Any dog owner who has stepped foot into PetSmart or shopped online on its website will be familiar with its well-stocked inventory. PetSmart offers multiple options for all kinds of pet products and does an especially great job of presenting a wide selection of dog products.
PetSmart is a great place to shop for dog calming treats and gear because it sells so many different types of products in just this one category. We’ve sorted through their list of products and have reviews of some of the best calming treats for dogs in their inventory.
Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming OraStix Dental Chews are the best overall calming treats for dogs at PetSmart because of their intentional and thoughtful design. Rather than simply swallowing a chew, this stick helps dogs expend energy and stay preoccupied by allowing them to slowly chew and gnaw on it.
These chew sticks are infused with calming hempseed powder, chamomile, melatonin, and valerian root. These ingredients help with reducing anxiety and can also help dogs rest more easily.
Other ingredients in these chew sticks help promote dental health, and the sticks have a texture that helps clean teeth. So, it’s a great multi-functional supplement that you can add to your dog’s diet. Just keep in mind that the chews are the ideal size for small to medium-sized dogs. So, keep an eye on larger dog breeds to ensure that they don’t choke on them.
Pros
Contains blend of calming ingredients
Chewing helps expend anxious energy
Promotes dental health
Ideal size for small to medium-sized dogs
Cons
May be too small for larger dog breeds
2. Dog MX Vet Formulated Calming Care Powder – Best Value
Dog MX Vet Formulated Calming Care Powder is a budget-friendly option and is the best calming treat for dogs at PetSmart for the money you pay. Dosages of this powder come in convenient packets that are easy to tear and sprinkle onto your dog’s food. So, it’s a great alternative for picky dogs.
The powder contains a blend of chamomile and passionflower to help pets feel relaxed. It also includes ginger to help soothe upset stomachs and has a blend of B vitamins to help support nerve fibers.
The formula takes about 30 minutes to activate and can be used for anticipated stressful events, such as travel, separation, and motion sickness. However, it’s meant to be a short-term solution. So, if your dog has chronic anxiety, it’s best to work with your veterinarian or dog behaviorist to figure out more long-term solutions.
Pros
Budget-friendly
Powdered form is convenient for picky dogs
Includes ginger to soothe stomach
Includes B vitamins to support nerve fibers
Cons
Product is a short-term solution only
3. Only Natural Pet Hemp Calming Soft Dog Chews – Premium Choice
Only Natural Pet Hemp Calming Support Soft Dog Chews works as both a calming chew and a nutritious supplement. It contains hempseed oil, which has calming effects as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It also contains chamomile and l-theanine, which naturally helps relieve stress and promotes relaxation without drowsiness.
These hemp chews can be used in various situations that may arouse a dog’s anxiety, including travel, vet and grooming visits, stormy weather, and separation anxiety. They’re also safe for dogs of all life stages, except for pregnant and nursing dogs. They don’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
The size and dosages of the chews can be inconvenient for small dogs and toy breeds because they’re ideal for dogs over 15 pounds. Smaller dogs need each chew to be broken up to smaller pieces to administer the appropriate dosage.
Pros
Contains additional beneficial nutrients
Safe for most dogs
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Cons
Not for pregnant or nursing dogs
Chews are too large for small dog breeds
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!
4. SmartBones Calming Sticks Dog Treat – Best for Puppies
SmartBones Calming Sticks are great for keeping bored puppies busy. They have the tough and chewy texture of rawhide but are made with more easily digestible ingredients. So, they’re more palatable for a puppy’s sensitive stomach.
The chews have a delicious chicken flavor. The formula is also infused with chamomile and lavender, which are natural calming ingredients. Along with keeping dogs calm, this chew also promotes dental health and is durable enough to withstand a teething puppy’s extensive chewing.
As with many chews, make sure to supervise your puppy whenever it eats this chew as it can be a choking hazard.
Pros
Easily digestible ingredients
Tasty chicken flavor
Promotes dental health
Can withstand teething
Cons
Can’t leave puppy unsupervised with the chews
5. Only Natural Pet Serenity with Chamomile Peanut Spread
You may have better luck with Only Natural Pet Serenity with Chamomile Peanut Spread if you have a particularly picky pup. This calming treat contains real peanuts and maintains the same texture as peanut butter. So, it’ll be difficult for your dog to resist this tasty snack. The paste also contains chamomile to help dogs stay calm.
You can easily spread this paste into your dog’s favorite toy so that your dog stays entertained and preoccupied. It’s also free of added corn syrup, sugar, or canola oil. It also doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
However, peanuts are high in fat, so you still have to be careful with how much of this treat you feed your dog. It may not be the best option for pets needing assistance with weight management.
Pros
Contains real peanuts for tasty flavor
Easy to feed and spread onto toys
No added corn syrup, sugar, or canola oil
No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives
Cons
May contain too much fat for some dogs
6. EverRoot Calming Dog Supplement Chewable Tablet
The EverRoot Calming Dog Supplement Chewable Tablet is formulated by Dr. Brian, who is the PhD of Animal Nutrition at Purina. These chews contain organic chamomile and green tea extract and other ingredients that help dogs regulate hyperactivity and nervousness. The formula is also free of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
This treat is also safe for dogs of all ages as it has one of the cleanest ingredient lists. So, it’s great for dogs that have food sensitivities. However, it does contain small traces of beef bone and cheddar cheese powder. So, if your dog has any allergies to these components, it’s best to move on to a different calming treat.
ThunderWunders Hemp Calming Chews are delicious calming chews that also support digestive health, joint health, and healthy skin and coat. In addition to hemp and thiamine, the formula also contains ginger, which helps soothe stomachs. Ginger can be especially helpful if your dog easily gets an upset stomach or motion sickness during car rides.
While most dogs can eat this chew with no issues, it’s not tested to be safe for pregnant dogs. It’s also not safe for really young puppies and should only be given to dogs over 12 weeks old.
Pros
Supports digestive health, joint health, and skin and coat
These chew sticks share a similar natural formula to the powdered version of Dog MX calming supplements. So, they’re more appropriate options for dogs that like to engage in chewing. The chew sticks are also pretty easy to break apart, so you can easily feed them as small treats to your dog.
Since this treat is in the form of a chew stick, it can be a great distraction for dogs in the midst of a stressful event. However, the formula contains ingredients that aren’t safe for young puppies, and the recommended age for this chew stick is for dogs over a year old.
This supplement helps dogs stay relaxed and maintain emotional balance during temporary stressful events. It’s safe to feed to dogs of all ages, but it’s unclear if pregnant and nursing dogs can eat it. So, make sure to check with your veterinarian before feeding them this chew.
For most dogs, the chews are safe to be eaten daily and don’t contain any THC or psychoactive properties. They contain natural ingredients and are also grown without any GMOs, pesticides, or solvents.
One thing to keep in mind is that this chew doesn’t really contain any ingredients that are very palatable to dogs. It does contain some amounts of chicken liver powder, but we wouldn’t be surprised if a particularly picky dog doesn’t take a liking to it.
This calming chew toy is an excellent option for teething puppies and dogs that like to chew. It has grooves and bumps that mimic natural wood and also comes in a wood flavor and hemp flavor. It’s also pretty durable and long-lasting, so it’s a pretty budget-friendly option.
This chew toy is a good calming option to consider for dogs that are overweight or have to be under weight management since it’s calorie-free. It also promotes and supports dental health.
However, heavy chewers may have jaws that are too strong for this toy. It will wear down and break in pieces, so make sure to keep an eye on your dog as you start to notice more bite marks on the toy. Also, since this toy isn’t actual food, it can be unappealing to dogs that don’t really enjoy chewing on things.
Pros
Mimics natural wood texture
Healthy option for overweight dogs
Supports dental health
Cons
Not appealing for dogs that don’t like to chew
Can break into small pieces
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Calming Treats for Dogs at Petsmart
Calming treats come in several different forms to cater to a dog’s individual tastes. Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a calming treat.
Treat Type
Calming treats come in two common forms–chews and chew sticks. Sometimes, you can find powders that you can sprinkle into your dog’s food or water.
Chews are the easiest to administer since you just have to pop them into your dog’s mouth. However, dogs may not like some flavors commonly found in these treats, such as hemp or chamomile. So, make sure to buy treats with natural flavors, like chicken or peanut butter, that are palatable to dogs.
The main benefit of chew sticks is that they keep your dog occupied. They can be a great distraction and can keep your dog busy as they gnaw on these treats, and they also promote dental health.
However, dogs shouldn’t eat chew sticks without supervision because they may choke on them. So, it’s not a safe practice to give dogs chew sticks if you plan to leave them alone or can’t keep an eye on them.
Active Ingredient
Different dogs will react differently to active ingredients. Fortunately, there are several different kinds of active ingredients used in calming chews. Hemp and chamomile are some of the most common natural ingredients. Some chews will also contain theanine, l-tryptophan, or passionflower.
With all these different active ingredients, it may take some time to find an effective chew for your dog. If one chew doesn’t work, try another chew that has a different blend of active ingredients.
Image Credit: LADO, Shutterstock
Additional Flavors
Since many dogs don’t find most calming ingredients to be delicious, it’s best to look for treats infused with other natural flavors. Fortunately, calming treats can come in a variety of flavors. Just make sure to look for products that don’t use artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
While calming treats aren’t the silver bullet for keeping dogs calm, they can certainly be helpful for some dogs. PetSmart has a wide selection of calming treats, so it’s a great place to start or visit if you’re looking for new options.
Jessica is a freelance writer who spends most of her day researching and writing while her fluffy Cavapoo, Nora, naps beside her. She loves pets and animals because there’s so much to learn from them, and they do so much for us. As a dog mom, she understands the special connection that pet parents have with their pets. So, she loves sharing helpful information that people can use to better understand their pets. When she isn't writing, you may find her walking dogs, tending to her plant babies, or drinking her nth cup of coffee....Read more
