12 Ways to Keep Stray Dogs Away From Your Yard or Garden

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Plus, how to safely and humanely remove strays from your property
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Dealing with stray dogs that wander into your yard can be both annoying and dangerous, especially if you have pets of your own. By taking steps to make your yard less appealing to wandering dogs, you can decrease the likelihood that they’ll want to enter your yard. In this article, we’ll explain all the best ways to keep strays out of your yard , plus how to safely remove them if they keep coming back.

How to Keep Dogs Out of Your Yard

  • Don’t leave your pets’ food outside, and keep your trash tightly sealed.
  • Put up physical barriers, like a fence, thorny plants, or a motion-activated sprinkler.
  • Use scents that naturally repel dogs, like citrus, vinegar, or cayenne and black pepper.
  • Try commercial dog repellent sprays or granules.
Section 1 of 3:

Keeping Stray Dogs Away from Your Yard

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  1. A sure way to attract stray dogs to your yard is to leave your own pets’ food outside where strays can smell and get to it. Most strays will be hungry and looking for food. If you feed your pets outside, make sure you bring leftover food into the house once your pets are finished. [1]
  2. Strays might also look for food by digging through your trash. Bag all of the trash that you take outside and make sure your garbage cans’ lids are replaced tightly after you put bags of trash in them. [2]
    • Garbage cans that have locking handles are probably your best bet, because they also prevent strays from trying to pop off garbage can lids that are less secure.
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  3. 3
    Spay any female dogs that you own. When a female dog goes into heat, her scent will attract male dogs from miles around. While spaying a dog can be costly, it may help keep male dogs from coming to your yard. Plus, you won’t have to deal with any accidental litters of puppies! [3]
    • Spaying your dog will also reduce your dog's risk of cancer and mammary tumors. [4]
  4. Dogs are repelled by the smell of vinegar, so spraying the edge of your yard with white or apple cider vinegar can help create a barrier that keeps strays out. Just pour some vinegar into a spray bottle and walk the perimeter of your yard, spraying the grass as you go. [5]
    • Keep in mind that depending on the size of your yard, you’ll be able to smell the vinegar after you spray it. You might not want to use this method right before you’re going to be using your yard.
    • Vinegar neutralizes urine odors, so stray dogs won’t be compelled to mark any areas where other dogs have peed.
    • Be aware that vinegar can kill plants and vegetation. If you want to protect your plants, only spray along sidewalks and pathways.
  5. Sprinkling small amounts of black or cayenne pepper in your yard will make it less appealing to strays. Dogs use their keen sense of smell and taste to assess most situations. If they come across a patch of black or cayenne pepper and either sniff or lick at it, they'll learn to stay away from your yard. [6]
    • Use very small amounts of pepper for this. However annoying strays are, you don’t want to cause permanent damage to them by leaving out huge mounds of pepper that can burn their noses or mouths.
    • Some dogs are also deterred by the smell of coffee grounds, but they can be harmful if ingested, especially in large quantities.
  6. 6
    Spray your yard with citrus essential oils. Dogs dislike the smell of citrus, so dilute some citrus essential oils with water and lightly spray the mixture around your yard. Be aware, though, that citrus can be harmful if the dog ingests it, so don’t be too heavy-handed. [7]
    • If you don’t want to use essential oils, toss some citrus peels around your yard. The strays should avoid them, and they make good compost for your garden!
  7. 7
    Try a commercial dog repellent. There are many dog repellent sprays and granules on the market. These often include ingredients and smells that dogs dislike but are ultimately harmless. Be sure to follow the instructions on your preferred repellent to apply it properly. [8]
    • Critter Ridder is a popular dog repellent available in both granules and spray that gives off the smell of black pepper.
    • Liquid Fence is a product that masks the smells of dog urine so dogs are less likely to poop or pee in your yard. Be sure to get the one formulated for dogs.
    • Mothballs are another common deterrent, as dogs hate the smell. However, mothballs contain harmful chemicals, so if you choose to use them, place them in areas where children, pets, and wildlife can’t get to them.
  8. Dogs dislike the smell of marigolds, so plant some in your yard or garden to encourage strays to stay away from your yard. Prickly and thorny plants also deter dogs, especially when planted close together. Some fresh herbs (like rosemary, thyme, mint, and basil) also have an intense aroma known to repel dogs. [9]
    • Marigolds also repel certain types of bugs and pests, so planting them can pull the double duty of repelling stray dogs as well as other critters.
  9. 9
    Switch to a plant-based fertilizer. If you garden, stray dogs may be attracted to the fertilizer you use, as certain types contain bone meal, fish, and blood. [10] Check the ingredients, and if needed, switch to a plant-based fertilizer to avoid unintentionally attracting dogs.
  10. The best way to create a barrier around your yard is to put up a fence . Most strays won’t jump a fence to get into your yard (although some might), and it also prevents your own animals from getting loose or coming into contact with unknown animals. The size of your fence will depend a lot on the size of the strays wandering into your yard, as well as the size of your own animals. [11]
    • Unfortunately, installing a fence may not be possible if you’re renting. Building a fence may also not be a financial possibility for some people.
    • Your fence must also meet your local zoning and building code requirements, so check with your local government to make sure it’s allowed.
  11. A sonic repellent device works by emitting high-frequency sounds that dogs can hear but humans can’t. Some versions are motion-activated, so when a stray dog (or other animal) wanders into your yard, the device emits a sound that will drive the strays away. [12]
    • Keep in mind that this is not a good choice if you have dogs or other pets of your own. If you let them into the yard, they’ll set off the device and have to deal with those high-pitched sounds themselves.
    • Yard Gard is a popular electronic dog repellent that allows you to emit sonic waves 24/7 or choose the motion-activated option.
  12. Like a motion-activated sonic device, a motion-activated sprayer or sprinkler will turn on when strays enter your yard. Spraying dogs with water is an eco-friendly and humane option for keeping strays out of your yard. [13]
    • If you have pets (or kids) of your own, keep in mind that they’ll get sprayed, too, so you might want to try a different option if this is an issue for you.
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Section 2 of 3:

Removing Stray Dogs from Your Yard

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  1. If a stray dog does get into your yard, avoid confronting it. Don’t try to chase it out of your yard on your own, and do not try to touch it. Strays are likely to carry diseases and can be more aggressive than domesticated dogs, so stay safe by keeping your distance and assessing the situation before approaching. [14]
    • Even if you know the dog is a pet, it may be aggressive with strangers, so be cautious.
    • If a stray dog approaches you, canine behavior consultant Colleen Demling-Riley says, “The best thing to do is avoid direct eye contact and kind of turn at a 90-degree angle to the dog. [This] communicates to them that you mean no threat. Don’t reach out your hand. Don’t try to initiate contact.” [15]
  2. 2
    Call Animal Control. Call your local animal shelter or police department’s animal control unit if a stray is actively in your yard. [16] Animal control officers and animal shelter employees are specially trained to deal with stray and/or aggressive animals. They can remove the stray from your yard without any injury to themselves or the dog. [17]
    • If you’re not sure how to report the dog , call your local police department’s non-emergency line. Only call emergency services if the dog has attacked someone.
  3. If animal control can’t get to your home right away, the safest way to catch the stray is to trap it. Set up a live trap big enough to contain the dog. Put some meat or dog biscuits inside, and the stray will lock itself inside when it goes to eat. This way, you can keep the stray contained until an animal control officer or someone from an animal shelter can come get it. [18]
    • Animal control may also set up a trap if the dog isn’t there when they arrive. This way, if it comes back, you don’t have to approach it. Simply call animal control, and they’ll come and retrieve it.
    • Purchase a live trap online or from a big box or hardware store.
    • These traps are generally pretty humane and won’t injure the strays in any way.
  4. Sometimes strays aren’t homeless dogs at all—they’re just free-roaming dogs that might be owned by your neighbors. If the dog is friendly, see if it has the owner’s phone number or address on its collar. Or, ask around to see if anyone recognizes it. Once you know who the dog belongs to, contact the owner and let them know that their dog is frequently in your yard. Ask them if they can keep their pet better contained. [19]
    • If the dog is friendly, certified dog trainer Belgin Altundag recommends taking it to the vet to see if it’s microchipped. This is a great way to contact the owner if the dog is lost. [20]
    • If the problem persists or the owner refuses to cooperate, you may need to call animal control or the police to handle the situation.
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Section 3 of 3:

Why should you keep stray dogs away?

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  1. Keep strays away to protect yourself, your pets, and your lawn. Stray dogs may have diseases or be aggressive with people or other animals, so it’s important to keep them away from your home to keep your family safe. Plus, stray dogs might dig in your yard or garden and damage your plants or landscaping.

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      Tips

      • You can also put up signs so people know you don’t want dogs in your yard, but this won’t be effective if the dog is truly a stray.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://seewhatgrows.org/how-to-keep-wild-animals-out-of-your-garden/
      2. ↑ https://seewhatgrows.org/how-to-keep-wild-animals-out-of-your-garden/
      3. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Research/Colwill_Lab/CBP/spaynueter.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Research/Colwill_Lab/CBP/spaynueter.htm
      5. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/lawn-garden/guides/how-to-keep-dogs-off-lawn/
      6. ↑ https://getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-stray-dogs/
      7. ↑ https://www.kinship.com/dog-behavior/most-dogs-hate-smell-citrus
      8. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/lawn-garden/guides/how-to-keep-dogs-off-lawn/
      9. ↑ https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/what-smells-do-dogs-hate
      1. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/dog-ate-fertilizer
      2. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-garden-11732610
      3. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/lawn-garden/guides/how-to-keep-dogs-off-lawn/
      4. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-garden-11732610
      5. ↑ https://ccspca.com/blog-spca/encounter-a-roaming-dog-stay-safe-with-these-tips/
      6. ↑ Colleen Demling-Riley, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CDBC. Canine Behavior Consultant. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://wildlife-damage-management.extension.org/how-can-i-keep-stray-animals-out-of-my-yard/
      8. ↑ https://ccspca.com/blog-spca/encounter-a-roaming-dog-stay-safe-with-these-tips/
      9. ↑ https://www.ilostmydog.org/HowToTrapaDog.html
      10. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/lawn-garden/guides/how-to-keep-dogs-off-lawn/
      11. ↑ Belgin Altundag. Certified Dog Trainer. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To keep stray dogs away from your backyard, make sure your trash is tightly bagged and canned, and that you’re not leaving pet food outside, which can attract dogs. You can also sprinkle black or cayenne pepper around your yard, which dogs dislike. Additionally, try planting marigolds in your yard, as dogs don’t like the smell. Alternatively, purchase liquid fence at a home improvement store and spray it around the perimeter of your yard to create a barrier that dogs won’t want to cross. For advice from our Veterinary co-author on how to handle an aggressive stray dog that finds its way into your yard, read on!

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      • Aleah Flowers

        May 14, 2020

        "We had a stray dog and it was trying to attack and the pepper worked!"
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