Dog Chewing Solution: Puppy-Proof Your House Using Oil of Citronella

Here's an early training idea that many trainers have successfully used with puppies older than 6 weeks, as well as adults. Researchers developed this training technique by testing newborns' sniffers using a commercial dog repellent containing oil of citronella. It is almost odorless to people, but leaves a slightly nauseating after-taste in the pup’s throat.

These newborn puppies reacted to the stuff by withdrawing their heads as far as possible. Breeders might utilize this aversion to the odor/taste of oil of citronella by using the test on newborns a few days after birth, then wait until they start moving around to investigate things visually. Set-ups could then be made, as described below. If the early aversion-withdrawal was effective, one could expect the pups to avoid such things in the future when they saw them.

If you have a puppy or even an adult dog that has not yet been trained to leave certain chewable items alone, start off by introducing one type of movable baited taboo article at a time; electric cords, then shoes, etc. However, oil should also be applied to all taboo chewables from the beginning; stationary chair legs, the comers of furniture, baseboards, cabinets, etc.

The best item to start with is electrical cords, unplugged. All cords are baited in every room. This avoids the danger that "context learning" might apply, which means the pup learns to avoid cords in one room, but not in others. The pup should be allowed to investigate freely, with the owners out of his sight, but able to monitor reactions.

The cords should be re-baited daily with the oil for four days, and then left without refreshing. Of course, if a puppy shows no aversion to oil of citronella, another substance must be used. Substitutes generally recommended are bitter apple, liquid styptic, lemon oil and unscented underarm deodorant.

A desirable chewable should be left in each room. Among the best are Nylabones, (non-chocolate flavored), Gummabones, Kongs and other non-destructible articles. Since the puppy is also in a housetraining period, we do not recommend any chewable that will be ingested, because this can stimulate defecation and urination. Next, baited footwear, shoes, slippers and socks should be left around; the oil must also be applied to the footwear being worn by family members. The baiting should be stopped when the puppy ignores the objects for four days and confines all chewing interest to acceptable chewables.

The strength and appeal of this way of puppy-proofing a home is that the articles, themselves, say "don't put me in your mouth" and, since absolutely no negative treatment of the puppy is required, the corrections are effective even in the owners' absence.

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