While we all love our dogs, there are some people that do not share our sentiments about our little furry friends. Of course, these are the people that our pets seem the most interested in being near and whose yards they are most likely to explore to the dismay of all involved. Keep your pet out of the cat-loving neighbor's garden or even just off the furniture with natural dog repellants. They will not harm your animal, and you and your neighbor will never even know that they are there.
History
Since mail first started being delivered house to house, mailmen have had to deal with angry dogs. In the early 1960s, the first pepper spray dog repellant was developed for mailmen to spray in an aggressive dog's face in order to get past the animal and deliver the mail.
Features
Dog repellants do one main thing: keep dogs away. However, there are many different degrees of this. Some repellants actually burn the dog's throat, nose and eyes just like mace or pepper spray--in fact they are basically made of these compounds. Most repellants, however, taste or smell unpleasant to the dog and make them want to avoid the area. Finally, some training tools are actually attractive to dogs, and you spray them where you want the dog to stay and they encourage the animal to remain in that designated area.
Types
Most people who have dogs and only want to use the repellant for practical, everyday purposes such as keeping a dog off furniture, out of a neighbor's yard or away from a gardening area do not wish to make their pets unhappy with the repellant. As a result, there are many types of natural dog repellants that you can make at home or that you can purchase at a store. Chili peppers and chili powder can be sprinkled around an area that you want to keep your dog out of; the pepper will annoy the dog enough that they will generally leave that area alone. You can also soak cotton balls in vinegar or rubbing alcohol and place the cotton balls in the areas you want the dog to avoid. The extremely strong smells will keep your puppy out of the area. Do not pour the alcohol or the vinegar directly on the ground or you will kill the grass in the area or damage your floors. Some dogs dislike citrus smells and will avoid oirange and lemon peels, but you will have to test this on your dog to see if it will work for them.
Misconceptions
Many dog owners think that any and all dog repellants must be horrible for the dogs to experience because dogs react so strongly and promptly to their presence. However, the chili peppers, vinegar and alcohol never come into direct contact with the animal. They simply smell strongly--and to a dog, unpleasant--that the dog recoils and goes somewhere else rather than deal with the stench. Dog repellants that are intended to be sprayed in a dog's face can hurt them, but these are generally intended for use as a last resort to break up dog fights or fight off a dangerous animal, and they are not entirely natural products.
Considerations
There is a chance that your dog may be allergic to one of these compounds, although it is quite slim. A good way to find out is to apply the repellant only in a small area. Then observe your dog closely to see if they react in a negative, physical manner to the repellant.
Warning
If you buy dog repellants from a pet store or other type of retailer, be sure to read the ingredients carefully. Although all repellants promise that they will not harm your dog, some of them can have quite nasty effects should you accidentally get them on your hands or spray them too near food. Furthermore, many "natural," store-bought sprays have natural ingredients but also contain hazardous ingredients that prolong or magnify the effect of the spray or act as preservatives. These ingredients can be very bad for you and your family, so read carefully before you buy.
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