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.
Taste deterrents take advantage of your pet's 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.
A highly concentrated combination of vinegar and water – 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water – is effective enough to discourage dogs. Vinegar's sour taste can also prevent your pooch from chewing.
Dogs generally avoid salty, spicy, sour, or bitter tastes. Many of these may be unsafe to eat. The presence of toxins or spoilage from bacterial contamination will cause food to taste bad to dogs. This is why many chew-deterrent sprays for dogs include bitter ingredients.
Do not ever feed the following substances as they are toxic to dogs (note this is not a complete list): alcohol, onions, onion powder, garlic, chocolate, coffee or caffeine products, mouldy or spoiled foods or compost, avocado, bread dough, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes etc), ...
For dogs, citrus scents are the enemy. Citrus scents like lemon, lime, oranges, and grapefruit–especially in high concentrations often found in household cleaners or essential oils–can cause irritation to your pup's respiratory tract, so keep any fresh citrus fruits out of your dog's reach. You know–just in case.
Strong citrus scents are unpleasant for your dog and may deter them from digging up your plants or specific areas in the yard. You can also use this tactic for indoor plants that your dog is digging around in. Citrus scents are excellent for deterring your dog from areas you don't want them to get into.
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.
Not only will a vinegar and water solution eliminate urine odor if your dog has already peed on the rug, but it will also deter them from urinating on the same carpet again. The acidic smell of vinegar is known to repel dogs from peeing on area rugs as they do not like the smell of vinegar.
Coffee Grounds. Coffee is yet another strong smell that can deter pets from your property and prevent your dog from digging in your garden. Despite its popularity as a dog repellent, however, not all dogs are repelled by the smell of ground coffee.
To counteract dog smell, Bonk swears by baking soda. “Sprinkle baking soda onto fabrics that can't be washed, then let it set overnight,” she says. The following morning, wipe away excess baking soda with a wet cloth or paper towel. You can also vacuum it up depending on where it's sprinkled, like on carpet.
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.
Lemon has a powerful odor and taste that can help deter dogs from puppy nipping. Citrus fruits, in general, have chemical compounds that most dogs find unpleasant. With such a strong sense of smell, lemon is capable of deterring many nipping behaviors.
Lemon juice, which is a more concentrated version of the fruit, contains high amounts of citric acid, which is toxic to dogs. In addition, It's important to keep your dog away from lemon rinds and skin. The rinds of lemons contain psoralen, which is also toxic to dogs.
Scents that seem overwhelming to us are overpowering for dogs causing their body to have a greater negative reaction to these harsh smells. Bleach is one such scent that can overpower a dog's sense of smell, causing them to lose it completely. This leaves them unable to process other scents around them.
Dogs don't like Vicks and other menthol-based products because they are so sensitive to smell. Dogs may enjoy all sorts of smells that we feel repulsed by but then we don't have the same intensity of smell receptors that dogs do.
You can use vinegar to keep dogs away from your lawn by spraying it around the perimeter of the area you want to be canine-free. Dogs don't like the strong smell of vinegar and thus will be deterred by it.
Dogs can have distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (ACV) as long as you use it in moderation. Serve your dog one tablespoon of diluted vinegar in their water bowl or let it soak into their kibble. Keep in mind there is always the possibility your specific dog might have an allergy or intolerance to vinegar.
The odor associated with dog paw pads is much more noticeable on dogs with moist paw pads than on those with dry pads. Dogs also have numerous apocrine glands in their external ear canals. In this location, they are referred to as ceruminous glands. The ear canals also have numerous sebaceous glands.
Cheese can be given as an occasional treat in moderation, alongside a healthy diet. If your dog manages to eat a whole block or other large amount of cheese, they may vomit. Keep an eye on them, and call your vet for advice if they become unwell.
Are Tomatoes Good for Dogs? Ripe tomatoes are non-toxic, so they aren't poisonous to dogs. In fact, the many health benefits that tomatoes offer is why they are often included as an ingredient in pet food. Tomatoes have a lot of fiber, which helps support your dog's digestion.