How to Make Sour Spray

Teething puppies can quickly destroy everything in a house, and training a dog not to chew can take weeks or months. Consequently, sour spray---or bitter apple, as it is commonly known---is a great way to deter your dog from destroying things. Spray it daily on items your puppy commonly chews. Here are some homemade alternatives to store bought sour spray.

Things You'll Need

  • To make sour spray, you will need the following:
  • Spray bottle
  • Vinegar
  • Pickle juice
  • Lemon juice
  • Listerine
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Use pickle juice. The sour smell and taste of pickle juice sprayed on commonly chewed items can be an excellent deterrent. Only spray it on items that will not be ruined by the juice, and be careful about overusing it or you will quickly have a house that smells like pickles.

    • 2

      Spray Listerine or other menthol-based mouthwashes on commonly chewed items. The mint smell is an excellent deterrent, and this approach can be especially effective on shoes or other items that you want to "freshen up" while keeping your dog from chewing.

    • 3

      Try using a vinegar concoction. Mix one part vinegar with one part water. Your puppy will be quickly deterred by the smell. Vinegar can discolor fabrics and wood, so be sure to read the care instructions on the item you are spraying before you spray it.

    • 4

      Make your own sour spray. If you are concerned about smell or damaging fabrics, making your own spray using several nonabrasive ingredients can be the best approach. Combine three parts lemon juice to one part water and spray away. Lemon is often used in furniture cleaning products, so is unlikely to damage wood. The fresh, lemony scent will not bother human noses, but the taste will deter puppies from chewing.