Does spraying vinegar stop dogs from chewing?

Many dog owners struggle with getting their dogs to stop chewing on things they shouldn’t. Dogs tend to chew on shoes, furniture, woodwork, carpets, and more. This destructive chewing can be frustrating for dog owners and costly if the dog damages valuable items. One potential solution for stopping dogs from chewing is to spray objects with vinegar. But does spraying items with vinegar actually deter dogs from chewing on them? Below we’ll explore whether vinegar is an effective chewing deterrent for dogs.

What Causes Dogs to Chew?

Before looking at vinegar as a potential solution, it’s helpful to understand why dogs chew in the first place. There are several possible reasons dogs develop destructive chewing habits:

• Teething – Puppies teethe just like human babies. Chewing helps relieve sore gums and pushes new teeth through the gums. Puppies may chew on all sorts of items while they’re teething.
• Boredom – Dogs need physical and mental exercise. If they become bored, they may chew to occupy themselves.
• Stress/Anxiety – Dogs may chew to relieve stress or anxiety. It can be a self-soothing behavior.
• Separation Anxiety – Dogs with separation anxiety may chew objects when left alone as a response to stress.
• Medical Issues – In some cases, compulsive chewing may be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Oral pain, intestinal parasites, nutritional deficiencies, or other problems could lead to chewing.
• Attention-Seeking – Some dogs learn that chewing gets them attention from their owners, even if it’s negative attention. So they continue the behavior.
• Lack of Training – Untrained dogs may not know what items are acceptable to chew versus off-limits. So they chew whatever is available.

Knowing the potential motivations behind chewing is useful when trying to stop the behavior. The most effective solutions will address the specific cause.

Is Vinegar Safe for Dogs?

Before using vinegar to deter dogs from chewing, pet owners need to confirm that it’s safe. Vinegar is a common household item made from fermenting sugar water into acetic acid. The acetic acid gives vinegar its strong smell and sour taste.

Vinegar is safe for dogs to consume in small quantities. In the right dilutions, vinegar can be used internally to treat minor pet ailments. However, undiluted vinegar has an acidic pH that can irritate a dog’s digestive tract and skin.

Spraying and wiping vinegar onto surfaces is unlikely to cause any internal issues assuming the dog licks only minor residual amounts. However, the strong vinegar odor may irritate some dogs’ respiratory systems if the nose and mouth area is sprayed directly.

Overall, vinegar is considered non-toxic for dogs. But care should be taken to avoid getting undiluted vinegar into the eyes, nose, or mouth. Also, dogs with allergies or sensitive skin may experience irritation from topical vinegar use.

Does Vinegar Deter Dogs from Chewing?

Now that we’ve confirmed vinegar can be used safely for dogs, will spraying it actually help curb destructive chewing habits? Let’s review the evidence:

Anecdotal Evidence from Pet Owners

Many pet owners report success using vinegar to deter dogs from chewing inappropriate items. The strong scent and sour taste appears to be unappealing. Pet owners often spray vinegar onto surfaces like walls, furniture, woodwork, and more that dogs try to chew.

Some examples of positive anecdotal evidence include:

• Spraying vinegar onto leather shoes and furniture helped curb chewing for some owners.
• Lightly spraying vinegar onto walls, cabinets, and baseboards disrupted dogs from chewing those areas.
• Wiping vinegar on items or areas the dog tries to lick or chew created an aversion to those items.
• Spraying vinegar at the spots dogs try to scratch or chew helped train them not to focus on those areas.

For many pet owners, vinegar sprayed or wiped onto off-limit areas acted as an effective chewing and licking deterrent. The sour taste served as an unpleasant consequence to curb the behavior through negative reinforcement training.

Veterinarian Recommendations

Many veterinarians condone using vinegar as a deterrent for destructive dog chewing. The vinegar can help signal to dogs that specific items and areas are unacceptable to chew.

Veterinarians suggest the following guidelines for using vinegar:

• Use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar since other types may contain harsher acids.
• Dilute the vinegar with a 1:1 ration of water to decrease acidity.
• Test vinegar on a small area first to check for skin irritation.
• Carefully spray vinegar to avoid getting it in the dog’s eyes and mucous membranes.
• Reapply periodically since the vinegar smell fades over time.
• Avoid using vinegar on metallic or stone surfaces which may corrode.

Following these precautions allows vinegar to be used safely and humanely with dogs prone to destructive chewing issues.

Clinical Research

While pet owners and vets widely recommend vinegar as a deterrent, formal clinical studies on vinegar’s effectiveness are limited.

One notable study from Applied Animal Behaviour Science tested several potential chewing deterrents, including vinegar [1]. The study included four dogs with known chewing and licking compulsions. The dogs were exposed to various objects treated with deterrent substances in their home environment. Their interactions and chewing behaviors were monitored and analyzed.

Vinegar performed reasonably well compared to other deterrents. When sprayed onto common chewing items, it reduced chewing behavior in 2 out of the 4 dogs. Vinegar worked better than some deterrents like hot sauce and plastic wrap. However, it was less effective than the top-performing commercial anti-chew products.

The study had a small sample size, so further research is needed. But the results align with the anecdotal evidence that vinegar can deter chewing for at least some dogs. The vinegar smell and taste provides an unpleasant stimulus that dogs may try to avoid.

How to Use Vinegar to Stop Dog Chewing

Based on anecdotal reports and preliminary studies, vinegar appears useful to deter many dogs from chewing unwanted items. Here are some tips on using vinegar effectively and safely:

• Choose white vinegar or apple cider vinegar – These have milder acidity than other vinegars.
• Dilute with water – Mix equal parts vinegar and water to reduce acidity and irritation risks.
• Test on small area first – Apply diluted vinegar to a small, inconspicuous area and watch for skin reaction before wider use.
• Use a spray bottle – Lightly spray vinegar solution onto off-limit areas and objects.
• Reapply frequently – Vinegar smell fades so reapply every few days.
• Avoid eyes and mucous membranes – Vinegar can irritate delicate eye and mouth tissues. Avoid spraying those areas.
• Supervise use – Monitor your dog closely when first using vinegar to ensure no adverse reactions.

In addition to spraying vinegar, you can also wipe unwanted chewing items with vinegar-dampened cloths. Placing vinegar-soaked rags around unwanted chewing areas may also deter dogs.

Along with using vinegar, address the motivation behind your dog’s chewing for the best results. Make sure your dog gets adequate exercise, enrichment, and training. Vinegar provides a negative consequence for chewing, but addressing the root cause of the behavior is also key. Consider working with a veterinary behaviorist for severe or ongoing chewing issues.

Potential Vinegar Deterrent Drawbacks

While vinegar is a common recommendation, it does have some potential drawbacks:

• The smell fades over time so vinegar must be reapplied frequently.
• Some dogs may become accustomed or desensitized to the vinegar smell.
• The vinegar odor lingers which some owners find unpleasant.
• Vinegar may damage or stain some surfaces like marble, stone, and metal.
• Some dogs may have skin sensitivity or respiratory irritation from vinegar.
• Aggressive chewers may not be deterred by vinegar’s odor and taste.
• Vinegar is not as potent as some specialized commercial anti-chew products.

Due to these limitations, vinegar may not work for all dogs. Mild to moderate chewers are the best candidates for successful vinegar deterrent use. For persistent, aggressive chewing issues, vinegar likely needs to be combined with training, exercise, enrichment, and other deterrents.

Alternative Chewing Deterrents for Dogs

In addition to vinegar, some other chewing deterrent options include:

Bitter Sprays

Specialty anti-chew sprays containing bitter flavors like garlic, onion, or capsaicin may deter dogs when sprayed onto objects and surfaces. Brands include Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray and Veterinarian’s Best Bitter Cherry Spray.

Unpleasant Textures

Applying sticky tape, aluminum foil, plastic carpeting runners, or rough sandpaper onto surfaces may discourage chewing those areas when dogs find the texture unpleasant.

Unpleasant Smells

In addition to vinegar, scents like citrus, menthol, eucalyptus, or perfume may deter dog chewing when applied to unwanted items.

Remote Punishment Devices

For serious chewing issues, devices like the ScatMat use sensors and mild electric pulses to remotely discipline dogs that chew on treated areas.

Denial and Management

Blocking access to tempting chewing items using baby gates, closed doors, crates, and tethers can prevent destructive chewing. Offering plenty of acceptable chew toys can also satisfy dogs’ needs.

Training and Behavior Modification

Professional training to teach “leave it” cues and positively reinforce ignoring forbidden items is important for addressing underlying chewing motivations.

Conclusion

Based on anecdotal and preliminary research evidence, vinegar appears to be a moderately effective chewing deterrent for many dogs if used properly. The sour taste and strong scent provides an unpleasant consequence dogs may try to avoid. However, vinegar’s effects fade quickly, require frequent reapplication, and some dogs are undeterred by the odor and flavor. Vinegar is not as potent as specialty anti-chew sprays, but provides a cheaper, milder, and more natural option to try. Combining vinegar deterrents with behavior training, exercise, enrichment, and access management yields the best results in curbing destructive chewing issues in dogs. Work with your veterinarian and canine behavior professional to develop an effective chewing deterrence plan tailored to your unique dog.