Dog chewing is a common problem that dog owners face. Dogs chew on furniture, shoes, wiring, and more, causing damage to the home. While chewing is normal dog behavior, especially during puppyhood, it can become an unwanted behavior that is destructive and dangerous. As a dog owner, you may be wondering what homemade spray you can use to keep your dog from chewing on certain items. A homemade anti-chew spray can be an effective training tool to stop destructive chewing behaviors. This article will discuss the reasons dogs chew, provide tips for curbing chewing, and share recipes for homemade anti-chew sprays that are safe and effective for deterring dogs from chewing on off-limit items.
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Why Do Dogs Chew?
Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs that starts during puppyhood. Puppies explore the world through chewing and relieve pain from incoming teeth. However, dogs continue to chew into adulthood for the following reasons:
- Teething – Chewing helps relieve sore gums and pain from incoming adult teeth
- Boredom – Lack of exercise and mental stimulation leads to boredom chewing
- Stress/Anxiety – Chewing helps relieve stress and anxiety
- Attention-Seeking – Chewing gets a dog attention from their owner, even if it’s negative attention
- Medical Reasons – Dental pain, nutritional deficiencies, and intestinal parasites can cause chewing
It’s important to identify the underlying cause of your dog’s chewing before attempting to curb the behavior. If your dog is chewing due to anxiety, pain, or another medical issue, speak to your veterinarian to address those root causes first.
Tips for Curbing Destructive Chewing
Here are some tips to help curb destructive chewing behaviors in dogs:
- Provide plenty of chew toys – Give your dog acceptable chew toys like Kongs, Nylabones, rope toys, etc. Reward them for chewing their own toys.
- Exercise your dog – Make sure your dog gets adequate physical and mental exercise every day.
- Crate train your dog – Dogs are less likely to chew when safely crated with a chew toy.
- Use baby gates – Block off rooms with baby gates so your dog can’t access furniture and other tempting objects.
- Bitter apple sprays – Spray bitter apple, citrus oils, or vodka mixtures on objects you don’t want your dog to chew.
- Keep items out of reach – Don’t leave shoes, remotes, wiring, etc. within your dog’s reach.
- Address stress/anxiety – If stress or anxiety is the cause, use calming aids, pheromones, or anti-anxiety medication.
- Correction – Say “No” firmly and redirect your dog to a chew toy when caught chewing inappropriate items.
Patience and consistency are key when training a dog not to chew. Provide plenty of acceptable chew options and never give attention for unwanted chewing. With time and effort, your dog can learn what items are off limits.
Homemade Anti-Chew Sprays
Here are some easy homemade spray recipes to deter dogs from chewing on certain household items:
Bitter Apple Spray
This spray has a bitter taste dogs dislike. The bitterness prevents chewing behaviors.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Apple cider vinegar to taste (start with 1/4 cup)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake bottle before each use.
- Apply the spray directly onto household items you want your dog to avoid.
- Reapply daily and after cleaning the sprayed item.
Vinegar Spray
White vinegar has a strong scent dogs don’t like. It serves as an effective deterrent.
Ingredients:
- 1 part water
- 1 part white vinegar
Instructions:
- Mix the water and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Spray vinegar solution on inappropriate chew items.
- Reapply the vinegar as needed.
Citrus Spray
Dogs dislike the smell of citrus. This spray harnesses the strong scent of citrus to curb chewing.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 5 drops citronella or lemon essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Apply the citrus spray onto furniture, baseboard, doors, etc
- Shake well before each use.
- Reapply as needed.
Bitter Lime Spray
This spray combines bitter and citrus flavors for a strong deterrent. Both lime juice and grapefruit seed extract have bitterness dogs dislike.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp grapefruit seed extract
Instructions:
- Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle.
- Spray on household objects and reapply as needed.
Using Anti-Chew Sprays
When using homemade anti-chew sprays, follow these tips:
- Test the spray on a small area first to ensure it doesn’t stain or damage the surface.
- Apply the spray liberally so the odor saturates the area.
- Spray items daily and reapply after cleaning the object or if the scent fades.
- Spray cords, furniture edges, baseboards, and other tempting chew zones.
- Never spray these mixtures directly in your dog’s face or eyes.
- Use caution with citrus oils around cats, as they are toxic to cats.
- Try different mixtures to find which deters your dog best.
It may take consistent use of the anti-chew spray before your dog learns to avoid the treated items. Combine the sprays with training techniques like providing chew toys and correcting chewing behavior. Eventually your dog will turn to appropriate items to satisfy their chewing instinct.
Conclusion
Chewing is a natural dog behavior that must be directed to appropriate objects. Homemade anti-chew sprays provide a safe and effective option for deterring destructive chewing behaviors in dogs. Bitter apple, vinegar, citrus, and bitter lime sprays overwhelm your dog’s senses to curb the urge to chew on household items. Try different recipes and consistently spray prohibited items to train your dog to avoid inappropriate chewing. Along with providing acceptable chews and correcting chewing behavior, an anti-chew spray can help manage destructive chewing issues. With patience and persistence, your dog can learn what objects are off limits for their chewing antics.