How to Make a No-Chew Spray for Dogs
You can make your own spray to deter your puppy from chewing on furniture or other items in your home. Here is a simple recipe to make homemade no-chew spray using non-toxic ingredients from your pantry. The taste and aroma of this spray are not appealing to dogs.
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We got our Golden Retriever puppy, Sage, this past spring. She’s the most sweet, cuddly, and silly dog. We love her dearly but have been dealing with her obsessive chewing for months!
It started when she began teething at around four months of age but continued since getting all her adult teeth. Like a true retriever, she is always carrying something around. Most of the time it’s one of her many dog toys. She has Nylabones, Kongs, rope toys, stuffed toys, tennis balls, and sticks from the woods to play with and gnaw on.
Dog toys keep Sage occupied for a little while, but she also entertains herself by getting things out of the garage and barn or snagging muddy boots that are left by the back door. Keeping doors shut and items we don’t want chewed on in a secure location has helped with damage control. Putting some of her dog toys away for a while and then bringing them back out so they are “new” and more exciting has helped too.
While Sage’s scavenging behavior was a little annoying, it was nothing too hard to handle. The biggest issue was when she started chewing on the door frame of our house. Destroying part of our home prompted a discussion with our veterinarian. She recommended supervising, redirecting, and giving Sage lots of exercise, which we have done and seen much improvement.
To prevent further chewing on the house, as an adjunct to behavior management, we used a homemade no-chew spray which proved to be an effective deterrent.
Why Dogs Chew
Dogs chew on things for a variety of reasons ranging from teething to boredom. To effectively manage your dog’s chewing behavior, it is helpful to try and pin-point its root cause.
Puppies go through a developmental chewing phase when they lose their baby teeth and adult teeth take their place. Teething can make a dog’s gums sore and chewing is a way to alleviate the irritation that comes with teething.
Putting things in their mouth is also a normal way for a puppy to learn about its environment. Providing safe and appropriate toys and supervising your dog so that hazards like electrical cords or toxic substances aren’t consumed is important.
A dog that has nothing to do may chew on things to pass the time and entertain themselves. Keeping your dog busy with toys, buddies, and lots of active playtime can help beat boredom and allay destructive chewing behaviors.
Anxiety can be another reason that your dog may chew obsessively. Routines, desensitization, and regular exercise can help reduce stress in your pet.
An underlying condition may also contribute to your dog’s chewing behavior. Consult with your veterinarian for recommendations and treatment options.
No-Chew Sprays for Dogs
No-chew sprays can be used along with behavior management techniques to deal with dogs chewing on things that they shouldn’t. No-chew sprays have a taste and aroma that dogs do not find appealing, many are bitter.
A no-chew spray should be formulated with safe, non-toxic ingredients so that it will not cause any harm to your dog if they lick or ingest it, even in small amounts. Products with natural ingredients, free of chemicals and additives are best.
You can buy no-chew sprays for dogs online or at any pet store. You can also make your own. Here is how I created a homemade no-chew spray to keep Sage’s teeth off the door frame of our house!
Materials Needed for Making No-Chew Dog Spray
This homemade no-chew spray is super easy to make. All you have to do is pour the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake.
Ingredients for Making No-Chew Dog Spray
My homemade no-chew spray uses just three ingredients that you probably already have on hand. The recipe is equal parts apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and distilled water.
Directions for Making No-Chew Dog Spray
- Remove the cap from your 16-ounce spray bottle and put a small funnel on the opening
- Pour one part apple cider vinegar (about 5 ounces) into the bottle
- Add one part lemon juice (about 5 ounces) to the bottle
- Top the bottle off with distilled water (about 5 ounces), making sure there is head space for the spray nozzle tubing
- Screw the spray cap back onto the bottle
- Gently shake to disperse the ingredients
- Spray on items that you don’t want your dog to chew
Additional Notes About Homemade No-Chew Spray
You should monitor your dog’s reaction to the no-chew spray. Stop use immediately if you notice vomiting or diarrhea and contact your veterinarian.
This spray may cause discoloration to carpets or furniture, I use mine outside without any issues.
