Just like humans, dogs can experience some big emotions, including sadness, and even anxiousness. If your pup gets stressed, sad, or anxiety, you may be looking for some dog calming treats to offer them. Here are some of the best products on the market that work well, are natural, and can make your pet feel better.

 

What Are Calming Treats?

Dog calming treats are usually made with herbs, vitamins, and sometimes even CBD, that have calming affects on your dog. While you can get prescription medicine if your dog has severe anxiety or mood swings (or other mood disorders), calming treats are mainly used sparingly and during stressful times, like moving, thunderstorms, or driving long distances.

It’s also important to note that while ingredients like lavender and chamomile can be soothing to humans, there haven’t been any extensive tests or studies on how they affect dogs. They aren’t toxic to your pet, but every pet is different, and you may need to try a few different treats to see which works best for your pup.

Also, ingredients like melatonin have been studied and show documentation that they do have calming effects. But, just like with human consumption, it’s important to give the correct dosage of these types of ingredients. If you have any concerns or questions about the calming treats you give your pet, please speak with your veterinarian.

Do Calming Treats Really Work?

This depends on the dog, and the ingredients in the calming treats themselves. However, many dog owners have left positive reviews about the treats on this list. As with any change in diet or behavior, you may want to speak with your dog’s veterinarian on if these calming treats listed will work for your pup.

How To Know If Your Dog Can Benefit From Dog Calming Treats

Your dog can’t tell you when something is wrong with them or when they’re feeling stressed or sad. But, they do have cues and indicators when they’re struggling with their emotions.

The American Kennel Club has a list of symptoms that your dog may be experiencing if they’re struggling with anxiety, and these symptoms include:

• Aggression
• Urinating or defecating in the house
• Drooling
• Panting
• Destructive behavior
• Excessive barking
• Pacing
• Restlessness
• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors

If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, and your vet has approved or recommended calming treats, here are the best that you can get.

Best Dog Calming Treats

The following treats are all highly rated and many are made with natural and organic ingredients.

Pet Naturals Calming Treats

The Pet Naturals calming treats are made for dogs of all sizes. They come in two different flavors, butter and chicken, so they’re a great option if your dog prefers savory treats.

The treats are free of corn, wheat, and artificial colorings and flavors. They’re safe to use daily, and you can give your pup 2-3 chews per serving during times of extreme stress (like fireworks). The calming chews includes ingredients like L-Theanine, Colostrum, and Thiamine to help your pet calm down, without a sedative.

Neurogan Calming Treats

Does your pet prefer sweet treats? These calming cookies may be a better option. Made with oats, applesauce, and almond butter, plus Aswagandha and Amur Cork Bark for calming, these treats are natural and organic.

Neurogan recommends one treat per day for dogs under 25 pounds, and up to three treats per day for dogs over 76 pounds. These treats can be offered as part of your pet’s daily routine or can be given during stressful times.

Not only are the ingredients simple, but for eco-friendly pet owners, the bags that the treats come in are also compostable. And if you (or your pup) don’t like the treats, you can return them within 30 days for a full refund.

Sentry Calming Chews

The Sentry Calming Chews are made up of similar ingredients as the Pet Naturals Calming Treats, but with an addition of chamomile. So if your dog responds well to chamomile, or if you’re looking for other options, these treats are worth the try. They also state that the calming treats have a 30-day release, meaning that one dose releases pheromones for up to 30 days, thus calming your pet longer.

One thing to keep in mind with these treats is that if you have a bigger dog (over 90 pounds), they may not be the most economical option. For dogs over 90 pounds, the bag lists to give five chews. However, for smaller dogs, this is a great option.

ThunderEase Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser Kit 

While this isn’t necessarily a calming treat, this calming pheromone diffuser kit offers similar calming effects for your pet. The great thing about this kit is that it works for dogs of all sizes and breeds. It’s 100% safe, and non-toxic to dogs.

How does it work? Pheromones, or the scent that dogs release after they’ve given birth, help calm your pet because they’re a natural scent that they smelled as puppies. The kit comes in a 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day supply as well, so you can use it long-term.

VetriScience Laboratories Composure Chews

These chews are perfect for small dogs or puppies. They include Colostrum, L-Theanine and Thiamine as the calming ingredients, and come in one flavor (chicken liver). The chews are also manufactured in the USA and are veterinarian formulated.

The treats were shown to work within 30 minutes and can last up to 4 hours. So these wouldn’t be the best option for daily supplements but could work during random stressful times. They were specifically formulated for small dogs, so if your dog is over 25 pounds, the other treats on this list may work better.

CBD Treats

You could also give your dog CBD treats to help keep them calm. If you’re looking for that option, here is a list of CBD treats that I recommend.

The Best Dog Calming Treats

There are quite a few dog calming treat options that you could give your pet, and many of them work for multiple scenarios. All you need to do is find the treat that works best for your pup and their tastes.

Looking to create your own calming treats for your pet? I’d love to help you get started! Of course, it’s important to remember dosage when creating your own CBD treats, but it’s not hard to create a recipe that will work for you and your pup.

I took everything I learned while operating my own dog treat business and created my course Diva Dog Bakery™. I wanted to teach you how to start and grow a thriving dog treat business as well!

What did you think of the article? Let me know in the comments. And if you found the article helpful, I’d love it if you shared it with friends and family.