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.
How to Use Taste Deterrents to Discourage Chewing
Although dogs have about one-sixth of the taste buds that humans do, your dogs sense of smell is much more advanced than peopleâs. Like humans, dogs can identify sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Cats have only 480 taste buds, and they only have taste receptors for salty, sour, and bitter. Like dogs, cats have a strong sense of smell and dislike anything that tastes bitter.Â
Since your pet has such a strong sense of smell, taste deterrents work through your pets sense of smell. You introduce them to the taste, which they then associate with the smell. Once theyve had an unpleasant experience associated with that smell, theyll avoid it in the future. Taste deterrents take advantage of your pets dislike of bitter and spicy flavors by using those sensations to discourage chewing. Bitter apple sprays and spicy or hot sprays are commonly used deterrents.Â
When you first introduce a bitter apple spray to your cat or dog, apply a small amount to a cotton ball or piece of tissue. Place this directly into your pets mouth. If your pet spits out the tissue, retches, drools, or shakes their head, it means they donât like the bitter taste. These reactions are good â they indicate that your pet will try to avoid the bitter taste of the spray in the future.
Spicy-hot sprays can be introduced in the same way, but you need to remove your pets access to water for half an hour after you introduce it. If your pet figures out that they can get rid of the unpleasant sensation by drinking water, it wont be as effective. However, never take away your pets water for any longer than this, since they need fresh water to be healthy.Â
Once youve established that your pet does not like the taste deterrent and will avoid it, spray it on anything you dont want your cat or dog to chew. Youll need to reapply it every day for two to four weeks until your pet learns not to chew whatever youve sprayed.Â
Taste deterrents are one of many tools that should be used to teach your pet what they can chew and what they cant. You will need to use it combined with other strategies to control destructive chewing.Â
Provide acceptable alternatives. Give your dog or cat chew toys to encourage healthy chewing habits. Notice what they like to chew on and offer toys that are similar. Rotate your pets toys every few days and offer new toys frequently to prevent boredom. Make sure the toys you give them are safe and nontoxic.Â
Exercise your pet. Boredom is often a cause of destructive chewing, so making sure that your pet gets plenty of exercise and has opportunities to play will help prevent it. An added bonus to physical exercise is that tired dogs dont have the energy to be destructive.
Pet-proof your house. The easiest way to stop your pet from chewing your stuff is to keep your items out of reach. Place your belongings where your pet cant reach them, and make sure to praise your pet when they pick up their toys instead of your shoes.
Supervise your pet. Until your dog or cat understands the house rules, try to provide them with constant supervision. If you cant supervise your pet, you can contain them in a crate or enclosed area away from chewable objects for up to six hours. If you see your pet chewing on something they shouldnt be, say, “Uh-oh,” and exchange the object with something safe for them to chew.Â
The ASPCA Virtual Pet Behaviorist specializes in the resolution and management of pet behavior problems only. Please do not submit questions about medical problems here. Only licensed veterinarians can diagnose medical conditions. If you think that your pet is sick, injured or experiencing any kind of physical distress, please contact his veterinarian immediately. A delay in seeking proper veterinary care may worsen your pets condition and put his life at risk. If you are concerned about the cost of veterinary care, please read our resources on finding financial help.
When you first use a deterrent, apply a small amount to a piece of tissue or cotton wool. Gently place it directly into your dogs mouth. Allow him to taste it and then spit it out. If your dog finds the taste unpleasant, he might shake his head, drool or retch. He might sniff the piece of tissue or wool, but he probably wont pick it up again. Ideally, hell recoil from it. You want him to learn the connection between the taste and the odor of the deterrent so that hell avoid chewing objects that smell like it. After letting your dog taste the deterrent, spray or rub it on all objects you dont want him to chew or lick. Reapply the deterrent every day for two to four weeks to be sure your dog will no longer bother with the objects.
Taste deterrents are intended to stop dogs from chewing and licking things they shouldnt. Pet parents can apply taste deterrents to various off-limits objects outdoors and around the house—and even to their own hands. Specific taste deterrents can be used to discourage dogs from chewing or licking themselves, too. (Please consult a veterinarian before applying any taste deterrent to your dogs skin or fur. Some products can sting if applied to raw or broken skin.)
If you use a spicy-hot deterrent, remove your dogs access to water for an hour or so after he tastes the substance. (Be sure not to withhold water for any longer than that. Animals need water to survive!) If you dont remove your dogs water, he might drink it to alleviate the discomfort of the spicy substance. Then, because hes learned he can easily get rid of the unpleasant sensation and taste, hell be less likely to avoid the deterrent when its applied to objects in the future.
Even though theyre notoriously finicky eaters, cats have fewer taste buds than dogs do. (Its thought that cats select their foods based on a combination of factors, including texture and temperature, not just taste.) Despite this, cats, like dogs, possess taste receptors for bitter. So bitter deterrents can work for them, too. In fact, some taste deterrents, such as Grannicks Bitter Apple® and Veterinarians Best® Bitter Cherry Spray, are formulated for both dogs and cats. If you plan to use a taste deterrent for your cat, introduce him to the taste in the same way as described above for dogs.