How to Build a Dog Barking Deterrent

Dog deterrents keep your dog from doing actions that you find unfavorable, such as barking, growling or chewing. Store-bought deterrents are effective, yet expensive, such as collars that administer electric shocks, sounds or scents to distract the animal. Making your own deterrents is inexpensive and requires little work on your part. Using items from around your home, create a deterrent to distract even the most stubborn dog from unwanted barking.

Things You'll Need

  • Aluminum soda can
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Pennies
  • Electrical tape
  • Plastic squirt bottle
  • Citronella essential oils
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Instructions

  1. Soda Can

    • 1

      Empty an aluminum soda can. Clean the can using liquid dish soap and water. Turn it upside down and leave it to dry overnight.

    • 2

      Insert five to six pennies or metal nuts into the can through the opening in the top of the can.

    • 3

      Cover the top of the can with electrical tape to seal the pennies inside. Cut 6-inch long strips and use them to cover the entire topside of the can. Overlap the strips to firmly seal them in place. Smooth the ends against the side of the can.

    • 4

      Shake the can to distract your dog when it begins to bark.

    Spray Bottle

    • 5

      Fill a plastic squirt bottle with a cup of water.

    • 6

      Add 5 drops of citronella essential oil to the bottle. Shake to combine the ingredients. Commercial scent collars use citronella to distract dogs from barking. Using citronella in your own bottle has the same effect.

    • 7

      Spray your dog with the water and citronella mixture when it begins barking. The spray of water startles the dog, making it stop barking.