Natural Homemade Dog Repellents
Dogs are a very popular house pet but they are not always the best for our gardens. Whether you are looking to keep your own dog out of some parts of the garden or to keep the neighbor's dog out, there are many natural and organic methods to do this. Let's take a look at a few.
Homemade Natural Dog Repellent
Chili Pepper - This is one of the most common and most effective dog repellents. It is what you will commonly find in commercial organic dog repellents. The capsicum in the peppers will irritate the skin of the dog, particularly the sensitive area in and around the nose. The irritation will deter the dog from returning to the area. Common chili pepper powder sprinkled around the area will help repel all dogs.
Ammonia - Dogs are not particularly fond of the smell of ammonia. To our noses, ammonia is strong but to a dog's sensitive nose, ammonia is like a punch in the face. Place ammonia-soaked cotton balls around the area you wish to keep the dog out of. Do not pour the ammonia directly onto the ground as it may hurt your plants.
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.
Rubbing Alcohol - Rubbing alcohol is another strong-smelling substance that will repel dogs. The same advice applies here as well. Soak cotton balls in the rubbing alcohol and place them in areas you wish to keep dogs out of.
Citrus Smells - Some dogs do not like the smell of citrus fruit, such as orange or lemon. If the above strong-smelling solutions are too strong smelling for your nose, try cutting up some citrus fruit and placing those around your garden. If you can find it, citrus oil may also work.
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Heather Rhoades founded Gardening Know How in 2007. She holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Northern Kentucky University. She is an avid gardener with a passion for community, and is a recipient of the Master Gardeners of Ohio Lifetime Achievement Award.
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