Watching your dog go through stress and anxiety can give you your own stress and anxiety. Dogs can undergo stress from loud noises, new situations, and separation anxiety, and we can try our best to help them. But sometimes, we need a little help ourselves, and that can come in the form of calming aids. But locating the right product can take a while.
So, we reviewed 10 of the best calming aids that have proven to work for most dogs. These reviews cover a variety of different forms of calming aids, so hopefully, one (or more) will help your dog get through stressful events a little easier.
A Quick Look at Our 2023 Favorites
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Product
Details
Best Overall
PetHonesty Calming Hemp Soft Chews
Chicken-flavored soft chews
Contains hemp, ginger, chamomile, and valerian root
Doesn’t contain preservatives, soy, corn, grains, or GMOs
The best overall calming aid for dogs is the PetHonesty Calming Hemp Soft Chews. You can get them in containers with 90 or 180 soft chews that are in a delicious chicken flavor. The main calming ingredient is hemp, but these also contain ginger, chamomile, and valerian root, which all work to calm your dog. They don’t have any preservatives, corn, soy, wheat, or GMOs, and they work for hyperactivity, nervousness, stress, and anxiety.
The biggest flaw with these chews is that not every dog will want to eat them, particularly if your dog doesn’t like chicken or has a food sensitivity to it.
Pros
Chicken-flavored soft chews
Contains hemp, ginger, chamomile, and valerian root
Doesn’t contain preservatives, soy, corn, grains, or GMOs
Works for hyperactivity, nervousness, stress, and anxiety
Cons
Not all dogs will want to eat them
2. Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming OraStix — Best Value
The best calming aid for dogs for the money is the Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming OraStix. These soft sticks primarily use hemp, along with Suntheanine, melatonin, valerian root, and chamomile, all for calming support. It also has rosemary extract, kelp, and peppermint oil for healthy gums and teeth. The peppermint has the added advantage of making your pup’s breath a little fresher.
One of the unfortunate side effects is that these sticks can sometimes make hyperactive dogs more, not less, hyper.
Pros
Uses hemp, Suntheanine, melatonin, valerian root, and chamomile
Has peppermint oil, kelp, and rosemary extract for teeth and gums
The Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Cognition Bites are great for dogs of all ages but are specially designed for senior dogs. They not only calm your dog but also contain several ingredients, including omega-3 DHA fatty acids, that help with the nervous system, cognition, and memory issues. These chews contain Sensoril, which is a form of Ashwagandha that helps ease anxiety from environmental stresses.
The disadvantage here is that it is rather expensive, and it might be almost too effective and will make your dog sleepy. This isn’t a bad thing in some cases, but it does depend on what you’re using it for.
Pros
Great for senior dogs
Supports relaxation, memory, cognition, and nervous system issues
Contains Sensoril to help relieve stress from environmental stressors
Uses several ingredients, including omega-3 DHA
Cons
Expensive
Might make your dog sleepy
Do you have an anxious dog? A high-quality, pet-safe CBD oil may be able to help. We like CBDfx's Pet Tincture, which comes in four different strength levels and is made from human-grade, organic hemp. Even better, your dog will love the natural bacon flavor!
Helopssa Hemp Calming Chews are duck-flavored soft chews that contain various natural ingredients, with hemp as the primary calming ingredient. These also include turmeric, ginger, passionflower, valerian, chamomile, and l-tryptophan. They don’t contain corn, wheat, or soy and are effective at calming most dogs.
However, they are a little pricey, and they contain yucca, which is known to be toxic to dogs. The amount in these chews isn’t enough to harm your dog, but it’s just something to keep in mind.
Pros
Duck flavored, with hemp as the main calming ingredient
Zesty Paw’s Ancient Elements Calming Bites has hemp, Sensoril, and Suntheanine, all designed to calm your dog. These can last as long as 4 to 8 hours because they also contain melatonin and valerian root and are effective at relaxing your dog. They don’t contain artificial preservatives or flavors and were made without heat to help preserve the ingredients.
The main problem with these treats is that they are expensive, and sometimes, the treats seem to be a little dried out.
Pros
Contains Sensoril and Suntheanine to calm your dog
Can last 4–8 hours
Has valerian root and melatonin to relax your dog
Doesn’t contain artificial preservatives or flavors
The Bach Rescue Remedy is alcohol-free and contains drops that you can add to your dog’s water, food, (soft) treats, or straight into their mouth. It contains five flower essences: rock rose, impatiens, clematis, star of Bethlehem, and cherry plum. It has no real side effects and is entirely natural/homeopathic. It’s also tasteless and has no scent, so it’s easier to sneak to your dog if they are picky about treats.
However, it isn’t always effective for all dogs. The effects of this calming aid are subtler than what you see with most others, so if you’re looking for a strong effect, you might want to look elsewhere.
The ThunderShirt Classic Vest for Dogs is a great way to go if you prefer not to give your dog any treats or drops. The ThunderShirt is available in seven sizes — XX-small up to XX-large. It works by using consistent gentle pressure that is quite effective at calming dogs and has worked on over 80% of dogs, which showed improvement after donning the vest. It is as effective for hyperactivity and for relaxing. It’s easy to get off and on and is made with a breathable and washable fabric.
Unfortunately, the main problem with the ThunderShirt is that in some cases, the sizing can be off, so double-check the measurements before ordering. While it might work for some dogs, others might not experience the same calming effects, particularly if your dog suffers from very high anxiety.
PetHonesty’s Calming Hemp Max-Strength Soft Chews are duck-flavored soft chews that contain many of the ingredients of standard calming aids, including valerian root, Suntheanine, chamomile, ginger, and melatonin in combination with hemp. It’s designed to work well for hyperactivity or calm your nervous and stressed dog, and it doesn’t contain wheat, soy, corn, GMOs, or preservatives.
The disadvantages are that it is fairly expensive, and you might find that the chews smell kind of bad.
Pros
Contains chamomile, melatonin, valerian root, Suntheanine, ginger, and hemp
Works for hyperactive and stressed nervous dogs
Doesn’t contain GMOs, corn, soy, wheat, or preservatives
The Billion Pets Hemp Oil for Dogs is hemp oil that comes in a dropper and contains vitamins C and E. It not only calms your dog but also provides support for healthy joints, coats, and skin and aids in digestion. It contains antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and flavonoids that all support your dog’s joints. It can be added to your dog’s food, directly into their mouth, or rubbed into their skin if there are any skin issues.
However, some dogs might not like the taste of this oil, and it can give some dogs gastrointestinal upset, primarily diarrhea.
Pros
Hemp oil that also contains vitamins E and C
Supports healthy joints, skin, and coat and a calming effect
Also contains flavonoids, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids
Aids in digestion and can be applied to the skin or in the mouth
Zesty Paw’s Core Elements Calming Supplement contains soft chews, in peanut butter flavor. They contain hemp, valerian root, chamomile, l-tryptophan, Suntheanine, and the usual hemp to act as an effective calming aid. They don’t have corn, soy, or wheat and will help with your hyperactive dog or relaxing your dog over stressful events.
The disadvantages are the price, and in some cases, the dog might be more sleepy rather than less nervous, so the chews might not always work the way that you want.
Pros
Peanut butter flavor
Contains hemp, chamomile, valerian root, Suntheanine, l-tryptophan, and ginger
Doesn’t include soy, wheat, or corn
Cons
Expensive
Might make dogs sleepy
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing The Best Calming Aid
Before you decide on what calming aid you should choose for your dog, check out this guide. We included information that might help you make a more informed decision and better understand how to support your dog.
Flavor
If your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy a specific soft chew, you might need to try another flavor. If your dog loves peanut butter, try a peanut butter-flavored one. However, if your dog turns up their nose at a chew that they would typically enjoy, just try out a new one. You can also try crumbling the treats in with their meal if it turns into a pickiness problem.
Timing
Before selecting your calming aid, particularly if you’re opting for something oral (soft chews or oil), you need to factor in how long it takes for it to start working. Many treats take about 30 to 45 minutes to take effect. Of course, a pressure vest is immediate, but you should still double-check these things before purchasing.
Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock
The Right Amount
You’ll also need to figure out how much is the right amount for your dog. Obviously, the bigger your dog, the more that you’ll need to give them. Many dog owners find that they need to experiment with how much is just right. This might include needing to cut treats in half. Conversely, if the recommended amount isn’t doing the trick, you might need to give a little extra in tiny amounts until you start to notice a difference.
Give It Time
If you give your dog the calming aid and don’t notice any real difference, this doesn’t always mean it doesn’t work. In many cases, you’ll need to give your dog the product over an extended period before it starts working. Some treats need to be given every day for up to a month before you’ll start to see the effects. Always read the instructions and be patient. You might need to use several different products at the same time (ThunderShirt combined with a soft chew, for example).
Extreme Anxiety
Keep in mind that if your dog suffers from extreme forms of stress and anxiety, none of these calming aids might help. It’s possible that you’ll notice a bit of a difference, but it’s not likely to cure the problem. You should speak to your vet and even consider an animal behaviorist. In some cases, medicine might be the best option, and a behaviorist might be able to teach you specific tactics that will help your dog after an extended period of time.
Conclusion
The PetHonesty Calming Hemp Soft Chews are our overall favs because these chews are quite effective and use a combination of hemp, ginger, chamomile, and valerian root, which all work to calm your dog. Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming OraStix is a great price and uses peppermint to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and make their breath fresher. Lastly, Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Cognition Bites are specially designed for senior dogs and work to calm your dog and support their cognition, nervous system, and memory issues.
We hope that these reviews of 10 of the best calming aids will help you find the right product for your anxious dog. It’s a tough thing to watch your dog feel less than comfortable, and maybe one or more of these products will make your dog happier and more relaxed in the long run.
Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future – maybe another cat and a dog....Read more
