Whenever you get a new dog, it’s likely that it will take a while to toilet train them. Luckily, there are ways that you can both mask the smell of the pee and stop your dog from peeing in the house in the first place. Read on to find out the top scents and products for sorting this problem.
Scents That Deter Dogs From Peeing?
Your dog peeing in the house when you don’t want them to can be really annoying. Thankfully, using scents such as citrus, alcohol, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide can really help get rid of the smell and stop the problem entirely.
How To Stop A Dog From Targeting And Peeing On A Specific Spot?
If you’ve had your dog since they were a puppy, it’s likely that you had to toilet train them. If this isn’t cleaned properly, your dog can still sense that pee smell, suggesting to them that it’s okay for them to pee there.
This means that your best bet is to really deep clean any spots you’ve noticed your dog has peed in to try and stop this behaviour from happening again.
Is There Solution That I Can Mop The Floor With To Stop My Dog From Peeing?
Mix some white vinegar and water together and use either a sponge or cloth to wipe down the surface with. Leave it there for no longer than ten minutes and then wipe it clean with a towel.
What Smells Act As A Trigger For Dogs Peeing?
Chili Powder
Humans find chillies incredibly strong, so given that dogs’ senses tend to be stronger than ours, they find chillies or chili powder incredibly strong. Put this powder where you know they have peed and once they smell this, they won’t want to go anywhere near that spot.
Citrus Scents
Using a citrus scent is one of the most powerful ways you can deter your dog from peeing in your house. You don’t even need to buy a citrus scented spray, simply peel a citrus fruit and place it next to the spot when they pee and your dog will soon stop peeing there.
However, not all dogs are repelled to a citrus scent, so it’s important you bare this in mind, particularly if you plan on spending money on a citrus-scented spray for it to then not be effective.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is really good at deterring dogs from peeing inside, particularly as it is a citrus fruit and dogs find these smells incredibly strong. You can even mix this with water and spray it on the affected area.
Fresh Herbs
Perhaps surprisingly, dogs aren’t a fan of the smell of fresh herbs, particularly mint and rosemary. Thankfully, fresh herbs aren’t toxic to dogs, so if they happen to ingest some, they shouldn’t get ill from it, plus, it stops them from peeing on the floor ever again. Happy days!
Household Cleaners
Dogs really don’t like the scent of household cleaners because they have a very strong scent to them, likely caused by the chemicals they contain. Just be careful that the ingredients are safe for dogs though, because you don’t want them to be exposed to anything toxic.
Mothballs
You may know mothballs as being used to keep moths away, however, they can also work in preventing dogs from peeing where they shouldn’t. However, the chemical compositions within the product is unsafe for humans and dogs, so if doing this option, keep them far out of your dog’s reach.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee is another strong scent that dogs aren’t a particular fan of and should help with stopping them pee where they shouldn’t. However, not all dogs are repelled by coffee grounds, so it’s worth to bare this in mind before you waste some of your coffee if it’s not going to be effective.
Alcohol
Alcohol is incredibly strong and it is so strong that it is probably the most hated smell to dogs. However, unlike the other products mentioned, it might be best to not put alcohol in spots where your dog has peed because there is a chance it will get in their fur and will just lead to them feeling incredibly uncomfortable all of the time.
Perfume
Whilst perfume might not get rid of the underlying pee odor, it will at least mask the smell, which should put your dog off from going anywhere near the area again.
Mothballs
Mothballs are a toxic substance due to the chemical composition within them. Whilst they can be used, you need to ensure you place them where your dog, in particular, can’t get to them.
Ground Spices
Ground spices essentially work in the same way as chillis in that the smell is really strong to dogs and they will react in the same way to both, so a quick and easy deterrent to stop your dog from peeing in the house.
Neem Oil
Just like perfume, neem oil can act as a good way of masking the smell of pee.
Vinegar
Due to the acidic nature of vinegar, this is another item that you are likely to already have in your home that can help prevent your dog from peeing inside the house. Simply spray a bit of vinegar (most people choose to use white wine vinegar) in the spot(s) where they pee and you should see them starting to stop.
Lime Juice
Just like lemon juice, lime juice is a very good deterrent to stopping dogs from peeing on the floors. This is due to its citrus and acidic nature, a scent that dogs really don’t like.
Mustard Oil
Mustard oil is a good product to use to help deter your dog from peeing in the house because it is something you are likely to already have at home and it’s a scent that dogs really hate.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a really strong smell and anyone who dyes their hair will know this. So if it’s strong to humans, you can only imagine the effect it has on dogs! Simply spray some ammonia wherever your dog has peed and this should definitely stop them from peeing there again.
Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the strongest-smelling items mentioned and is guaranteed to prevent any dog from peeing where they shouldn’t. However, it’s not recommended to use this method because if the alcohol gets in their fur, this can make them incredibly uncomfortable.
Baking Soda Mixed With Water
Baking soda is really good at getting rid of the smell of dog pee, so mixing it with water is useful for being able to spray it onto surfaces to properly get rid of the smell and also in cleaning the area up a bit too.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known for being incredibly strong, however, make sure to not put it on your carpet if that’s where the issue lies as this can cause discolouration. You also shouldn’t allow your dog anywhere near this area until it has fully dried.
Mouthwash
Humans use mouthwash to get rid of bad smelling breath, so this can also be used to get rid of the smell of pee. It can be diluted with water and sprayed onto the area, but just like with hydrogen peroxide, make sure your dog can’t get to it whilst it’s wet.
What Smells Act As A Deterrent For Dogs Peeing?
Citrus
A citrus scent is almost certainly likely to repel your dog from peeing in their usual spot due to its strong scent. However, some dogs aren’t bothered by this scent, which is worth baring in mind.
Vinegar
Both citrus and vinegar are quite acidic smells, which seems to repel all dogs from doing their business in the house. Spray a bit of vinegar in any spots where you know your dog has peed and you should see them starting to stop peeing in the house.
Chili
Chili is another incredibly strong scent that is likely to make your dog sneeze quite a lot and because it’s so strong, they won’t want to go anywhere near where it has been placed.
Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the strongest smells out there and is a really good tool for helping clear up the smell of pee. Dogs hate this smell so they definitely won’t go anywhere near where they can smell it if you use it to cover up the smell of pee.
Citronella
This is a scent that isn’t that strong to humans, but is to dogs. However, it’s completely natural and safe and can be found in candles, sprays, oils, and plug-ins, so place it in the effected area and you should start to see a difference.
What Are The Best Dog Pee Repellent For Carpets?
- Mix some cold/lukewarm water, distilled white vinegar, and essential oil with a citrus scent, pour into a spray bottle and this can be sprayed on any surface, including carpets.
- Get some dish soap and dab at the effected area. Then, mix some water and vinegar together, but into a spray bottle and spray the effected area. Finally, sprinkle some baking soda on top and vacuum up whatever’s left
- Mix some lemon/citrus juice and water together and put into a spray bottle and spray on the affected area
- Put some fresh herbs, such as mint and rosemary, on the carpet as it won’t soak into the carpet or ruin it in any way
- Mothballs. Like the fresh herbs, these are another option that shouldn’t ruin your carpet when you put them on it
Why Is My Dog Peeing In Places Where They Should Not?
1. One reason for this is because your dog has previously peed in a spot and it hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly enough. If your dog can still smell the pee, even if you think you cleaned it properly, this is their signal that it’s okay for them to pee there
- There is also the issue of them not being properly toilet trained. If you haven’t taken the time to toilet train your dog, which can take months on end, then they will continuously pee on the floor until they learn not to
- Medical reasons. If your dog has something, such as a UTI or kidney disease, this can cause them to pee more often than usual. It’s also likely that if they’re older, they will be suffering from incontinence, so try to let them out to pee more often if possible
- Just like us, dogs can suffer from anxiety and stress. This can cause them to pee from fear, so pick up on anything going on that causes them to do this, as well as other signs, such as damaging furniture
- Dogs like to mark their territory and they do this by peeing where you don’t want them to. This will either be due to someone new coming into the family, such as a new dog or person, or male dogs are likely to do this if they aren’t neutered
What Are The Best Store Bought Dog Repellent Spray To Stop Peeing (That’s Safe For Pets)?
You should try and buy an enzyme-based cleaner that has been specifically made to clear up the smell of pee. This should get rid of the smell entirely, as opposed to doing what some other cleaners do, which is masking the smell.
You can also buy odor eliminators, and these should work by both getting rid of the pee smell and getting rid of any old or new stains that may have been left behind; meaning your dog should stop peeing in those spots entirely.
What Smells Are Toxic To Dogs?
Ammonia can be quite a toxic smell to dogs. Some people might suggest using watered-down ammonia, however, this can actually cause ammonia poisoning in your dog. For this reason, it’s probably best to avoid this substance.
Also on this list of toxic smells for dogs are liquid potpourri products and essential oils. If these get to your dog by either ingestion or skin exposure, this can be incredibly toxic for them.
How To Train A Dog Not To Pee?
You can do this by taking them outside regularly and encouraging them to pee and picking a certain spot out there for them to pee, which will be helped by taking them out there the first few times on a leash. Whenever they pee outside, reward them with a treat.
Not only should you keep to a peeing schedule, you should also stick to a feeding schedule. This will better help you regulate their peeing. You should also take their water bowl away about two hours before bedtime so they’re less likely to need to pee during the night.
How To Make An Enzymatic Cleaner Solution At Home?
To do this you will need some dish soap, vinegar, water, and baking soda. Rub the dish soap into the effected area, mix the vinegar and water together and put into a spray bottle to spray over the area. Then sprinkle the baking soda on top and vacuum up any remains.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are compounds that have been extracted from plants and this is often achieved by distillation. These are then mixed with a carrier oil to create the final product.
Do Essential Oils To Deter Dogs From Peeing?
Essential oils are good at masking the smell of dog pee, which can then prevent your dog from peeing again in the house because there won’t be any spots they’ll be able to smell that will cause them to pee in the house again.
Does Vinegar Stop Dogs From Peeing In The House
Yes, vinegar can stop your dog from peeing in the house. Dogs don’t like it’s acidic smell so just a few sprays of vinegar in the offending spots will stop your dog from ever peeing there again.
Will Baking Soda Deter The Dog From Peeing?
Baking soda can neutralise the smell of pee, so should definitely stop your dog from peeing where they’re not meant to.
Will Baking Soda Neutralize Dog Urine On Grass?
Yes it does. Dissolve some baking soda into some water and pour it onto the affected area. This solution will neutralise the high nitrogen concentration and gets rid of the smell, preventing the dog from peeing there again.
Diy Sprays To Make Dogs Not Pee
- Many people will use a white wine vinegar spray in the places where their dog tends to pee and this can act as a natural deterrant. They hate the acidic smell so won’t go anywhere near where you have sprayed it.
- When it comes to using citrus, you can boil some peelings from citrus fruits to extract oils from them and then add this mixture to a spray bottle and spray it wherever necessary.
- Blend some chillis with some water, strain the mixture so as not to get any bits in it, pour into a spray bottle and spray where necessary.
- You can mix some ammonia and water together into a spray bottle and then spray it onto the affected area.
- Mix cold/lukewarm water, distilled white vinegar, and some essential oils with citrus oils into a spray bottle and then spray it on any surface. Given vinegar and citrus are repellent to dogs, putting the two together should work twice as well.
References
https://webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/Animal%20Care%20Center/Tips%20For%20New%20Pet%20Owners/DogResourceList.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/emergencies.html