This is the easiest DIY around. In fact, I almost feel guilty calling it a DIY, but here goes…
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Why use DIY bitter apple spray?
Whenever someone asks me how to get their puppy to stop chewing something, this is the recipe I pass along. It’s a phenomenal spray deterrent. But please pay attention to the instructions if you’re going to use it on any wood. I mean, pay attention to the instructions regardless but ESPECIALLY for wood.
Secondly, if your dog has a chewing/licking problem, something skin-related or a small wound that he just won’t leave alone (EMMETT) then this is the thing for you. I’ll get into the whys of it all below, but just know that chew deterrent also means for self-chewing, not just furniture/drywall (COOPER).
Why homemade? Can’t you just buy it?
Yep, you sure can. There are actually several brands on the market. But here’s the thing: You’ll spend way more money on a store-bought bitter apple spray than on a DIY version. Plus, even though most say that the ingredients are harmless, I don’t feel awesome spraying rubbing alcohol (a common commercial spray ingredient) since I know that they’ll lick it at least a few times. Also, it takes less than two minutes to make–seriously–so, why not?
Let’s make it, shall we?
Here’s what you need:
- white vinegar
- apple cider vinegar (don’t bother with the fancy kind that all the health food sites tout… seriously, that is $15+ for 16 ounces when you can get this for way less)
- water
- a measuring cup
- something to put the spray in (I used this bottle that I use to spritz plants, but in my quest to swap plastic items, I’ve been dreaming of these glass bottles or these ones that have the cutest vintage-inspired labels!)
Optional:
- funnel
- lemons (effectiveness depends on whether or not your dog likes the taste of lemon, EMMETT) or a dried hot pepper like cayenne for added deterring power
Here’s how to make the DIY bitter apple spray:
Decide on the quantity you want. In the case of my ingredients photoed above, my goal was to spray Emmett’s abdomen, which he’s been licking incessantly ever since his, ahem, problem.
The goal is to have a 2:1 ratio of white vinegar to apple cider vinegar.
Using the one-cup measuring cup, I poured in 2/3 cup of the white vinegar then topped it to the cup line with apple cider vinegar. Using the funnel (I’m so messy… you could do without the funnel, probably. Me? Not so much) I poured it slowly into the spray bottle.
Here’s where you have a couple options:
First, if you want to round out the sour taste, squeeze a lemon and pour the juice in. Shake the bottle. Apply. HOWEVER, some dogs like lemons. Emmett is one of those dogs, so I skip the lemon juice altogether. Why entice him to lick it, ya know?
Second, if you want to apply it directly to your dog–or to anything wooden that the intense acidity of the vinegar might mar–dilute with water. My go-to is to add the same amount of water as white vinegar, so another 2/3 cup here.
{{Digression re: the wood furniture question I keep getting. I use vinegar to clean almost my entire house and have never had a problem with wood finishes. That said, we don’t have nice things. No antiques. No carvings or whatever, so if something DID get ruined–which can happen–I wouldn’t be upset. Test a small spot on the back or underside if you’re worried.}}
That’s seriously it! Mix it up, pour it in a bottle, shake, spray!
What does Emmett think of the scent? Well…
“What is this stuff? Is it food?”
“OH! BLECH! AH! ICK! Get away, Newt! I think this stuff’s poisoned!”
“I can still taste it! It’s in my mouth! Blergh!”
“Why would you do this to me… why…”
OK, he’s actually fine, of course, but he was SO DRAMATIC with this batch. Clearly it does the trick. Just a little spray on the problem area, and chewing is deterred. You will have to reapply, of course, and if you add the lemon juice I’d go ahead and store it in the fridge.
Otherwise, happy deterring! 🙂
Wonderful! It’s so hard to get my cat to stop messing with a patch of fur that isn’t doing so great and this looks perfect for him. I wonder if there are other similar homemade products out there.
I hope it helps! Please do let me know! And if there are any specific products you’re interested in replacing with a DIY, please, please share! There are TONS that I make that I never really thought to share… this one was inspired by many different people asking me for chew-deterrent suggestions, and it finally occurred to me to turn it into a post! 🙂
Fantastic article! Thanks! One question … do you have any suggestions for a good smelling spray for the owners who want to spay it on their skin directly? I can’t imagine vinegar is that pleasant? Thanks kindly.
Honestly… I do spray this on their skin, but I leave out the lemon juice for the topical application! It works great for hot spots and on bandages to keep the pups from chewing and licking!
Could I ask would this sting an open wound? My little dog is 16 yrs old and now gets warts! She has one on her front paw that she has chewed and licks so it is reddish and am worried It will sting!
Thank you for this great remedy.
Kerry.
Hi, Kerry!
I clean my house with vinegar and often add lemon juice. If I have a cut on my hands, yes, it definitely stings. It sounds like if her skin is red, it might not be open yet, so maybe you could preempt that? Another idea: You could try diluting further with more water? Or, tbh, when I used it on Emmett, he never really seemed to notice the sting, though he’s the same dog who didn’t even flinch when he got staples at the vet’s office, so I’m not sure he’s a fair comparison… Best of luck with your little dog!!
Thank you so much Maggie.
I will try and dilute at first and see how she reacts!
Many many thanks! Most appreciated!
I will let you know how we go!
Kerry and Lucy.
What if I get some in her eyes??
It will STING! So rinse immediately and thoroughly!
My puppy seem to like the taste .. 2:1 formula .. what next ?
Something spicy… a little bit of cayenne or black pepper, some Sriracha, etc. Good luck!
Same… happy to lick it off my hands 🙁
If you can get hold of dried ghost peppers, that might do it. Let it sit for at least a week.
I hope this works on me! My dog incessantly licks me!
First of all, Emmet is hilarious. Second, I actually clean our floors with an apple cider vinegar mixture because it’s non toxic and Herself is always eating things off the floor. It also means she’s not following me around while I’m cleaning, because she HATES the smell while its drying. Which is the best.
YES! Same here!! Plus, I feel like they’re always licking their feet… especially Newt… so I don’t want to use a cleaner that they’d then ingest!
OMG, that FACE! I can hardly believe that Emmett had a look like that IN him! LOL
I would say that that indicated your spray did exactly what it should do. 🙂
I really could have used this when Maddie was a puppy. We bought the commercial brand, we bought “Yuck” and several other brand names that were all supposed to deter chewing. Nothing worked.
. In one afternoon, while my brother slept, Maddie very carefully chewed up the LEFT shoe ONLY from THREE pairs of identical rubber, summer shoes,, leaving me with NO wearable shoes. for that summer.That was the year of our discontent. She was the sweetest dog, but I swore off puppies after that She was two at the time, and had long been left out in the house with her two brothers with NO problems.Oh, the JOYS of puppyhood!
HAH! Leslie, I am on the same page. After Cooper’s puppyhood… I’ve said to a couple people that I am just not a puppy person. They’re adorable, but that’s about all they have going for them! 😉 (It’s fair to say, though, that Cooper was a particularly challenging puppy. But. Still.)
I’ve tried a recipe similar to this on Milah. I think she may have other allergies that I can’t find. She just licks this off, which isn’t unusual for her. I use an essential oil blend with lemongrass for flea repellent, she just licks it off too….LOL
Milah! Silly girl! 🙂 Sorry about the allergies, though… so frustrating.
OK, so my modification for that is not for the faint of heart. In truth, this was the Lucas solution: mix up the same recipe as above, but add in a healthy dash of cayenne… It may cause a sneeze or two, but it did the trick for him. 😉
Can this be sprayed on the bed? Stella cannot stop tearing her bed to pieces. But I am afraid it would sting if I put peppers. Thanks.
Yes! You can absolutely use it on the bed! I would maybe spot-test a bit of the fabric on the underside just to be extra cautious. Good luck! 🙂
Never apply lemongrass essential oil to skin or let them ingest it! It’s toxic!
Lemongrass essential oil is toxic when applied to skin or ingested.
I’m not at all familiar with the toxicology of essential oils beyond some basic googling and a few friends’ blog posts that I reference. I am confused, though, because it seems lemongrass is very often included in natural flea products for dogs and cats. The one at the top of mind is this one https://amzn.to/3vUKYkb because I know so many people who use it. Can you share a resource or more information to help us understand?
Hello, it is a phallacy that essential oils are not safe for pets. Obviously not all are safe and like humans, all animals respond differently to essential oils. There is no one oil fits all animals just as with humans. There is however, a very comprehensive resource that can be used for a deeper understanding and safety. The Animal Desk Reference II: Essential Oils for Animals by Melissa Shelton DVM. She is a vet by the way hence the DVM. Hope it helps. 🙂
It looks like your comment is in two places, so I just wanted to copy/paste in both so I was sure it got delivered to you as I’m super curious!
I’m not at all familiar with the toxicology of essential oils beyond some basic googling and a few friends’ blog posts that I reference. I am confused, though, because it seems lemongrass is very often included in natural flea products for dogs and cats. The one at the top of mind is this one https://amzn.to/3vUKYkb because I know so many people who use it. Can you share a resource or more information to help us understand?
What’s good to clean dogs ears with if they seem to need cleaning every other day
We actually got ear drops from our vet that worked to keep Coop’s ears clean. However… this is purely anecdotal because I am not a vet. My daughter wears hearing aids and gets a lot of build up. Her ENT and audiologist both suggested 5 drops of mineral oil 5 days a month. It keeps her ears super clean, and it’s worked for Cooper and my sister’s dog. Check with your vet to be sure, but it’s worked for us.
Awesome, thanks for sharing! I’m always on the lookout for diy things with more natural ingredients; this holds true for everything from household cleaners and polishers (I use vinegar, baking soda and olive oil) to products for our beloved canine kids. Thanks again!
Same here, Monica!! I try to DIY as much as I can with ingredients I know. These guys (and our cat, in particular) lick their fur so much that I don’t want them ingesting chemicals. Yuck! Thanks so much for your comment!!
sounds like a great alternative to store bought. Luckily, my Raven nevr chewed anything in the house. He is 14 now so the chewing years are over. lol
WOW! That is so lucky! Cooper was the exact opposite… he chewed EVERYTHING in the house! 😀
Love the dramatics! My crew is all about the drama, so I’m sure I’ll get the same reaction. Once in a while the girls get obsessed with licking a spot so this would be really great for that. I’m going to pin it for future reference!
Thanks, Jan! Let me know if it helps with those spots!!
I use plain ol’ white, distilled vinegar and hot water to clean the house, especially the linoleum floors in the bathroom and kitchen. And the vacuum (with the furniture hose attachment) for the dust. My crazy dogs actually like the smell of lemons, though I’ve never seen them actually taste it. I have a small spray bottle of the Nature’s Miracle chew deterrent that Ducky turns away from, but without the drama.
I love the expression on Emmett’s face!! Kinda reminds me of myself. ?
I’m the same way… I clean just about everything with vinegar! I figure if they lick it, the worst that can happen is, well, that dramatic look on Em’s face! 🙂
PS. Your Twitter share button isn’t working properly – it took me to Twitter but without a link to the post.
Well, shoot. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to look into it!!
Thanks a lot for this tip it helps a lot I’m going to try this i have a new dog that gets a little crazy then gets into a lot of trouble. Does it work the same for small dogs as it does for big dogs ? And since you seem like a such good blogger i was wondering if you could check out my blog? edgeofamoment.blogspot.com Thank you
Hey, Aurora! It should work just the same no matter the size of dog. Great question! Thanks for commenting, and best of luck on your new blog! Exciting!
I’ve tried a recipe similar to this on Milah. I think she may have other allergies that I can’t find. She just licks this off, which isn’t unusual for her. I use an essential oil blend with lemongrass for flea repellent, she just licks it off too….LOL
This is exactly what I needed, thank you! I have one question though. If I spray this on the dog bed will my Polar bear not want to lay on it?
Vinigar and lemon juice can bleach your wood or break down the sealer so do be careful! We do have many antiques and alot of the sealer is gone…!
Bless you, I have a stubborn maligator that has decided to chew her elbows bloody for whatever reason as well as her ankles. We’ve ruled out fleas and allergies, so maybe it’s just a nervous habit she picked up while she was boarding. We’re hoping this will give her a chance to heal now. Thank you!
Thanks! This helped to stop our puppy chewing everything (including cinder blocks!)
It sounds too good to be true. Is it safe to put o a wound? My dog had her claw bandaged and it comes off tomorrow. I know she will lick it so I need to stop her.
It will probably sting… but it’s definitely safe. I used it on Emmett’s stitches, and he didn’t love the feeling of it being applied, but it kept him from licking. Good luck!!
Just tried the vinegar / apple cider mix and my dog just licked it straight away 🙁 Then tried it again with plenty of cayenne pepper in it and once again – licked it !! She’s only a little thing but seems to have OCD licking of her paw which in turn is causing some sort of medical problem. Was thinking of using some oil, maybe eucalyptus or tea tree oil – anyone know if these might work?
Oh, no!! I have heard of the rare dog who likes the taste. Maybe try black pepper instead of cayenne? As for the oils, I don’t know. I haven’t tried or researched anything like that, but perhaps someone else can weigh in with their experience!!
I know you should not ever use the oils without diluting or mixing with lotion. Tea tree is toxic used full strength.
so if i want to apply repellent on my wooden door just add more water than vinegar to lower the acidity from vinegar?
I’m fairly certain I’ve only ever used this on sealed wood, so I can’t say for sure. It depends on the type of wood, whether it’s sealed or not, if it’s painted, etc. My suggestion would be to whip up a batch and test it on a super inconspicuous spot (maybe the very top edge?) before using it anywhere else.
Is this safe on plants? I can’t get my cat to stop chewing on plants. Normally I would just get rid of the plant, but these plants have sentimental value as they were gift from relatives that passed. And some of the plants are I believe are upsetting his tummy. I tried cayenne pepper in the soil which seem to bring on a mold on the top of the soil. They did avoid it though. But it is not an option going forward.
You know, I haven’t tried it on plants… but my kitten, Ripley, is obsessed with one of my houseplants, so I might just have to give it a whirl!
Regarding tea tree oil–
Actually, essential oils of tea tree and lavender are the ONLY oils that are safely applied “neat”–which means undiluted, on the skin.
That is for HUMANS anyway.
I am not trained in use of essentail oils for animals–obviously things can affect them differently than they do humans.
But I have used both esential oils of tea tree and lavender on my animals–in very small–VERY SMALL–amounts, and have noticed no negative effects.
I use them for fungal infections, antibiotic purposes, itching–and lavender is specific for itching, burns, inflammation, calming.
From my own training and research I will say that aromatherapists and herbalists alike will tell you–when in doubt, use lavender.
My own experience is that tea tree oil is right behind.
THAT IS THE ADVICE OF PRACTITIONERS ON HUMANS.
I have used them for my pets.
But I am NOT telling you to do this.
I think that you should ask your vet, use your intuition, do your own research…
Thank you for your great recipe and help!
Best wishes and brightest blessings to all!
Some essential oils are poisonous to dogs. This includes oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang. These oils are toxic whether ingested by mouth or spread on the skin
Key takeaway. Lavender is toxic to dogs, especially when consumed. However, the scent can also cause respiratory symptoms in some dogs because they have a stronger sense of smell. Both the lavender plant and essential oils can be dangerous for your pet.
Three compounds in a lemon, limonene, linalool and psoralen, are toxic, if not deadly for your cat. Limonene is a terpene that leads to the citrus scent of lemons. D-limonene has been used in dog shampoos and fragrances. The small amount present in dog products is safe for most sizes of dogs. While dogs might eat small amounts of lemon without any serious adverse effects, both the high citric acid and sugar content can be problematic for them.
The FIRST Things that pop up when searching if these things are OK for cats and dogs If anyone Couldn’t* use google—the thing they probably used to get H.E.R.E. .-.
I’m not going to comment on essential oils. I have a lot of thoughts but haven’t read enough studies to jump in on that conversation. I always defer to my vet or to the animal poison control hotline.
That said, I do feel confident saying that the little bit of lemon juice in this recipe won’t harm your pup. Of course, check with your vet always. But, while citric acid can be toxic to dogs, your pup would have to eat a bit of lemon to experience the effects. Plus, the vast majority of dogs hate the taste and so wouldn’t consume the amount needed for toxicity.
As for the sugar, an average-sized fruit has 1.5 g, which isn’t enough to cause any problems. Dogs can consume sugar from fruit, and the guideline is that it’s no more than 10% of their diet. Rest assured, the small amount of juice in this recipe isn’t enough sugar to cause a problem here.
All that said, if you’re not comfortable with this recipe, simply don’t make it! I’m certainly never going to suggest anyone has to do anything, especially if you or your vet aren’t comfortable.
I don’t know what to do.
Granted this is the first time I’ve tried putting anything like this on my dog and he will be 11 human years old in a few days. There is a spot on his back and all over his front legs he licks so much, his coat is turning a blood-ish red color. I didn’t try the cayenne pepper or lemon, only the white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and water in the 2:1:2 ratio respectively. Unfortunately, he is licking more than ever. Trying to get it off, I assume. It almost seems like it is an attractant to him.
Great post about the diy bitter apple! This works well for my girl because she looooves chewing my wires. She’s going to be electrocuted one of these days!!
For those who are concerned with licking GO TO A VET. Many essential oils are toxic and can cause neurologic and/or organ disease. If you don’t like traditional western medicine, there are Chinese medicine/homeopathic vets as well.
Working in the field as a vet tech for 8 years I cannot tell you enough about the value of an e-collar (cone of shame) to stop itching. Get one large enough to go an inch past their nose when all the way down their neck. Pop it on for 7 days without removing it even at night. I promise they can eat, drink, sleep, pee, and poo with it on. They like to throw a fit for 2-3 days, but it passes. This gives a really good period for healing, especially with anxiety/nervous tick licking. Breaks the cycle.
what is the permanence of the solution? I need to spray this on my outdoor irrigation lines (1/2″ black poly tubing that delivers water to my 1/3 acre property). Although it does not rain in my area for the entire summer , when the dogs do their biting of the tubes, I have read elsewhere this needs to be applied weekly. Given that I have hundreds of feet of this tubing, I am seeking a solution that I can spray on once for the summer.
Hi, Larry: To be honest, I doubt it’s very permanent. I’m not sure how it would hold up under all-day sun, and it would definitely wash away in the rain. For a long-term solution, my guess would be that you’d probably have to either sink the lines or maybe cover them with chicken wire or something. I can’t think of a spray product that could survive an entire summer without re-application, but I’m certainly not an expert in any of this! Just my two cents! Good luck finding your solution!
Our puppers like to chew furniture ? how often do you recommend spraying it and not having it reek of vinegar?
I have a 10 week old GSD puppy that will not stop chewing on rocks when I take her outside. I live in the SoCal desert with no grass in my yard so there are no spaces where rocks can be avoided. I dread taking her outside because of this. Will this formula ingredient ratio work on her or should I make it stronger/more potent? I tried a manufactured bitter spray deterrent today and it didn’t seem to work very well, she still chewed on rocks.
Rock eating is no good!! It would totally be worth trying, in my opinion. The only thing to be aware of is that it won’t last as long as if you sprayed it indoors since the elements will wear it down, so you’ll have to reapply more and more often. Hopefully since she’s just a puppy she’ll grow out of this stage!! Maybe let her chew an antler when she’s outside as a distraction? Good luck!!
My sisters GS wore down his teeth with rocks. We have large river rocks in our back yard and I distract our GS puppy with sticks. They have much more give and the hardwood of the mesquite don’t splinter. Of course, my first preference are his toys, but I’ll take sticks over rocks any day! Good luck with this sour spray!!
Maggie, thank you so much for this recipe-I’m going to try it. I have a 1-year-old Great Pyrenees puppy and she has managed to tear up every dog bed I have (and I don’t buy cheap beds) as well as every crate cushion I have bought! I have rescued Pyrs for about 20 years and have never had any of them tear up anything! I currently have 7 foster failures-2 older Pyrs, a big old hound dog, an older beagle, and 3 ankle-biters. The 3 little guys love to tear up anything paper (including books, magazines, etc.) or plastic so I’ll be using it for them, too! I’ll let you know how it works for my furbabies!
Oh, wow! I really hope it helps. Cooper was like that as a puppy, though he was much, much smaller than your girl so I imagine the scope of damage was also smaller that what you’re experiencing. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!!
Can this be used on fabric cushions etc. My dog/puppy loves to destroy his beds and any cushions that are on our outdoor setting.
I’d recommend testing a small, inconspicuous area first just to be cautions, but I’ve used it on fabric to no ill end!
Can i spray it on myself so my puppy would stop biting me?
Thank you for this recipe! We have a 7 month old German Shepherd who doesn’t chew on anyone’s hands but mine and my husband’s. He takes playful liberties with us and gets carried away. I just made a batch of this bitter spray WITH the cayenne to spray on the tops of our hands and am going to try to nip this in the bud! Thanks so much!
So thankful for finding this recipe. I was fixing to send my daughter to buy some at the store when I found your page and your comment about the alcohol in the store bought ones. As someone who is highly allergic to rubbing alcohol, we are definitely going with your vinegar recipe. My 2 sweet innocent doggies keep chewing up the door frames in the sunroom.
I have a ten week old Springer spaniel made this spray (without lemons) and at first she was licking it but it seems to have worked as she doesn’t chew the areas that I have sprayed!!!! Thank you for this recipe!!!
SO glad to hear it’s working for you!!
Thank you so much for sharing ! First patch of mix water diluted with same ratio of white vinegar did not work but I made another batch with half the water & it seems to be working. I also applied it with a cotton ball saturated with mix to get more on a specific area & that also seemed to work better! Hoping this will stop her before she gets down to her skin.
I am wondering how often it can or should be reapplied? Gigi is a 12 week old Samoyed.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom?
Just tried it. My dog likes it. She is constantly licking her paws. I tried it with and without the lemon. Is it still ok to not dilute it even tho its goin on her paws?
Did you add any cayenne to it? I think if she doesn’t have any open wounds, you could up the amount of hot spice to try to deter her! Or, to your point, try it less diluted. As long as she doesn’t have a raw sore and it’s just going on fur/skin, you should be OK. Good luck!!
Really? A long blog post about homemade apple bitters to keep my dog from licking….. and your recipe is mixing white vinegar with apple vinegar and lemon?
The house will smell f’in fantastic, like a cheap Dollar Store douche, or maybe salad dressing. If I pour in some chardonnay and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard it CAN double as salad dressing!
I’ll.stick with the cheap bottle of stuff my vet sells that has almost no smell.
You do you, man! (BTW, I’d maybe recommend not buying cheap Dollar Store feminine hygiene products… if you’re trying to save money, there are other ways.)
I have a 4.5 month old Pitt bull and she has plenty of chew toys but she prefers my decorative pillows, floor mats and anything else she finds. I mixed up your formula and sprayed and old dish cloth and let her have it. She just sat down and licked that cloth like she was in heaven! The bitter taste dose not seem to bother her at all. I tried a mixture of vinegar and orange essential oil and she loved that too. I am out of ideas.
Well, have been trying non stop to get my cocker to stop climbing up to the table and licking it!!! Yes, it’s gross….
Trying this is. will post of it helps.
I hope it works for your pup!
Is this safe to assist in plants to stop dogs from chewing
I think it depends on the plant… a lot of plants DO love acidic fertilizer, like what you’d get with ACV, but lots don’t. My advice would be to check on your plant’s care first, then decide if it’ll work for both your plant and your pup!
This is great, especially Emmets reaction. Ha ha!
Hi I have just found your post after searching for many hours for a solution. I’m going to try this on my 14’year old Pug who has a lot of issues T the moment. But the one that has had me a nervous wreck is his chewing on his self inflicted wounds. If this works you are a GOD in my eyes ?
Fingers crossed for you!!!
Why on earth does your dog even know the taste of lemons? Its terrible for them.. dont give your dogs lemons my god.
I think you must not have read the post! 🙂 The goal is to DETER your dog from licking with that icky taste.
Do you know if this would work on poop? Gross I know but my one dog likes poop. I’ve tried forbid and all the other stuff. I usually go out back with my dogs but sometimes the one finds a random piece or the neighbor’s outside cat leaves presents in my yard. My husband goes out 2-3 times/week to sweep the back yard but I’m wondering if this could be used as a deterrent.
Thaks for this DIY, daughter has a furniture chewer. lol Just wanted to let you know that your link for Apple Cider vinegar is no longer working..;-) Have a great week. thanks again
http://amzn.to/2uVv4ru
Oh, shoot! Thank you so much for letting me know. I’ll get that fixed. Hope it’s helpful for your daughter’s pup! 🙂
Please people, stop flooding the interneet with these nonsense vinigar and/or lemon juice sprays. They are NOT effective and nothing like the actual bitter apple spray that IS effective.
I’m sorry it hasn’t worked for you! It’s been a great solution for Cooper and his itchy feet during allergy season, but everyone needs to find what’s best for their wallet, their values, and their pet! Have a great day 🙂
Looks like a great recipe and gonna try it for our pup who bites and isn’t learning that it’s not ok to bite as play. Though i’m very concerned that the recipe recommends chilli. It’s a very cruel and outdated method to use chilli to deter dogs in any way.. Someone in the comments even recommended using ghost chilli’s! Is that not insane to you? The way i think: If you wouldn’t do it to a human child, don’t do it to your pup. (For reference: ghost peppers are the world’s hottest chilli. It is actually genuinely painful to consume and humans have had to go to emergency after eating even small amounts of it.)
I’d Really like to reiterate while google is not a vet it Is more helpful than “well they aren’t spasming on the floor dieing so it must* be fine” to know If something is Actually Ok for your animals to even Come into contact with. You should do basic research on anything you bring into your home. A few years ago my boyfriend’s mom bought a potted flower from Walmart, super common one, everywhere in their gardening section: IT WAS SUPER DEADLY TO CATS. Bought it without knowing that about it, nearly lost a cat to it, because she didn’t know. You need to know.
I’m so sorry that happened to her cat. How scary! For plants, before buying anything, always check the ASPCA’s plant database. I will literally stand in the plant aisle at the nursery checking plants on their site!
I do think there’s a WIDE gap between an animal dying on the floor and making bitter apple spray. I’m not sure if that was your concern or if you’re worried about toxic plants, but absolutely call your vet or the animal poison control hotline if you’re ever unsure.
Hi my dog keeps biting and eating the mat. Do i put it all over the mat or the corners
I would put it wherever your pup is biting. Good luck!!
Amazing piece of information! Very helpful.
Aww I’m so disappointed! My dog likes pickles, so this won’t work.
Try adding in something with spice, like black pepper or cayenne! Good luck!