“My top means of preventing ticks is the natural method of avoiding environments where ticks may lurk,” says Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a holistic veterinarian. Instead, opt for established hiking trails with dirt roads or low-cut grass. Your furry friend will thank you.

Spray it on

If staying away from areas flush with ticks isn’t possible, try to repel them as much as possible. “There are natural oils, topical products, collars, and shampoos that can have an anti-tick effect,” says Mahaney. “Natural oils may not work as well as chemical pesticides, but they can provide an anti-tick effect that suits a pet’s lifestyle.”

There are a variety of natural sprays and treatments on the market that make your dog persona non grata with the bug world. Products like Pet Naturals of Vermont Flea + TickSpray for Dogs & Cats, which blocks the scents that make dogs desirable to bugs, can be sprayed throughout your dog’s fur, and up and down the paws. TickHex, developed by holistic veterinarian Peter Dobias is another option. In addition to apple cider vinegar and a blend of essential oils, it contains neem oil, which is known for its insect repelling properties.

For a homemade fix, dilute a quick pour of white vinegar in a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz it generously throughout your dog’s coat. Bonus points: White vinegar can be mixed with water and sprayed on household furniture to prevent your dog from chewing on it.

Make your yard undesirable

Make your yard the type of place that ticks just don’t want to be. The Center for Disease Control recommends creating a tick-safe zone in your yard by mowing frequently, and keeping leaves raked. You can also place a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, therefore restricting tick-migration into recreational areas.

“Treating the environment (yard) with natural products that deter tick populations, like nematodes (small worms that live in the soil that consume tick and flea eggs and larvae), can help to minimize the potential that immediate outdoor environments will harbor ticks,” says Mahaney.

Consider vaccination

Here’s one way our canine friends have an advantage over us humans: The canine Lyme Disease vaccine. While there isn’t one developed yet for humans, we can help prevent Lyme in dogs by administering this easy vaccination. Talk to your vet to decide if the canine vaccination is right for your dog. But keep in mind: just because your dog gets vaccinated, doesn’t mean they’re one hundred percent in the clear.

Ticks can carry a plethora of other diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis. That’s why it’s vital to perform regular checks on your dog whether he’s vaccinated or not.