At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
Citrus. The citrus smell is arguably the best dog repellent there is. You do not have to do a lot. Simply peel an orange or a lemon next to your dog and you will observe it leaving the spot immediately.
Many (but not all) dogs hate the smell of citrus, so using citrus smells like citronella, lemongrass, lemon, and even bergamot can repel some dogs from an area. You can use these smells in scented candles or sprays to see if it keeps your dog away from an area where you don't want them peeing.
Eucalyptus and Lavender are great scents that can repel dogs. However, their essential oils are quite toxic to dogs.
How do you make homemade dog repellent? In a clean spray bottle, mix two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and 20 drops of any citrus scented essential oil into one and a half cups of cold water. Mix well and spray in the places around your home that you want the dog to stay away from.
Something that is generally very effective is vinegar – dogs seem to hate the pungent, acrid smell of vinegar, and its application in a few strategic locations may do the job. Another popular – although sometimes controversial – option is cayenne pepper or strong chili powder.
Here are some other signs you may notice if your dog doesn't like the smell of eucalyptus: Rubbing Their Snout. Sneezing. Pawing At Their Nose.
Lemon juice and ammonia
As with vinegar, dogs do not like the smell of lemon juice or ammonia so you could use this as an alternative.
Vinegar – Vinegar is another strong-smelling scent that will act as a repellent to dogs. Again, use cotton balls soaked in vinegar in the area you wish to keep dogs out of. Do not pour vinegar straight onto the ground as this will kill plants.
DIY dog repellents include using ammonia, vinegar or citrus peels on your property, but these require special instruction. Ammonia and vinegar may kill your lawn and vegetation, so these may only be used on an outer perimeter, which may only prevent trespassing from one direction.
Since dogs have a very good sense of smell, the lavender oil should always be diluted, otherwise, it is too potent for any dog to enjoy. Although most dogs seem indifferent to the aromatic smell of lavender, some dogs appear to actually like it a lot even though it is quite rare.
Does the smell of peppermint bother dogs? Yes. Peppermint oil has a strong scent for humans, and dogs have a stronger sense of smell than humans. So, the smell of peppermint can be very high for dogs and it might irritate them and bother them.
You can use either white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar (ACV), both of which are edible and completely non-toxic. Your pup might not appreciate the smell, but don't worry—the strong vinegar scent fades once it dries.
While dogs seem immune to bad smells, there are plenty of scents that most dogs tend to hate. These smells, like citrus and vinegar, are known for being strong and overpowering. Pungent odors can overwhelm your dog's strong sense of smell, which leads to your dog avoiding areas where the smell is present.
When ingested in sufficient amounts this oil, eucalyptol, is an irritant to the gastrointestinal system, causing discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is also a neurotoxin and can cause neurological symptoms as well, such as depression, confusion, and seizures.
How safe are these essential oils for our pets? Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer that can help reduce dog poop smell in the yard. Setting out bowls of white vinegar around the yard and replacing them every few weeks. White vinegar can also help eliminate dog poop smell in the yard. Adding dog waste to your compost pile, if you have one.
It's About Communication and Territory
You know the drill…the sniffing, the circling, and finally, it happens. This process of determining where to poop has much to do with your dog's instinct to tell other dogs who and where they are. They leave their scent by way of scent glands located in the inside of the rectum.
Use water, vinegar, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper as your components. These components will prevent your dog from consuming feces and will aid in keeping it spotless. When you first notice your pup's feces, you should spray them with pup poop spray.
Fill an empty spray bottle with 2 cups of distilled water. Add 2 tablespoons of glycerin and 1 tablespoon of fractioned coconut oil. Add 15 drops of lavender and 15 drops of orange essential oil to the spray bottle. Shake well to combine the ingredients.
Peppermint oil is toxic to dogs and can cause mild to severe symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and even lethargy. Peppermint oil poisoning can be fatal, especially if it's not treated as soon as possible. If you believe your dog has consumed peppermint oil, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Several of our experts also recommended planting strong-smelling herbs to keep dogs out of your garden. Rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, and lemon thyme are all known to deter animal visitors.