Five Smells That Dogs Don’t Like

November 10, 2015










Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl)








Top photo by Joaquin Uy/Flickr
Bottom photo by Tina Sherwood Imaging/Flickr

Read more articles by Laurie Darroch

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  1. Maxine says:

    I recently adopted a rescue dog and am glad to find all these useful comments and advice on caring for pets. Thanks.☺️

  2. Carol Jackson says:

    I have 2 shitzu males and they was both house trained at a early age. One is 5years old and 3years problem is over the last year they have started to wee all over the house and especially in the bedroom I have tried lots of soulitions but nothing works. Does anybody else have this problem or any advice what to try.

    1. Elizabeth says:

      I feel that mixing mint and lemon extract together along with water in an empty spray bottle and sprayed around the room helps deter my puppy

  3. Debbie says:

    If a neighbours cat has pee’d or sprayed inside my puppy’s new wooden kennel, what can I use to deter the cat but not make the dog not want to go in it?

    1. Elizabeth says:


  4. Carolann says:

    Can I use these tastes to teach my dog not to take food from strangers or not to eat food thrown over the fence? We have had a spate of dogs being poisoned

  5. Wiz ard says:

    Love the dog pix

  6. Joan says:

    My dog seems obsessed with the garbage bins, even the green waste ones, which happen to be in his fenced yard. He yelps and tries to get underneath them and it doesn’t even help to turn them over. He still wants to get under them. He’s so distracted that he won’t do his business, so has been having many accidents in the house. I’ve tried vinegar, ammonia, shaking a can with stones in it, and nothing deters him. Lizards have been under there, so I scrubbed the brick pad with ammonia. No matter. He’s still obsessed with them. HELP!

    1. tessa says:

      Hi Joan, sounds like there is a insect or similar in that ares. Have you tried moving the bin to see if he still does it?

  7. The neighbora dog keeps peeing on my newly planted azaleas and you an oil based mixture of cayenne pepper and sprinkle crushed.peppers around the.bushesand tree trunk.would HELP?

  8. Martha says:

    Will spraying citris directly on carpet ruin the carpet?

  9. emilio hernandez says:

    cayenne pepper and black pepper mix works well under bed and around kitchen table legs

  10. Emilio Raul Hernandez says:

    i normaly use a mix of cayenne ground pepper and black pepper sprinkle it under bed and around kitchen table legs for my chiuaua tiny works real good a plus in a strange way due to compliments i get on my home having an authentic old mexico kitchen aroma ☺

  11. Timothy Morrow says:

    I always use a cup of coffee to deter my pit bull he doesn’t like the smell and barks like crazy lol

  12. my dog keeps chewing on my computer computer cord and I’ve rubbed citrus on it but she loves citrus and vinegar. I don’t want my three month old puppy to find out the hard way and get electrocuted

    1. Haya says:

      And Heres me thinking I’ll go out and spray some on my corner lawn to keep the dogs away 🙁

  13. Charli says:

    How do I cure my 5 pound chihuahua from eating a hole in pee pad after she goes?

  14. Carol says:

    I have been very ill and my dog had to go my son. However, my neighbour has been around with her dog. I am worried therefore that when my dog returns home, she will smell my neighbour’s dog, and that will upset her.

  15. Ivory Fields says:


  16. arcelia says:

    I was wondering if you can help me with my dog she pees all over the house. and she thinks she is the boss. I have displine and nothing seem to work. also poops and exiccssive barking,please help me!!

  17. arcelia says:

    Iam having trouble with my dog.I put her to sleep at regular routine.She starts to bark.I take her out for potty break and she comes back in and drinks water.In a little while she begin to bark. As soon as I get closer to her she wanted be to get her out.I talk to her and I help her get back to bed.Is there anything that I could to stop the barking? sometimes I cant stand her crying and I bring her to bed with me She likes to pee and poop all over the house.I take her to the bathroom every hour.Maybe she thinks that the house is all her territory I tried vingar? Do you have any suggestion? I cant stand her peeing on my room.

  18. Antionette Brown says:

    Sorry I meant pees

  19. Antionette Brown says:

    Are 16 month old golden retriever puppy,Chance is about on his last chance.Ive tryed everything the thing is he goes to the door and he sometimes scratches the door are he barks by the door so why does he pre right in front of the door way to my bedroom? My husband’s side of the room.And I’ve taken him out on schedule he does this about 2 am then he will poop.I wake up to that.Any body know why he would do this?are have any suggestions any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

    1. Jim Handy says:

      English classes for one. And he’s trying to convey a message. Your job is to, either give up or find out why he’s doing it. Its not just bad behavior. Talk to a vet.

      1. Jay Rodriguez says:

        Was that advice? Wow…

    2. Angel says:

      What works for me is taking his food and water away around 6 pm the vet told me to do that. As a result mine is 6 mths old sleeps all night and does not go out until 6am or later.

    3. Christina says:

      Kennels work wonders, as much as we love for our dogs to be able to roam free while we’re sleeping they also need a safe zone to sleep in, good luck!

  20. John Owens says:

    Can you tell me something to put on my couch to keep my dog from jumping on it?

    1. Edward says:

      Hi John, you can use a pet deterrent mat.. You can buy one in Amazon 🙂

    2. Bob says:

      Ypu can place aluminum foil sheets on couch to train your dog to stay off. Eventually they won’t lay there and you can remove foil.

    3. Hooters says:

      Get a floor runner thing people use in hallways or under their chairs in offices. Put it on your couch upside-down so the “spikes” are sticking up.

      1. Jessica Rodriguez says:

        Why the hell would you do that? Ic you have a pet they need to take it from you.

  21. Doesn’t the alcohol evaporate quickly? Like… in minutes?

  22. Ryan says:

    Neem oil works well too. Only thing I found to keep my dogs out of the garbage.

  23. Diane Kozel says:

    Cayenne pepper works really well. I live in a townhome & people walk their dogs on a leash & let it poop every where 7 don’t pick up after them. So I started putting down the cayenne pepper & found that it really works well but you have to reapply if it rains.

  24. Jenny Melville says:

    i have a lady living near to me that feeds feral cats. unfortunately for me they do their business in my garden. i have a dog that has an absolutely disgusting behaviour of eating it. what things can i put in my garden to stop either or both that will stop this cycle of events please.
    regards Jenny Melville

    1. Julia says:

      Eucalyptus oil and mint work wonders

  25. John says:

    My dog started linking the lemon..and she looked at me like ahhhh lemonade

  26. ANIRUDDHA DEY says:

    some stray dogs keep my house front mess and dirty by relieving themselves at night.Thus keep the place unhealthy for us. how to get rid of?

    1. Ellie says:

      Dogs don’t like hot peppers..

    2. TONY CARREON says:

      like a previous poster stated. Cayenne pepper works, but need to reapply after it gets washed off (sprinklers, rain, etc..)

  27. Chris Brown says:

    My dog keeps breaking into the fridge and I’ve tried all manner of smells including rubbing strong hot sauce onto the exterior of the fridge only to find her licking said fridge the smell of thieves extract worked for about a week now no effect any other ideas that won’t hurt her?

    1. Terry says:

      What is thieves extract? Never heard of this! Is this something I can use safely in my yard to deter the neighbor’s dog?

  28. Christian says:

    Thanks For The Info.

  29. JE says:

    vicks vapor rub. watch when you let your dog take a whiff

    -Anything that have eucalyptus smell

    1. Trudy says:

      My dog doesn’t like dog treats that contain eucalyptus oil, i.e. Twizzlers. Must be the smell of the eucalyptus! Her best pal refuses to eat them too! Will have to bin them!

      1. Terry says:

        Probably because eucalyptus is toxic for cats and dogs. Do more research before you poison your pets.

      2. John says:

        Thanks for the tip, can’t wait to try it!

  30. karen says:

    My dog keeps doing his business on my floor will this help her from making a mess.

    1. Ms. J says:

      Actually…. taking the time to properly house train your dog will take care of the problem. If you don’t teach your dog where it can and cannot relieve itself, it will do what comes naturally and go wherever the need strikes him/her.

      1. Cathy Bryan says:

        I have two male dogs that go out side I have a doggie door but they still pee on my. Furniture and floor

  31. wayne bessell says:

    Hi my dog keeps scratching but has no sign of flees wat could be causing it .

    1. Alessia Raguseo says:

      Probably Mosquitos they can get bites too

    2. Terry says:

      Could possibly be his food! I had this problem with my dog a while back and I changed to an all natural food (used one specifically for skin problems) and it cleared right up! My dog had an area on his underside that was red and some areas even looked bruised. Couldn’t believe how quickly a change in diet cleared it up.

    3. kj says:

      Dry skin, or whatever shampoo or tick repellent you may use

    4. Ms. J says:

      You might consider having your dog checked for allergies. My dog had the same symptoms and it turned out to be seasonal allergies. My vet subscribed 25m of Benadrly (pill form) and it worked.

  32. Vera Grubb says:

    I love these suggestions. Products are cheap and easy to find. I will let you know how they work.

    Thank you.


  33. Nick says:

    Thanks friend