We all know that dogs and puppies love to chew on anything and everything, at all times. But, if the chewing has become somewhat of a problem, a homemade anti-chew spray for dogs can help you combat this issue quickly and effectively.
In this article, we discuss the most common reasons why your dog or puppy may be chewing excessively, and share with you our super simple recipe for homemade anti-chew spray for dogs. Here we’ll also feature some of our favorite store bought dog sprays to stop chewing.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Your Dog Chewing?
- When To Use A Spray To Stop Dogs’ Chewing
- How To Make Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray
- DIY No Chew Spray For Dogs With Lemon Juice
- Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray With Citrus Peels
- How To Use A Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray
- Ready Made Options For Dog Spray to Stop Chewing
- Homemade Anti-Chew Spray For Dogs: FAQ
Why Is Your Dog Chewing?
If your precious furbaby has a tendency to chew excessively, especially inappropriate items (or even people), the first thing you’ll want to do is figure out what drives this behavior. Here are some of the most common reasons why your dog may be chewing excessively.
Playing
Obviously, dogs love to chew when they get carried away during playtime. Whether it’s your hand or fingers, the corner of your couch, TV remote, or maybe something else that gets in the way, it’s quite a normal reaction for dogs to chew anything they come in contact with during playtime.
Teething
Teething is another common cause of excessive chewing. As you might guess, this is prevalent in puppies who are growing their adult teeth and getting rid of their baby teeth in the process. Typically, puppies start to excessively and inappropriately chew, because it helps relieve the discomfort, itchiness, and pain that comes with teething.
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It Simply Feels Good
If you know a little bit about dogs, you probably know that chewing is in their nature. In these cases, dogs and puppies simply chew because it satisfies their natural urges. In fact, chewing releases endorphins – hormones that are responsible for feeling relaxed and calm.
Boredom Or Lack Of Physical And Mental Stimulation
Although chewing is a normal and natural behavior in all dogs and puppies, excessive chewing may indicate that your pup is bored. Dogs are intelligent creatures, especially those super smart breeds. But, if they don’t get to express all that pent up energy (both mental and physical), they may start to behave destructively, including chewing on objects with the sole purpose of destroying them.
Likewise, dogs are clever little beings and quickly learn what behaviors grab your attention. So, if your pup is dying for your attention, they may start to chew on objects they shouldn’t.
By the way, you’ll want to closely monitor your own behavior so you wouldn’t accidentally reward and drive bad behaviors yourself.
A simple, but extremely underrated solution for that problem is to make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and playtime throughout the day. You’ll also want to give your pup plenty of chew toys, interactive games, and puzzle toys to play with, to keep their mind in the best shape.
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Stress & Separation Anxiety
We’ve already established that chewing releases endorphins that help calm and soothe your pup. But did you know that sometimes dogs start excessively chewing because they feel stressed and anxious? This is especially common in dogs that struggle with separation anxiety.
Naturally, chewing can make them feel much more safe and secure in those situations. On the other hand, it’s not a healthy outlet if your dog is having trouble being by themselves or in certain situations.
Scavenging
As if dealing with an excessively chewy dog isn’t enough, there’s also the issue of scavenging. Some dogs are particularly predisposed to garbage raiding and chewing on anything else that’s disgusting. Not only does this leave your pup smelling awful, it can also cause some serious health issues for your beloved pet.
When To Use A Spray To Stop Dogs’ Chewing
Firstly, we urge you to figure out what drives your pup to excessive and inappropriate chewing. Is it because they get overly excited during playtime? Or have they learned that inappropriate chewing catches your attention? Are they feeling stressed or anxious? Or maybe they don’t have enough chew toys to play with? Whatever the root cause may be, it’s crucial you get to the bottom of it to successfully get rid of this bad habit.
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In addition to dealing with the emotional and behavioral side of things, you can also reach for a dog spray to stop chewing. For instance, a simple and effective solution would be to make a homemade spray to stop dogs’ chewing. But remember, an anti-chew dog spray should only be used as a tool alongside other methods.
As a dog owner, you probably already know all the problem-areas that your dog likes to gnaw at. Whether it’s your favorite pillow, couch, chair legs, plants, TV remote, or your kid’s favorite toy, you can simply spray the homemade anti-chew spray for dogs and watch it work its magic.
How To Make Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray
So, how can you make homemade anti chew spray for dogs? It’s very simple and extremely cheap! You only need two ingredients and a spray bottle for that. Here are the exact instructions to help you make your very own homemade dog spray to stop chewing.
Homemade Anti-Chew Spray For Dogs Ingredients:
- 1 part white vinegar
- 2 parts apple cider vinegar
- A spray bottle
Usage Instructions:
- Combine the white vinegar and apple cider vinegar in your spray bottle.
- Shake the bottle well.
- That’s it! Now you can spray your homemade anti-chew spray for dogs on objects and areas that your pup likes to chew.
DIY No Chew Spray For Dogs With Lemon Juice
Another DIY no chew spray for dogs we have for you is very similar to the previous one, but instead of using apple cider vinegar, you’ll use lemon juice instead. Keep in mind that as lemons and lemon juice can be very harmful for our canine pals, you should spray it on areas in your home very carefully so as to not get any of it on your dog or them accidentally ingesting it. If the vinegar solution doesn’t seem to work, then this spray for dogs to stop chewing might do the trick.
DIY No Chew Spray For Dogs With Lemon Juice Ingredients:
- 1 part white vinegar
- 2 parts lemon juice
- A spray bottle
You can also add some mild chili or cayenne pepper to this mixture, about a teaspoon or half. However, peppers and chili can be extremely irritating for your dog’s eyes, nose, mouth, and bum, so for safety reasons, you might want to opt out of this one.
Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray With Citrus Peels
You can also prepare a homemade dog anti-chew spray by steeping citrus peels like lemon, orange, grape, and lime peels in water or vinegar. This process will take more time, but it’s going to be very fragrant and potent by the time it’s done.
Citrus Peel Spray For Dogs To Stop Chewing Ingredients:
- 1 part citrus peels like lemon, orange, grape, lime, or all of them
- 2 parts water or vinegar
- A big jar with a lid where you can fit all of your ingredients
- A spray bottle
Instructions:
- Tightly fill the jar with citrus peels and pour over either vinegar or hot water. You can also use a mixture of both liquids.
- Let the anti-chew spray steep for a few days or up to a few weeks to make it more potent.
- Once the solution is done, filter out the citrus peels and transfer the liquid into a spray bottle.
How To Use A Homemade Dog Anti-Chew Spray
Using your homemade anti-chew spray for dogs is as simple and straightforward as its recipe. Simply spray it on areas and objects that your dog shouldn’t be chewing. Thanks to the bitter and sour vinegar taste, your pup will quickly learn to stay away from these objects altogether.
Keep in mind that the bitter vinegar taste and smell won’t last forever. Although dogs are fast learners, they may still go back to their favorite inappropriate chew-items after the smell and taste has faded off. To keep your pup from chewing, you might have to reapply your homemade anti-chew dog spray often.
Moreover, you should never scold or punish your dog for unwanted behaviors. Instead, consistently put in the work to establish and reward only good behaviors.
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Ready Made Options For Dog Spray to Stop Chewing
If you’re not a fan of DIY projects and a homemade anti-chew spray for dogs isn’t necessarily for you, you can also opt for a ready made dog spray to stop chewing. Here are some of our favorite products that can also do the trick.
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. No Chew Extreme Bitter Spray
Rocco & Roxie No Chew Extreme Bitter Spray is a popular dog spray to stop chewing. As the name hints, it’s got a super bitter taste that will surely deter any dog. It’s also formulated with calming copaiba oil to soothe hot spots, making this a safe product to use on your pet’s fur, skin, wounds, and bandages. And since it’s an alcohol-free formula, it doesn’t sting either.
NaturVet Bitter YUCK! No Chew Horse Spray
NaturVet Bitter YUCK! No Chew Horse Spray was originally created for horses, but many dog owners have also reported this to be an excellent anti-chew spray to keep their pups from destroying the furniture. It’s a water-based formula that doesn’t stain nor sting. Another great anti-chew spray that can also keep your dog from chewing on sores and wounds.
Grannicks Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent for Dogs
Grannicks Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent for Dogs is made with natural ingredients that have a bitter taste. It’s suitable for dogs, cats, and rabbits. So, if you have both canine and feline chewers in your household, this anti-chew spray might be your best bet.
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Homemade Anti-Chew Spray For Dogs: FAQ
Simply put, a natural chew deterrent could be either store bought or homemade anti-chew spray for dogs. These sprays contain ingredients like vinegar, citrus (like lemon juice), or peppers that have a bitter, unpleasant smell and taste. You can spray them on various items, furniture, and areas that your dog has a habit of chewing.
The recipe for homemade anti-chew spray for dogs is very simple and straightforward. You’ll need white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and a spray bottle. Just combine one part white vinegar and two parts apple cider vinegar in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray it onto surfaces your dog is keen on chewing.
Vinegar is one of the best and cheapest ingredients that helps combat excessive chewing. It’s commonly used in homemade no chew spray for dogs. Vinegar is bitter, sour, and by no means a pleasant flavor experience for your dog. It’s also readily available almost anywhere, and most of us have a bottle or two of vinegar somewhere in the house anyway.
Lemon juice can be harmful for dogs and cause a wide range of issues. If consumed in large quantities, it can cause stomach problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. For this reason, we prefer vinegar-based homemade anti-chew sprays for dogs, since they are completely safe and usually work much better than citrusy sprays.
Homemade Anti-Chew Spray For Dogs: Final Thoughts
Chewing is in dogs’ nature and oftentimes it’s a fun way for them to express their joy and excitement. Some pups also chew excessively to calm and relax themselves in stressful situations. And some dogs simply aren’t exercised and mentally stimulated enough, which leads to inappropriate chewing.
Once you’ve figured out the root cause of your dog’s chewing, there are various ways you can tackle this problem. A homemade anti-chew spray for dogs is an extremely helpful tool to use alongside other methods, and teach your pup the appropriate time and place to chew.
Have you used an anti-chew spray to keep your pup from inappropriate chewing? Tell us more about your experience in the comments below!
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My dog LIKES the spray He is licking all the places I sprayed..
December 15, 2022 at 8:11 am