When your dog starts to chew on stuff without paying attention to your warnings (and scoldings when it’s too late), you get FRUSTRATED.
Your dog simply can’t stop chewing. It doesn’t matter how much you try to train him – his mouth can’t stay away from non-chewable objects.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Here’s where the best anti-chew dog spray can help you.
You can use it as a LAST RESORT. Because it works and it doesn’t cause any damage – but it’s obviously uncomfortable for your pet.
Sure enough, it will teach your dog a lesson. Your dog will stop chewing on the stuff. And that’s often enough.
If you want to learn about the best options out there and everything you need to get a quality product, then keep reading!
At a Glance: Our top pics for best Dog Spray
- Grannicks Bitter Apple
- Bodhi Dog Bitter 2-in-1 No Chew & Hot Spot Spray
- Pets Are Kids Too Premium Pet Anti Chew Bitter Spray
- Bluecare Labs Extreme Bitter Strength Anti-Chew Apple Spray
- NaturVet Bitter Yuck No Chew Spray
- Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Chew
- Bloomingtails 6X Bitter No Chew Spray for Dogs
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Grannicks Bitter Apple
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Bodhi Dog Bitter 2-in-1 No Chew & Hot Spot Spray
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Pets Are Kids Too Premium Pet Anti Chew Bitter Spray
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Bluecare Labs Extreme Bitter Strength Anti-Chew Apple Spray
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | NaturVet Bitter Yuck No Chew Spray
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Chew
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Bloomingtails 6X Bitter No Chew Spray for Dogs
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
Also Read:- 18 Common Health Problems in Large Breed Dogs
7 Best Anti-Chew Dog Sprays
#1. Grannicks Bitter Apple
Our first choice is probably the simplest. It’s known by many people as the FIRST-EVER anti-chew spray… and for a reason!
IT WORKS!
This liquid was supposed created by a dog lover who wanted to stop his pet from licking and biting on a coat. The person came up with an idea – BITTER APPLE!
Since then, hundreds of trend-followers decided to make their own anti-chew spray using that same foul smell. And guess what – it worked!
Grannick’s Bitter Apple makes it possible to keep your dog at bay. Whether it is shoes, furniture, clothes, or even general household items – you can keep your dog from biting with this spray.
The best about this spray is the ability to feel uncomfortable FOR A LONG TIME. While dogs tend to eventually like other anti-chew sprays, they won’t get accustomed to this one. Even after months and years of use – they will hate it as much as they did the first time they tasted it.
WORTH KNOWING: The straightforward spray mechanism makes it a piece of cake to apply. You won’t have to worry about using it in the wrong place or impregnating your hands.
What We Liked
- Surprisingly effective and safe formula
- Works on pretty much any surface
- It leaves an uncomfortable taste for long
- Super-straightforward application
What We Didn’t Like
- It has a bit of a faulty smell
#2. Bodhi Dog Bitter 2-in-1 No Chew & Hot Spot Spray
Another super-safe alternative to keep your dog from biting stuff – BODHI DOG BITTER!
This one has two exceptional purposes: it helps to keep your dog from chewing on household items, and it also keeps your dog from biting on injuries.
IT’S A WONDERFUL FOR WOUNDED AND ANXIOUS DOGS!
It doesn’t matter whether you want to keep your wooden objects and clothing items safe or you want the dog’s wounds to heal FASTER – this spray helps with both. And what’s even better, it’s still wholly safe wherever you use it.
The liquid has an advantage over other anti-chew sprays – it is entirely non-staining. It is also uncomfortable for dogs but won’t cause even the slightest damage. And sure enough, it doesn’t leave any foul smell behind that you may eventually hate.
What’s even better? THE FORMULA IS HAND-MADE!
That is, everything in the liquid is natural, so you won’t have to worry about your dog getting sick or experiencing side effects. Ingredients like tea tree oils and eucalyptus plus bitter fruits are effective and safe enough to achieve an excellent experience.
Did we mention how easy it is to apply? The high-quality sprayer head makes it super easy to use EXACTLY where you want.
IMPORTANT: It actually soothes irritations – so it has a minor healing effect that your dog may benefit from.
What We Liked
- Ideal for hot spots as it causes no issues
- Totally natural and hand-made formula
- Requires little effort to apply
- May help soothe skin irritations
What We Didn’t Like
- It contains tea tree oil which could be toxic
#3. Pets Are Kids Too Premium Pet Anti Chew Bitter Spray
DON’T LET YOUR DOG DICTATE HOW THINGS GO! Teach your pup a lesson with this anti-chew spray from Pets Are Kids Too.
From the name, you can guess it’s a brand that stands because dogs have personalities. But just like kids’ personalities, they sometimes learn the hard way. And that means putting them in uncomfortable situations.
That’s where the 3X bitterness of this product enters into work. The human-grade agent contains toxic chemicals and increases bitterness to being entirely disgusting for chew on. And it still doesn’t cause any harm or unwanted side effects that you may regret.
It has a unique feature that other anti-chew sprays don’t have: IT LASTS A LONG TIME.
Instead of staying for a day or two, this spray can make objects unchewable for up to a WEEK. Yes, you read that right.
And if you consider how effective it is, you’ll be surprised at how strong but safe the smell is. You won’t have to worry about inhaling the fumes and getting a headache with this one.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: It contains no alcohol, making it even safer and more pleasant without affecting how well it works.
What We Liked
- Stays on surfaces for long
- Tested on different pets
- Ultra-safe formula causes no issues
- It doesn’t damage surfaces
What We Didn’t Like
- A strong smell may not be ideal
#4. Bluecare Labs Extreme Bitter Strength Anti-Chew Apple Spray
Is there a more practical yet safer ingredient than bitter apple? We think not!
That’s why Blue care Labs is among our favorite options for anti-chew sprays – because it’s made almost entirely on bitter apple with an alcohol-free formula.
This will solve all your pet’s bad chewing habits, whether it’s an adult, old, or a young puppy. PLUS, it works pretty much on any object or EVEN PARTS OF THE POOCH’S BODY.
Because the formula is completely free of toxicity and doesn’t even sting on wounds, your dog will stop chewing, biting, or licking on the place you apply HARMLESSLY. And what’s even better, you can use it as much as you want without any problem.
This bitter liquid was specifically made to help people train dogs that struggle to follow instructions. You won’t have to ever yell or scold your dog – USE THIS SPRAY INSTEAD!
The formula is supposedly 5X as strong as other sprays. That’s enough to deter even the most stubborn of all dogs from biting where it shouldn’t. AND IT LASTS A LONG TIME NONETHELESS!
EXTRA FACTORS: This liquid has no odor at all. Despite its high strength and effectiveness, you won’t have to worry about unwanted smells in your home.
What We Liked
- All-natural and extra-safe formula
- Has little to no smell to worry about
- It can be applied to hot spots
- Works on stubborn dogs
What We Didn’t Like
- The bottle may leak (making it hard to use)
#5. NaturVet Bitter Yuck No Chew Spray
Does your dog like the taste of bitter apple? Luckily there’s a great alternative!
The Bitter Yuck! from NaturVet comes with deionized water and citric acid plus a robust bittering agent (not apple) that works like A CHARM!
The formula has a big part of rosemary extract that most dogs HATE. This is effective enough to keep your dog from chewing objects, licking hot spots, or even eating away furniture – WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE.
There’s something about rosemary that dogs simply abhor. That effectiveness makes this one of the best at getting your dog to stop unwanted chewing behaviors. Interestingly, it works in the short and long term, so you get TWICE the effectiveness.
If that wasn’t enough, you still get a straightforward spraying system. The push-down spray molds to your finger so you can apply as much as you want without your finger hurting.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: The solution is safe enough to be used on or around vegetation. If you want to avoid causing damage to your household plants and your dog from chewing them – this is the perfect solution!
What We Liked
- It comes in many bottle sizes and spray systems
- Thoroughly safe and effective formula
- It doesn’t damage plants or animals
- It leaves a bad taste for long
What We Didn’t Like
- It has a super-strong and undesirable smell
#6. Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Chew
It’s among the most potent chewing deterrents you can get – BY FAR!
It contains no alcohol nor toxic chemicals. You will only find lemongrass oil dogs HATE and a bitter agent that increases the strength from typical apple formulas by up to THREE TIMES!
There’s another advantage to this: you get a thoroughly safe product. Not only is it supremely effective, but it also produces no side effects to worry about. And what’s even better, it doesn’t stain, damage surfaces, or leave broken smells behind.
Emmy’s Best Pet Products (EBPP) promises to fix your dog’s unwanted chewing in just 14 DAYS! That sounds a lot quicker than you may think – but it works…
The formula is so surprisingly well-made that even the most stubborn dog will stop chewing in such little time without fault.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: You can solve your puppy’s chewing behavior FOREVER as long as you re-apply consistently.
What We Liked
- Simple formula yet effective results
- Produces no side effects or harm
- Claims to eliminate chewing habits
- Works on stubborn pets
What We Didn’t Like
- Wears off quickly
#7. Bloomingtails 6X Bitter No Chew Spray for Dogs
Claiming to be up to SIX TIMES as bitter as the typical apple bitter solution, bloomingtails is certainly shooting FAR.
And it works. Regardless of how faulty you may think the brand design is, it is actually one of the most effective you can get without causing unwanted side effects on your dog.
For one, it contains no steroids, alcohol, tea tree oil, or propylene. Everything is natural and safe. This also avoids stains and won’t damage any surface you apply on.
Something that stands out is the ability to work on pretty much any animal that’s chewing on your household stuff. From cats to ferrets, hamsters, and many other pets will have to stop after tasting this – SAFELY!
The results are outstanding regardless of your dog’s age or breed. More importantly, it can solve your dog’s bad behavior and habits in just a few weeks.
WHAT TO KNOW: Bloomingtails prides on delivering one of the safest (if not the safest) anti-chew sprays out there. It works safely for even adult, pregnant, and extra-young dogs.
What We Liked
- One of the safest out there
- Works on many different pets
- Helps break habits
- Super-strong formula
What We Didn’t Like
- Shouldn’t be sprayed on hot spots (skin or fur of your dog)
How to Pick the Ideal Anti-Chew Dog Spray?
These sprays seem simple enough to not require much thought… right?
Well, it doesn’t work that way.
You still need to make sure it is the PERFECT anti-chew spray for your dog. Or you may suffer the consequences.
Here’s a set of factors to consider when choosing an anti-chew spray for your pooch:
Ingredients Quality
This is super important because it will affect two CRITICAL factors: safety and results.
You’ll be happy to know that most anti-chew sprays are made of BITTER APPLE liquid. This is a form of alcohol that feels super-bitter on the tongue of your dog. It is easily one of the most effective and causes NO DAMAGE AT ALL, so it’s also incredibly safe.
But you don’t have to stick with bitter apple. Other forms of BITTER LIQUID like lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, and similar non-alcohol products may also work PERFECTLY without damaging your dog.
Having said that, it’s important to remember dogs may get accustomed to some of these ingredients eventually, turning the anti-chew spray useless. You can pick a multi-ingredient anti-chew spray to avoid that.
ALSO CONSIDER: Stay away from sprays with toxic or non-natural ingredients. While they won’t necessarily be bad for your dog, they can cause all sorts of unwanted results (like foul smells or stains).
Spraying Method
Once you’ve figured out the ingredients, choose the ideal spray system.
Most anti-chew sprays come with a simple push-down spray head. This is one of the easiest to use, so even if you’re completely clueless and have never used an anti-chew spray, it will be a piece of cake.
Another spray method is the pistol-type. This is even better if you need to spray a lot of the liquid in the same place. But be careful, because they can also over-spray and cause you to waste the product.
Quantity
Simply put: you’ll want to have enough of the anti-chew spray to last enough time to teach your dog a lesson.
Most dogs learn within weeks or a month not to chew on things that taste bad. You’ll want a bottle that can last that much.
Generally, these anti-chew sprays come in 8-ounce bottles. That should last you about 2 weeks with daily use, up to a month with occasional use. Getting two bottles could help you enormously if you want the product to last.
How to Use Anti-Chew Dog Spray Correctly?
You bought the spray but are still confused about WHEN, WHERE, and HOW to use it. And well, you need a bit of guidance plus some tips to avoid issues and ineffectiveness.
Luckily, we know everything about using anti-chew dog sprays. Here are some of our tips:
- Don’t spray the whole house – stick to spraying objects like shoes, furniture, clothes, or parts of their bodies only instead of spraying your home entirely
- Don’t spray on mouth/eyes – the liquid often comes with uncomfortable ingredients that may cause irritation on eyes or severe drooling in their mouth (only spray on objects or hot spots)
- Don’t spray on toys/food – it’s obvious why you should do this, but it’s still worth remembering that your dog’s toys and food are never to be sprayed (unless you want your dog to never eat or play again)
- Don’t spray on yourself – you are your dog’s owner and best friend, not an object to be scared of. The dog will eventually associate you with disgust and discomfort if you spray yourself with the liquid.
- Let your dog chew – the best way to teach your dog a lesson is to let him taste the spray in the first place (set traps by spraying an object and leaving it in plain sight, for example)
- Spray stuff consistently – even though these sprays can last up to a week or a bit more, it’s always better to re-spray at least once every 5 days.
There’s little else you can consider when using an anti-chew spray – so take these into account once you’ve bought a bottle.
How to Make Anti Chew Spray for Dogs at Home?
Want to make your own homemade anti-chew spray? IT’S EASY!
Though not as effective as a commercial one, it can still get the job done way cheaper. Plus, it makes the whole process a lot more fun.
#1. Get the Ingredients and Materials
You will need:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Lemon Juice
- Vinegar (Apple or White)
- Empty Bottle
- Spray Head
It’s essential to spend as little money as you can first. So if you can’t find any vinegar at home, you can use lemon juice instead (it should also work).
And for the bottle, make sure it’s completely empty first. Sweet liquids like juice or dairy products could make the spray tasty, and your dog won’t struggle to chew and lick it.
Finally, don’t use any bottle that contains bleach, detergent, oils, or other toxic chemicals. Only use bottles that have non-toxic products.
#2. Mix the Ingredients
Pour the cider, vinegar, and lime juice into the same bottle. You will need 1 cup of vinegar and cider each, plus half a cup of lemon. Shake until everything is well-mixed.
#3. Test it with Your Dog
Now you can test to see whether your dog reacts negatively to it. A great way to do that is to spray something they like to chew on and offering it to them.
Does your dog restrain from chewing it? Then it works.
If not, add more vinegar and cider to the mix. This should make it work.
EXTRA TIP: To prevent your dog from chewing on things you don’t want them to chew on, there’s nothing better than reinforcement learning. That is, every time you catch them chewing, you tell them “NO!” and they should stop. Repeat the same process alongside the bitter mix for them to eventually stop forever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
YES! Most of them work. In fact, you can go as far as to say that ALL OF THEM work.
But it also depends on your dog.
What does this mean?
Well, some dogs like kibble while others prefer raw, canned food (and vice versa). The same will happen with the bitterness of an anti-chew spray.
Most dogs will actually HATE the smell and taste of the spray. But others, regardless of what the spray is made of, will actually like it.
This is a mysterious thing, and it happens a lot. There’s no way to avoid it. Luckily, you can always test different anti-chew sprays and use the one that works best for your pet.
BY THE WAY, if your dog doesn’t like the taste or smell at first, it is likely the dog won’t ever like it. So taking from the first impressions, you can already know whether it works or not.
Yes. In fact, some of these are made to be used on many more pets than just dogs. They may also work for chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters, rats, mice, and even squirrels. Any pet that tends to eat away stuff that is not for eating will probably find an anti-chew spray not tasty.
Most of the area. But be aware because some of them may contain tiny but significant amounts of unwanted ingredients.
The ingredients to stay away from include:
-Alcohol (Isopropanol)
-Propylene glycol
-Tea tree oil (only in concentrations higher than 2%)
-Steroids
As a general rule, stick to natural ingredients for the best experience.
As long as the liquid is made of natural ingredients – YES! But still, be aware of the instructions. Some of them may be strong enough to cause damage to plants or even fabric.
Conclusion
Don’t let your dog eat on your favorite household items, clothes, or furniture – use the best anti-chew dog spray and stop that from happening!
With the different options above plus our comprehensive guide, you should be ready to pick precisely what you need for that.
So, what are you waiting for? Get that dog to stop their bad habits and stop worrying about your stuff.
By the way, the sooner you start, the better (it may take several days/weeks for your dog to learn).
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Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.