Dogs can often be referred to as “man’s best friend”, helping us guard, detect, protect, and more!
However, there are may stray and feral dogs that can ravage personal property, yards and gardens, and even attack people when going for a jog!
We've reviewed the best repellents for effectively and humanely keeping such menacing dogs at bay.


- The active ingredient is capsaicin
- Used for 30 years by the U.S. Postal Service
- Made in the USA
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What are dog repellents?
- How do dog repellents work?
- Are dog repellents effective?
- How do you use dog repellents?
- And our overall #1 pick!
If you are short on time, click here to jump straight to our top pick for best dog repellent on the market.
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Our Top Pick ![]() | Our Top Pick | HALT 91427 Dog Repellent
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| View on Amazon |
![]() | SABRE RED Maximum Strength Protector Pepper Spray
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![]() | SAFETY-SPORT Dog Horn XL
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![]() | Sound Defense Dog Horn
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![]() | PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Deterrent
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| View on Amazon | |
![]() | Grannicks Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent For Dogs
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| View on Amazon | |
![]() | Downtown Pet Supply NO BARK Citronella Spray Collar
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated as of January 20th, 2021
- Used for 30 years by the U.S. Postal Service
- The active ingredient is capsaicin
- Made in the USA
Aggressive dogs are a mailman’s worst nightmare, along with joggers and bikers. This Halt dog repellent spray contains the active ingredient, Capsaicin, a naturally occurring extract from peppers with a proven ability to deter dogs.
A Capsaicinoid, further refined into oleoresin, is such an effective dog repellent, the U.S. Postal Service has used it for the past 30. This dog repellent spray is made in the USA. It is a handheld dog repellent that includes a belt clip for easy carrying.
The pressurized 5-inch tall can creates a stream that is accurate out to 12 feet.
Top 7 Best Dog Repellents
What Are Dog Repellents?
Dog repellents are any devices used to stop or deter dogs from biting, gnawing, or chewing on your furniture, carpets, or drapes. They can also be devices to stop dogs from jumping or rushing at your guests.
A dog spray to deter an aggressive dog rushing at you when you’re walking, jogging, or riding a bike is also a dog repellent. Passive collars to prevent your dog from nuisance-barking also fall into the “repellent” class.
Check out the video below for more information on the best dog repellents:
How Do Dog Repellents Work?
Repellents work on the principle of negative reinforcement, to discourage certain behaviors.
There are two broad categories of dog repellents: those you use to train or discipline your own dog(s) and those you use to protect you and your family from attacking dog(s) when you’re outside or in a park.
Within those two categories can be several types of repellents; sprays, loud noises, and predator noises.
Repellents work on a dog’s natural instincts, likes, and dislikes. For instance, many dogs are scared of sudden, loud noises such as fireworks and thunderstorms. If you’ve ever seen a dog jump when a car honks at it, you’ve seen this trait in action.
This is the basis for horns and noisemakers of different kinds. The volume on the horns is extremely loud and sudden. It startles dogs, even aggressive dogs that are charging at you will be affected by it. Just don’t aim them at yourself. They’ll hurt your eardrums.

Are Dog Repellents Effective?
Yes. None of them are 100% effective every time with every dog, but for the most part, you’ll be pleased with results from any repeller we’ve listed here.
We do need to say something about ultrasonic repellers. Ultrasonic sound is any sound or noise above the normal range of human hearing, up to 20,000 Hz. Ultrasonic repellers try to use ultrasonic sounds to drive animals away, including dogs.
Unfortunately, researchers at the University of Georgia, have concluded that ultrasonic repellers are nearly useless. For this reason, and our own experience in the field, we’re not going to review any ultrasonic repellent devices.
Dog owner? Check out this guide: Best Mosquito Repellents for Dogs
How To Use A Dog Repellent
Each will be slightly different so you’ll need to read the instructions that come with each one. The main takeaway for using dog repellents correctly, is to select and properly use each repellent in a humane way.
Most of the sprays work at a ten foot distance. As long as you have your guard up, you'll be able to quickly and effectively deter any attacking dog from a safe distance without harming yourself or the dog.
Are Dog Repellents Safe Around My Pets And Children?
Most of the reviewed repellents are safe around your children and pets.
However, be careful with the horns as the loud noises can greatly endanger young children's sensitive ears.
Best Dog Repellents Reviewed
- Used for 30 years by the U.S. Postal Service
- The active ingredient is capsaicin
- Made in the USA
Loose, aggressive dogs are every mailman’s worst nightmare since the days of the Pony Express, and before. But this Halt dog repellent spray contains the active ingredient, Capsaicin, a naturally occurring extract from peppers with a proven ability to deter dogs.
Capsaicinoids, further refined into oleoresin, is such an effective dog repellent that the U.S. Postal Service has used it for the past 30 years to protect their mail carriers from any dog attack. This bestseller dog repellent spray is made in the USA.
This is a handheld dog repellent that produces an accurate stream up to 12 feet. The spray can is only five inches tall and includes a belt clip so it’s always close at hand.
Pros
Cons
- Made in the USA
- The active ingredient is 1% capsaicinoid
- The brand preferred by law enforcement
This all-natural pepper spray uses 1. 0% Major Capsaicinoids as the active ingredient, based on chili peppers. This is the maximum strength allowed by the EPA. This is a large, 1.8-ounce canister with a handy belt clip included.
It delivers 1-second bursts, seven at a time, at ranges of up to 15 feet. It has a flip-top safety to prevent accidental discharges, it’s made in the USA, and has a four-year shelf life.
Sabre is the brand name most police and safety professionals use for non-lethal take-down and deterrence products. It’s an excellent deterrent spray that will stop dogs without causing permanent harm to them.
Pros
Cons
- Extra loud blast of sound
- 110 decibels
- Designed by acoustical engineers
The XL in the name stands for extra loud. It was designed by acoustical engineers to be as loud as possible. According to people who’ve used it, it registers at 110 decibels. This is the threshold for human pain, about as loud as a rock concert or a riveting machine.
The 1.8-ounce can of propellant can be changed as needed with easy to install refills. There is also a bonus stainless steel belt clip for hands-free carrying while still keeping it close by.
The extra loud sudden noise sets dogs back on their heels. It hurts our ears so you can imagine how much it hurts their ears which are move sensitive than ours.
Pros
Cons
- 110 decibels of sound
- 9-volt battery power
- Weather-resistant
This battery-powered dog deterrent uses 110 decibels of sound in 2-second bursts. The 9-volt battery delivers 1800 such bursts for long use before changing batteries. It will deliver a blast of sound up to 25 feet over a wide area for maximum effect.
There is a wrap-around strap to secure it to your hand while you’re jogging. If aggressive dogs come at you, or you want them to stop barking, just aim it at them like Ironman using his palm blasters and hit the button. The burst of noise will scare them.
You don’t have to be precise or let the dog get too close before using it. It has plenty of deterrent power at a distance. It’s even weather-resistant so you can take it with you, rain or shine.
Pros
Cons
- Motion-activated
- Unscented spray
- Used four AAA batteries
This is a motion-activated pet deterrent that detects motion within three feet of it and releases a quick, unscented spray that startles your dog and scares them away. The spray reaches a distance of three feet too.
You can use it to keep dogs off your furniture, out of cabinets, or any room where you don’t want them to be. It runs on four AAA batteries (not included) and each canister gives you about 80 to 100 sprays before it needs to be replaced.
Use it as an untended training spray for repelling dogs from areas you want them to stay out of or as an anti-chew training device to keep them from chewing on throw pillows, furniture legs, and so on.
Pros
Cons
- No-stain formula
- Main ingredient is water isopropanol 20%
- Made in the USA
The active ingredients are water isopropanol 20%, bitter principles, and extractives. Due to the isopropanol, don’t put it on your plants. It won’t stain your fabric furniture, carpets, wallpaper, or wooden furniture.
Dogs don’t like the bitter taste so it discourages chewing, biting, and gnawing behaviors. Use this chew spray wherever you don’t want them gnawing to eliminate bad behavior.
Apply it daily at first to keep it strong, then as your dog’s behavior begins to change, you can drop the incidence down to once every two days. It’s made in Connecticut, USA.
Pros
Cons
- Battery-powered
- Citronella spray
- Works better than electroshock collars
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that anti-barking citronella spray collars work better than standard anti-barking electroshock collars to stop and prevent nuisance-barking.
The battery-powered collar has a microphone for detecting your dog’s bark, then shooting a spray of citronella up under their mouth and nose to punish them for every bark.
The adjustable collar will fit any dog over 6-8 pounds and the reservoir holds enough liquid for 15 sprays. Then you can refill it from in the included canister.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: HALT 91427 Dog Repellent
Halt dog repellent spray contains the active ingredient, Capsaicin, a naturally occurring extract from peppers with a proven ability to deter dogs. It’s so effective the U.S. Postal Service has used it for the past 30 years to protect their mail carriers.
This handheld dog repellent spray is made in the USA and delivers an accurate pepper spray from up to 12 feet away. It even includes a plastic belt clip.
- Used for 30 years by the U.S. Postal Service
- The active ingredient is capsaicin
- Made in the USA
This all-natural deterrent is one of the most effective on the market, so if you have a dog problem, grab your can of Halt Dog Repellent today!
Final Thoughts On Dog Repellents
Most dog repellents are manually operated for deterring charging or aggressive dogs. Some though, are passive or motion-activated to aid in training your dog. Base your decision on which one you need then pick one of the products we’ve reviewed.
Any of them will serve you well.
Other Dog Related Products & Uncommon Pest Guides
Looking for more information on dog products or other uncommon pests? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems.
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