Homemade dog urine repellents are made from strong-smelling ingredients that prevent dogs from urinating in unwanted areas. These repellents are applied to locations where dogs frequently urinate, such as in front yards or in the house. The mixtures can be used to train dogs to stop marking territory with their urine.
Natural dog urine repellents are typically made from dog-safe spices, oils, fruits, and vinegar. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are non-natural repellents. Dog urine repellents are easy to make at home with common kitchen ingredients.
Cinnamon or Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Cinnamon and eucalyptus essential oils smell good to humans but overwhelm a dog’s sense of smell. These oils are commonly available and can be safely sprayed around the home and garden, including on plants, to keep dogs away.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle full of water
- 5 drops of cinnamon or eucalyptus essential oil
Method:
Add the essential oil to the bottle, then shake to mix the oil with the water. Spray areas where the dog has urinated, then wait for the areas to dry before allowing your dog near them. Repeat once a week, or when you can no longer smell the oil up close.
Citrus Peels
Citrus is another scent that humans enjoy but dogs despise, so citrus peels work well as dog urine repellents. Citrus fruits are affordable, easy to find, and most people have them at home.
Needed:
- Leftover citrus peels
Method:
Place citrus peels in places where dogs frequently urinate, such as around furniture and inside plant pots. Replace the peels every few days, or when they start to dry out and lose their smell.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice delivers the same potent smell as citrus peels but isn’t unsightly around the home. Lemon juice is cheap and easy to find at most supermarkets.
Needed:
- 1 cup lemon juice, bottled or freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- ½ cup water
- A bowl or jug
Method:
Add all the ingredients to a bowl or a jug and mix to combine. Halve or double the ingredients depending on how much mixture you need. Apply the mixture to the target areas and let it dry before vacuuming up the baking soda. Reapply the mixture once or twice a week until your dog stops returning to the area.
White Vinegar
White vinegar has an acrid smell that drives dogs away. This dog urine repellent also acts as a natural cleaning agent, offering two benefits in one.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white vinegar
Method:
Mix the white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the target areas. Wait 30 minutes for the vinegar to dry before allowing your dog in the areas. Continue spraying the areas once or twice a week until your dog stops urinating there. This repellent is best used indoors, away from plants.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a strong-smelling deterrent that’s even less appealing to dogs than white vinegar. Combining apple cider vinegar and white vinegar creates a potent natural dog urine repellent.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup white vinegar
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and spray the mix two or three times per week on spots that your dog has been marking. Repeat until your dog learns to avoid those areas. This repellent isn’t as popular as other repellents because it has a smell that’s unappealing to humans. It’s also damaging to plants and should only be used inside the home.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a common spice that’s easily found in grocery stores and costs less than $3 for a standard-sized jar. This natural cooking ingredient is safe to use on plants and in your garden.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle filled with water
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Method:
Add the cayenne pepper to the water in the spray bottle and shake the bottle to combine the contents. Spray the areas that you want your dog to avoid. Repeat once every three to four days until your dog stops urinating in these spots. Cayenne pepper should always be mixed with water because the powder form of the spice irritates dogs’ eyes and noses.
Antiseptic Alcohol
Antiseptic, or rubbing, alcohol is potent alcohol with a strong smell that’s unpleasant to dogs. This smell should deter dogs from urinating in unwanted areas inside and outside of the home.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle
- ½ cup antiseptic alcohol
- 1 cup water
Mix the alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spray the mixture onto problem areas. Wait for the mixture to dry before allowing your dog in the vicinity, and don’t allow your dog to lick the area. Spray twice per week until your dog’s urinating problem stops. This solution is unsafe for plants and should be sprayed onto plant pots, not directly onto plants.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is water with an extra hydrogen compound and is commonly used for cleaning and disinfection purposes. It’s ideal as a dog urine repellent because dogs find the smell unpleasant, while humans can’t smell it.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup hydrogen peroxide
Method:
Combine the liquids in a spray bottle and spray the mixture once weekly wherever your dog has been urinating. Hydrogen peroxide can be fatal if swallowed, so this non-natural repellent needs to dry completely before dogs are allowed in the area. Don’t spray this repellent on plants.
Sour Apple Essential Oil Spray
Sour apple essential oil isn’t as common as the other dog urine repellents on this list, but it has a smell that humans find appealing and dogs dislike. This oil can be used as an indoor air freshener and a dog urine repellent, offering two benefits in one.
Needed:
- 1 spray bottle full of water
- 3 drops sour apple essential oil
Method:
Add the oil to the spray bottle full of water and shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Spray the mixture around your home once or twice per week, until your dog’s urinating problem stops. Ensure the spray dries before your dog is allowed in the area. Avoid spraying this oil directly onto plants.
How to Clean Dog Urine From Carpet
Puppies and dogs that are new to your household will likely have occasional accidents until they’re toilet trained and familiar with their environment.
This homemade dog urine cleaner contains everyday household ingredients and eliminates the appearance and odor of dog urine on the carpet:
Needed:
- 1 sponge
- 1 towel
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dish detergent
- 1 tablespoon salt
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together in a container or bucket and apply the solution to the area with a sponge. Scrub until bubbles form, then use a clean towel to blot the area dry. Repeat the process if you can still see a yellowish stain or smell urine.
