the dog or cat is trained, you can stop using the mat.
If you don’t like the idea of an electrostatic pulse, couch spikes for dogs can work just as well. Some scat mats have unpleasant surfaces that do not feel good against the skin. These can also keep dogs and cats off the furniture. Again, you can remove these after the training is complete.
Fabric: know your type
Leather and wood are very pet friendlyâunless your dog develops a taste for chewing on them. Some types of leather and wood furniture can also be affected by water or essential oils. Always apply a small amount of the solution to an inconspicuous spot and check back after 24 hours to make sure it didnt fade or stain, recommends SailRite.
Fabrics on sofas and chairs can easily be stainedâsome are even permanently ruined by plain water. So its crucial to know what type of material youre dealing with before you apply any dog repellentânatural or commercialâto the fabric on your furniture.You cant tell just by looking at which fabrics will get stained by homemade dog repellent for furniture. The four most common fabric codes found on furniture are W, S, X, and WS, according to Spotless Flooring.
“W” and “WS” are the only types of fabric that you can use a spray to keep dogs off furniture. without ruining the fabric. Keep in mind that homemade dog repellent with essential oil could cause oily spots, and only “WS” fabrics will allow you to use a solvent to remove them.
“S” means “solvent only” and “X” means it needs to be professionally dry cleaned. If your fabric furniture is either of these types, use alternative means to keep dogs off furniture such as turning the cushions on end or covering it with crinkly paper when youre away.
Some of the most effective commercial repellents hail from ingredients you might have in your kitchen, says Fuzzy Rescue. Citrus, hot pepper, and vinegar are three common ingredients that most dogs despise.
Benebone recommends making a spritz using vinegar and citrus essential oil. Start with a clean spray bottle with 1 1/2 cups of water. Add 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and 20 drops of orange or lemon essential oil. Lightly mist water-friendly furniture with the solution.
Essential oils are easy to apply to cotton balls. Dogs noses are many times more sensitive than a humans so even a few drops on a cotton ball might do the trick. Protect your furniture by putting the cotton ball with essential oil in an open plastic baggie and tucking it between or behind the cushions.
When using essential oils, observe your pet to make sure they are repelled by the scent. A dog strangely attracted to a cotton ball with orange oil or hot pepper oil on it could suffer diarrhea or vomiting from licking the substance or absorbing it through the skin, according to the American Kennel Club.
Pets can also be sensitive to diffused essential oils, according to the ASPCA so watch for symptoms if you opt to run an oil diffuser on a table to keep your dogs away from the furniture. Lethargy, unsteadiness, and a depressed attitude can be some of the earliest signs of essential oil toxicity in your dog.
Best Motion Sensored
Product Details:
Keep your furniture safe even when you are not at home.
Motion-detector pet repellents are incredibly convenient. Using a motion sensor to detect the presence of a pet in a problem area, the spray will gently deter the pet away from your furniture even when you are not at home.
Another benefit of a motion-detector spray is that you don’t have to worry about reapplying the spray, as it will only trigger when your pet is present. That helps you cut down on the spray you use and also avoids covering your furniture when it’s not necessary.
Ssscat spray can also deter pests from your homes, such as foxes and raccoons. It is a safe and effective alternative to pesticides that is easy to apply and has no harmful effects on people, pets, plants, or fabrics.
Each can of SSSCAT contains approximately 80 to 100 sprays. This means there is enough solution to last for several months of use. When your spray can runs out, you can simply purchase a replacement.
PetSafe is a trusted global leader in pet products, so you can be confident that what you’re buying is tried and tested and, most importantly, safe for use around your animals.
FAQ
What scent keeps dogs away?
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