Your pooch will hate the smell of mothballs, alcohol, cleaning products and nail polish! However, we do not recommend the use of these as a deterrent, as they are toxic and harmful for your pet. Steer clear of these stinky products when your dog is around!
Unwanted Scents
Dogs tend to avoid scents that make them uncomfortable. For example, most dogs hate the smell of ammonia-based cleaning solvents, vinegar, and chili peppers. If your house smells strongly of scents that are unpleasant to your dog, the dog may feel uneasy and act aggressively.
As many of you know, dogs have powerful noses. So strong that some scents that might be tolerable or even pleasant to humans are downright unbearable to dogs.
Vinegar. Just like citrus, dogs cannot stand the smell of vinegar. It seems that a dog's heightened sense of smell is not keen on acidic smells, vinegar being another very acidic substance. It is worth noting that dogs are more repelled by the smell of vinegar than they are by lemons and oranges.
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.
Vinegar is one of the things that just seem to drive dogs away. It has an acrid smell that is not particularly appealing to humans, but it is a natural smell which your dogs definitely won't like. Vinegar can be used straight from the bottle to spray or sprinkle.
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.
While I love using vinegar for cleaning, dogs, however, don't share my love of vinegar. While the scent of vinegar is not a problem for them physically, they just don't like it. Because of that, vinegar can serve as a natural deterrent if there's an area you'd like your dogs (or cats) to avoid.
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.
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.
Generally, dogs dislike hugs, not being allowed to sniff, a lack of routine, and more. Even the most laid-back dog will hate some of the things we humans do—if they tolerate it, it's just because they love you or don't want to be dominant. Yes, certain things are unavoidable, like vet visits or grooming.
Dogs Have a Strong Sense of Smell
Scientists report that a dog's sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human's. One of the reasons a dog has a much better smelling ability than we do has to do with the number of scent receptors: For every scent receptor a human has, a dog has about 50.
Eucalyptus oil is used in aromatherapy to treat breathing problems (4). The smell of eucalyptus can be very overwhelming for dogs in both positive and negative ways.
Protector Dog Spray is the maximum strength allowed by the EPA. This all natural pepper spray is a strong, yet humane deterrent to most dogs in aggressive situations without causing long-term pain or injury.
To stop dogs from chewing and licking furniture, you can try applying some homemade bitter apple spray to the items. It is a great non-toxic deterrent that will prevent your dog from further chewing or licking. Of course, it is unpleasant for them, but it's also harmless.
Dogs find the smell of citrus horrendous. You can protect your garden by placing slices of oranges or lemons throughout the flowerbed. To keep your dog off of your furniture, place a glass of lemon water on a nearby table or spray your furniture with the mixture. Cayenne peppers.
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.
While some dogs can safely consume diluted vinegar, it's important to be aware that many dogs do not react well. Vinegar can cause gastrointestinal upset when ingested — especially when undiluted. This is especially common in small dogs, dogs with sensitive stomachs, and dogs with kidney disease.
Even just a slice of lemon is too acidic for some dogs to handle and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. This is why the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has lemon listed on its list of toxic plants and it is also why certain dog-repellents are citrus scented.
Lemons are toxic to dogs and ingestion can result in several potential health issues. While dogs might eat small amounts of lemon without any serious adverse effects, both the high citric acid and sugar content can be problematic for them.
Dogs disliking lemons' smell is helpful. 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.