What Is Dog Repellent?

Even well-behaved dogs have a tendency to display behaviors disliked by most humans. Dog repellents help to keep the animal's instincts and bad behaviors at bay, and in doing so, keep the peace between humans and dogs.

  1. Outdoor Applications

    • Thoughtfully landscaped gardens may be protected by repellents.

      Several repellents on the market can be applied safely to and around ornamental plants to prevent dogs from eating them. These products can help to deter pets from poisonous plants as well as from digging up or eating thoughtfully landscaped gardens and beds.

      Other applications can be applied to the perimeter of lawns to keep dogs from relieving themselves on your property. These products are ideal for suburban and urban areas where there is a high quantity of dogs being walked by their masters.

    Indoor Applications

    • The term repellent applies to a diverse selection of products to be used within the home. Repellent mats on the market can transmit a sound to pets to keep them off of furniture. Other spray applications can be used to keep pets in--or out of--certain areas. Safe yet unpalatable sprays can be applied to items your dog is prone to chew up.

    Dog Repellent for Human Safety

    • Special formulas of mace and pepper spray to use against dogs are also on the market. They are formulated with a very low percentage of the effective ingredient, making it safe for dogs as compared to other maces and pepper sprays. Dogs' eyes are not equipped to flush out the product like a human's eyes. Dogs also wash with their tongue, adding to the discomfort. These products are designed in an easy-to-use fashion for joggers, hikers, cyclists and outdoor-enthusiasts in the event of a dog attack.

      There are also electronic items on the market for these same circumstances. They work by emitting a humane-yet-uncomfortable frequency. A dog's ears are very sensitive to sound, making these items effective.

    Chemical Vs. Natural

    • Many of the spray-application repellents are made with natural ingredients such as plant oils. Natural and plant-based products are biodegradable and non-toxic. Several of the chemical products are also tested for safety and are considered non-toxic as well.

    Warning

    • If an unwanted behavior occurs commonly, repellent products may seem as though they are not working at the beginning. Some products may need to be applied frequently at first to change the behavior of dogs. Dogs are creatures of habit, and when a bad behavior becomes habitual, it will take longer to break, thus the frequent application of most products in the beginning.