Organic Dog Repellent

Organic dog repellent is easy to make right at home, from everyday ingredients that will not be harmful to dogs, plants, children, or the environment. Because dogs are omnivores eaters (they eat just about anything, including meat), they won’t be repelled by common ingredients like eggs or meaty smells that are often used to repel plant-eating nuisance animals such as rabbits and deer. However, the methods and the theory behind the repellents remains the same: one can deter an animal by making a place or behavior unpleasant to them, through the sense of smell, taste, or hearing. Scare tactics and water are also sometimes effective, but not as reliable for dogs as they are with more timid creatures.

There are several types of smells and tastes that can be used to mix up an excellent organic dog repellent, starting with natural plant oils such as eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, and lavender oil. While these scents may be delightful to humans in small doses, dogs won’t care much for them, and dogs will tend to avoid spending time in any area where these scents are permeating. Only a small amount of oil is needed to be mixed into a spray bottle full of water, and then sprayed on one’s lawn, flower beds, and even inside (lavender is a recommended scent for inside) to keep dogs off of furniture, areas of the grass, or from wandering into garden beds where they are not wanted. Completely natural, these mixtures will not be harmful animals or plants, nor will they contaminate the water supply when it runs off. These mixtures should be reapplied outside after it rains or after watering one’s plants. After a short while, your dog will develop new habits that include avoiding the treated areas, and so treatment will be needed less and less often.

Another way to repel dogs that involves absolutely no chemicals or potentially polluting or harmful ingredients is by taking advantage of their keen sense of hearing. Ultrasonic devices are available in a variety of models and for varying prices. Handheld devices as small as a phone are available to carry and set off when your dog (or someone else’s) engages in inappropriate behavior. These are excellent to have if your neighbor dog, for example, tends to bark at you, or if you are usually close by your own dog, perhaps during training sessions. The disadvantage is that they only work as long as they have an operator standing by.

Finally, ammonia and vinegar are excellent for deterring dogs, and can be used to make a dog repellent home recipe by diluting with water, and spraying around a yard perimeter. Both of these ingredients can be harmful to plants if absorbed by the roots, so they should be applied along cement borders, or carefully applied on leaves and branches, but not directly into the soil around any ornamental plants. Any of these methods alone, or in combination, should provide a good organic dog repellent.