Dog urine has a nasty smell because of its enzyme, hormone, and ammonia composition. Over time, the odor of the urine gets worse and is difficult to remove, especially from carpets. To prevent your pets from urinating on carpets, you may use certain commercial repellants or home remedies. It’s important to clean the areas well before you apply any solutions especially if your pet has already urinated on the carpet, because they have a tendency to return to places that have a urine odor.
Fortunately, there are some measures you can take to better prevent the chances of your fuzzy friend making another “oops”. Also, smaller dogs are more difficult to potty-train than larger canines. Various dog breeds have different personalities; some can be more stubborn while others will adapt their behavior much more rapidly. It’s important to eliminate all traces of pet urine because it’s not good for your respiratory system, and can potentially contaminate your clothing.
A dog does not just start peeing in his own house for the fun of it. Ask yourself if your dog is merely peeing in the house, or is he marking his territory? A big clue is normally found in the location. If the dog is peeing against upright objects then it is probably an attempt to mark his territory. Remember though, male dogs normally cock their legs when they pee so they usually pee against upright objects. Another clue is the amount of urine – small puddles usually mean the dog is marking his territory, while larger puddles may indicate just the regular need to go.
If your dog is simply urinating inside because he can’t hold it anymore, adjust your schedule to let him out more often each day. You’ll notice the problem vanish, possibly even the first day. If it’s another problem, repellant is a great way to break the routine. Here are some natural repellants that are safe and effective for your dog.
• White vinegar is not only an effective carpet cleaner and urine odor remover, but it also acts as a repellant. Canines don’t like the smell of the acetic acid, which makes up vinegar, and are likely to avoid the areas that are sprayed with this solution. Prepare a solution of white vinegar and water in a 1-to-1 concentration and spray it over your carpets and the areas where your dog likes to urinate.
• Mix lemon juice — commercial or freshly squeezed — with water and sprinkle it on your carpets. This smell is pleasant for people, but will keep your dog at bay. The citric acid is also effective if you want to clean and remove urine odor from carpets.
• Cayenne pepper is a natural repellant and contains capsaicum, which irritates the skin and eyes of the pet. Spread some cayenne pepper powder over your carpets. You don’t have to use much because canines have a strong sense of smell and can detect the irritating scent immediately. Reapply the powder after each vacuuming to ensure the dog stays away from the carpets.
