If you’ve ever brought your dog on a road trip with you, you know they are prone to distraction. In the car, they might become transfixed by smells outside your window or by other dogs barking in someone else’s yard. Your dog might even get interested in your luggage when you get ready to check into a hotel. Dogs love sniffing around, but it can be problematic when it comes to keeping them from digging through your bags. Here are some ways to stop your dog sniffing around your bags.
Keep Your dog Away From Your Luggage
Keeping your dog away from your luggage is the best place to start if you want to keep them from digging around inside your bag. This means keeping your dog leashed or in a crate when you’re walking to your car and when you check into your hotel.
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If you come across a place that won’t allow dogs inside, don’t risk it. You don’t want your trip to be ruined because your dog dug through your things. Keep your dog on a leash or in a crate whenever they are near your luggage, even if they seem calm. You never know when they might get the urge to dig into your bag.
Properly Storing Your Dog’s Food and Treats
If you’ve ever noticed your dog getting interested in the inside of your bag, it’s likely they are after their stash of treats or food. Keep your dog’s food and treats in a different bag from the rest of your supplies. You don’t want to put your treats in a bag that contains your clothes or other items that might get stained should they find a way inside.
If possible, put your food and treats in a secure tin all their own. This will help keep your other bags safe from unwanted attention. You can also store a little bit of your dog’s food in the bottom of your bag. If your dog gets curious and starts digging, they might hit the food and give up. Just use a small amount of food to avoid a mess.
Use a Mixture of Vinegar and Water as a Deterrent
If your dog is a frequent sorter through your bags, you might want to try a deterrent. Start by mixing a few drops of vinegar with every cup of water you put in a spray bottle. The vinegar helps mask the smell of the water so your dog won’t learn to associate the scent with the water. Spray the inside of your bag, as well as the outside of it. The vinegar and water mixture will help your dog associate their digging with the scent and stop digging all together. The good news is that the smell will fade after a couple weeks.
- Leaving your bags outside for a good air will remove residual food smells so your dog won’t be inclined to sniff and rummage through them on a daily basis even when there are no treats to find.
Keep Everything you Don’t Want Your Dog to Sniff in a Sealed bag
If you’re worried your dog is interested in what’s inside your bag because they smell something good, you can put everything you don’t want them to smell inside a sealed bag. This may be a good idea if you are bringing anything with an aromatic smell like food of any kind.
Your dog may be able to smell these things through the fabric of the bag, so putting them in a sealed bag will keep your dog from being interested in hunting the smell. You can also put your dirty clothes inside a sealed bag to keep your dog from getting interested in the smell and trying to dig through the bag to get to them.
Don’t Leave Anything Edible in the bag
There’s a good chance your dog is going to try to get into your bag and eat anything they find inside. Make sure you don’t leave anything edible inside your bag. This includes things like your toothpaste, deodorant, and even vitamins. If your dog eats something from your bag, you may have to take them to the vet to get them checked out.
Your dog may have an upset stomach or could even get sick enough to need an IV. You may also have to pay a visit to your vet because your dog may be allergic to something you left in your bag. Be safe and make sure nothing edible is left inside your bag.
Use an Essential oil to Stop Your dog From Sniffing Around Your Bags
Some essential oils like eucalyptus, citronella, or peppermint have a strong smell that can prevent dogs from getting interested in digging around in your bags. You don’t have to put anything edible in your bag, and you can use a natural product instead.
Eucalyptus is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is often used to treat bug bites. It also has properties that may deter your dog from getting interested in what’s inside your bag. Eucalyptus and peppermint are also helpful for dogs who suffer from anxiety. If your dog has trouble sleeping and is anxious, these essential oils can help calm them down. Keep in mind that dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than people do, so they may be irritated by the smell of the essential oil. You should be careful when using oils around your dog.
Train Your dog to Stop Sniffing Around in Bags
If you have a puppy, you can easily train them to not smell in your bags. As soon as you spot your dog sniffing around in your bag, take away the bag from him or her. If you want to take it a step further, you can also spray a bad smell on the bag to get your dog to not get interested in it in the first place. Some people have had great success with using lemon-scented products to deter their dog from sniffing in their bags. Another thing you can do is to leave your bag open, so that your dog can smell all the things inside, and get bored of it.
Don’t Forget to Reward Good Behavior
Dogs are creatures of habit, which means your dog might dwell on digging in your bag instead of focusing on the positive things in life. Keep your dog’s spirits high by giving them treats and affection when they do a good thing, like staying out of your bag. If your dog has a terrible habit of digging through your bag, it might take some time to break the cycle. Be patient and keep trying new things until you find a method that works for you and your dog.
Dogs are naturally curious, which makes them prone to digging through your bags. The best way to keep your dog from being destructive and nosy is to keep them leashed and out of your bags. While there is no guaranteed way to stop your dog from digging through your bags, there are ways to deter them from doing so.
In Conclusion – How to Stop Your Dog Sniffing Around Your Bags
Its an easier job to train your puppy not to sniff around in your bags. Removing alluring food smells or keep them in a sealable bag or container will deter any tempting wafts. Allow the dog access to your bag with your food sealed away and it will soon get bored. Alternatively, if the dog is persistent physically keep him or her away from the bags. You can also spray a bad smell on the bag to get your dog to not get interested in it in the first place.
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