Dog flea repellent, garlic, rosemary, apple cider vinegar really? What do you use, homemade or commercial?

    I really don't like putting flea and tick repellent on our wild eyed mixed breed Heinz 57 family dog. She doesn't like it one bit, true to form she makes it as difficult as possible to put it on her. The commercial stuff is expensive, and I'm not sure if it's not toxic. I've been looking for home made formula's for repellent. (EPA on fleas here.)

    Fleas and ticks will be prolific in your yard when the the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit and it is maintained for at least 2-3 weeks. Keeping them out of your yard will help keep them off your dog. The first item we need to take care of is to make sure our lawns are mowed, the little critters love long grass. Nematodes are the answer, nematodes control ants, termites, grubs and Fleas, they feed on them. Nematodes are living creatures, they can be bought at garden centers, big box hardware stores and on line. When they arrive make sure to use them immediately. Add water according to the suppliers instructions, pour in a sprayer, or watering can and spray throughout your yard. (Click here for more on nematodes.)
    Rosemary, Catnip, lemongrass, basil, lemon balm, sage and mint are some plants that naturally repel insects. Plant any of these in planters and place them by your entry ways, they will naturally repel fleas and keep them out of your house. Some work excellent to repel mosquito's as well.

Where are my humans when I need them, don't they know I can't
reach that spot? Good Grief. 

    Diatomaceous  Earth, not the swimming pool type, it has chemicals in it for commercial uses. Buy food grade Diatomacious Earth only, abbreviated DE, it is available at many dog supply stores. Dust your yard where your dog spends most of it's time, where ever he/she rests is a good spot. DE is extremely dry and will dry out the flea and ticks eggs that lay in the grass and dirt. It doesn't take long before the pest will be eradicated, if it is applied regularly. Once a month, and after every rain fall after the ground dries out.
    Boiling 7-8 heads of garlic chopped up in a gallon of water, let it steep for 12 hours, strain it, pour it in a yard sprayer and lightly spray your yard. Moderation is the key, garlic also kills some beneficial bugs, don't soak the ground and you'll be OK. When I was young we fed our Labradors garlic for flea control, I remember it working. People that recommend it now use 1/4 garlic clove per 10 pounds. If your dog is 100 pounds you would then use only 2 garlic cloves, once monthly.
    Apple Cider Vinegar, 8 ounces of warm water, 12 ounces of apple cider vinegar, and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt or Himalayan salt. Combine all of the ingredients, pour in a spray bottle and spray on your dog once a week. Make sure to avoid open sores or areas that are skinned or raw.
    Essential oils mixed with a neutral oil such as vegetable oil, olive oil or grape seed oil (to name a few.) A few drops placed on a collar or bandanna around your pet's neck will repel pests. Take the collar off before entry back into the house. Essential oils such as Lavender, Lemon, Cedar and Peppermint are some. Be cautious with them and again moderation is key. This would be my last choice, it just seems like a lot of preparation just to be used outdoors.
For every day flea and tick repellent use, 1 lemon, rosemary 3 sprigs, 2 garden sage sprigs 1 quart of water. Boil the water, slice the lemon then add the sage and rosemary with it into the water. Place a good cover on it and let the concoction steep at least over night. Make sure to strain it before putting the solution into a spray bottle. This will last 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.
    The Internet has many recipes and solutions to deal with fleas and ticks, do not use the same solutions on cats.

It's good to be good!

     Thanks for reading, tell me what you think, have you used home made flea repellent for your pets? I'd sure like to hear about it. Leave a comment, what have you found that works?

Thanks jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com