7 Homemade Dog Pee Repellents That Actually Work!
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Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, but it also means potty training is right around the corner. Or perhaps your older dog has decided to start marking in the house. Maybe the neighbor’s dog keeps coming over and peeing in your garden. Any of these reasons and more can have you searching for natural but effective dog urine repellents.
Homemade dog urine repellents can be just as effective as commercial repellents. They are also less expensive, and you don’t have to worry about harsh, unsafe chemicals around your animals.
Before You Start
The repellent will only work at its maximum effectiveness if the area is thoroughly cleaned before applying it. If your dog is peeing in your house, clean as much urine as you can from the area before using repellent. If they urinate outdoors, spray the area with a hose first to remove and dilute as much of the urine as possible
The Top 7 Homemade Dog Pee Repellent Recipes
1. Cayenne Pepper
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Cayenne pepper, water |
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 spray bottle full of water (12 Oz)
Cayenne pepper can be used as a dog urine repellent in two ways. You can rub the powder directly on the affected area, like the carpet or a couch cushion, or you can mix it with water in a spray bottle for easier application.
Be cautious when using cayenne. If you use too much, it can irritate your dog’s nasal passages. The spray bottle is safer for dogs and still effective.
2. Essential Oils
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Essential oils, water |
- 3–5 drops of eucalyptus, cinnamon, or sour apple essential oil
- 1 spray bottle full of water (12 Oz)
Add the essential oil to the water and shake the bottle to combine. Essential oils can be incredibly potent, and you must ensure the oils you use are safe for animals. Your dog should not be allowed to lick or walk on the sprayed surfaces until they are dry.
Once combined, spray the affected areas. Allow the area to dry. Repeat if necessary.
3. Lemon Juice
| Use: | Indoors |
| Ingredients: | Lemon juice, water, baking soda |
- 1 cup lemon juice (if lemons aren’t available, you can use oranges, grapefruits, limes, or tangerines)
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Adjust for more or less of the ingredients depending on how much you need. Apply the mixture over the affected area and let it dry completely. Vacuum up the baking soda.
This process can be repeated as often as necessary until your dog stops marking the area. Dogs don’t like citrus scents and should avoid the area.
4. Citrus Fruit
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Citrus fruit, water |
- Fruit or fruit peels
- Water
Simply cutting up citrus fruit, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and tangerines, and placing the pieces around the affected areas will be enough to keep dogs away. If you don’t want to waste fruit, use the peels instead.
Peels can be placed indoors around furniture and inside potted plants. They can also be scattered in the garden to keep dogs out. Cups of water filled with fruit peels or juice on shelves near your furniture will also act as deterrents.
5. White Vinegar
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Vinegar, water |
- One part white vinegar
- One part hot water
White vinegar has disinfectant properties and a strong smell. Dogs don’t like this smell, and it works well as a natural repellent. Mix equal parts white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area and let it dry for at least 30 minutes before you let your dog go near it.
The vinegar should keep them from wanting to pee in the area again. For a stronger scent, soak the cotton balls in vinegar and place them in a bowl high enough that your dog can’t reach them.
If you’re using this repellent recipe outdoors, be careful not to spray the plants since the vinegar can kill them. However, you can spray it on the pots of potted plants, patios, and furniture. This is not for use in a garden.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Apple cider vinegar, white vinegar |
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
Combining apple cider and white vinegar may be strong, but it is effective. Place the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake them to mix the solution. You can spray the indoor and outdoor areas but don’t use the formula on live plants.
Apple cider vinegar is an ingredient in several store-bought dog pee repellents, so it makes sense that it would also be a good choice for a homemade one.
7. Coffee Grounds
| Use: | Indoors and outdoors |
| Ingredients: | Coffee grounds, water |
- Leftover coffee grounds each morning
Instead of throwing coffee grounds away, spread them throughout the area in your yard that you don’t want your dog to disturb. To get the most out of this method, it can be combined with citrus peels or lemon juice to keep dogs and other animals away.
However, since coffee’s caffeine is toxic to dogs, you should use this method with caution. Make sure the grounds are pressed firmly into the dirt and aren’t easily accessible for dogs to eat.
Reasons That Your Dog Is Peeing Indoors
Dog pee repellents are helpful, but they should not be used alone to get your dog to stop peeing in places that you don’t want them to. If they’re peeing in the house, determining the reason is essential.
1. They aren’t housebroken yet.
When dogs aren’t housebroken, they can easily have accidents in the house because they don’t fully know any better. If your dog is having trouble getting the hang of it and you don’t know what to do, consider hiring a professional trainer or talking to your veterinarian.
A repellent alone is not a housebreaking tool, but it can be used in addition to proper, positive-reinforcement training methods.
2. They’re marking.
Dogs, especially intact males, like to mark their territory. They may be marking if your dog is lifting a leg on your favorite coffee table or squatting in the middle of your rug. While this fact doesn’t make pee in your house any less unpleasant, the good news is that this behavior can stop.
It is vital to clean the area thoroughly because if a dog smells any traces of urine, it invites them to pee there again. Urine repellents and other training methods can help control this behavior.
3. They have a health issue.
Housebroken dogs that are suddenly peeing in the house may be sick or injured. If you notice this strange behavior, it is best to consult your vet. This is vital if you notice your dog struggling to urinate or find blood in their urine.
It’s possible that your dog has a UTI or bladder issue and is trying to get you to notice it. After a trip to the vet to clear up urinary health issues, your dog should return to peeing outside.
Conclusion
Dog urine repellents can keep your dog from peeing in areas you don’t want them to, but they shouldn’t be the only method you rely on. Proper housebreaking and training methods will ensure your dog knows where to pee and stops doing it inside.
Once health and behavioral issues have been ruled out, dog pee repellents can effectively keep your dog away from specific areas. We hope that you found a simple, effective recipe for a homemade dog pee repellent that you can make!
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
