Many dog owners face the problem of their furry friends having little accidents in and around the home. While it not only damages the property well, it’s also a sanitation and odour issue, which is obviously not very nice.
However, experts have revealed a solution that could easily solve the issue, and this so-called solution is super cheap and probably already in many pet owners’ homes.
Vinegar, which you can get for as little as 35p in Aldi, is a popular choice when using “homemade” solutions to try to prevent dogs from peeing in the same spot, and it’s due to its strong smell.
When a dog pees in a particular area (known as marking), it leaves behind scent markers that signal to them that it is an appropriate spot to relieve itself.
Dogs use their sense of smell to identify these spots, but placing vinegar where a dog has marked its territory acts as a deterrent.
What the vinegar does is effectively mask the scent markers or neutralise the odours. So, by using the acidic content to clean the area a dog has peed, you are first removing the visible mess but also getting rid of the smell that will bring the dog back to the same spot.
The method is safe, but it might not work for all dogs due to the varying scent sensitivities. This solution, however, is a better alternative to chemical cleaners as it is non-toxic, making it generally safer for pets and children.
To make sure you’re using it as a deterrent properly, here are the steps you need to take. First, you’ll want to mix any type of vinegar with water at a 50-50 ratio. This will help lower the intensity of the vinegar’s smell while ensuring it is still effective.
Next, clean and get rid of any remaining urine in the area. The solution works best if applied to a clean spot.
Now, it’s time to apply the solution to the area. Make sure you cover and saturate the entire area where your dog has peed so that the vinegar can neutralise any remaining odours.
Finally, just let the area dry completely. The smell will go away over time, but it will leave an unpleasant scent to your dog which should prevent another ‘accident’ in that spot.
Depending on the severity, it might take repeating the process a few times but doing it consistently it the key to making sure the smell is properly masked and your dog doesn’t go back to that same spot.
