A rain barrel or a rainwater tank is a great way to harvest a bit of rain water for irrigating plants or watering livestock. If you boil or filter it, it can even supply some of your drinking water. However if you have a dog and your dog keeps urinating on your rainwater tank, that can be a little gross.

Luckily, there are ways to deter your dog. Take a look at these ideas:

1. Sprinkle some natural deterrent around your rainwater tank.

There are a number of products on the market that promise to deter dogs from certain areas, but you don't have to buy anything expensive or chemical laden. Instead, you can make your own natural deterrent. Simply sprinkle some pepper around your rainwater tank. It will agitate the dog and encourage him to leave that area alone.

Alternatively, try placing old citrus peels from oranges, lemons or other fruits around the water tank.

2. Put in some plants that dogs don't like.

If the pepper isn't working, consider putting some plants around your rainwater tank. Rue deters dogs and cats, or you can consider putting in some spiky rose bushes or even a few cacti. If you don't have the time to wait for anything to grow, buy potted plants and place the containers around your water tank.

3. Insist on supervised toilet breaks.

If your dog lives inside, don't let him into the yard alone for a while. When you take him out, have him on a lead, and lead him to an area far away from your rainwater tank. Have him urinate and defecate there and praise him for the effort. Continue doing this until you feel that he has assigned his allegiance to the new toilet area.

For the first few times, you let him go into the yard without a lead on, remember to supervise him. If he heads over toward your rainwater tank, admonish him immediately and nudge him toward the area you want him to use.

4. Build a small fence around the water tank.

If your dog lives outside and you suspect that he urinates on your rainwater tank frequently, consider protecting it with a small structure. With a few posts and a bit of chicken wire, you can easily jury rig a fence to block your dog's access from your rainwater tank.

Want more tips on protecting and maintaining your rainwater tank from dogs and other potential annoyances? Contact a rainwater tank expert today.