This list covers calming solutions beyond prescribed medication. It can be used during stressful events, such as staying home alone, fireworks or storms, or if your dog is sound sensitive and needs help staying calm.
These solutions can slightly or significantly reduce stress levels in your dog, but they are not guaranteed to create a miracle. Some of the listed items help a certain percentage of dogs but may not work in your particular case.
To get better results, you should add calming solutions to the behavior modification program created by your trainer or behavior specialist. For severe cases, you should consult with a Veterinary Behaviorist.
Disclaimer: This article is written by a dog trainer for educational purposes only; please talk to your vet for medical advice.
Calming chews
Chewable supplements that contain one or several of the following ingredients – L-theanine, Melatonin, L-tryptophan, and Alpha-capsazepine (Bovine casein) – help reduce stress in dogs and calm them down.
These supplements are usually taken daily for several weeks, following the proper dosage based on your dog’s size. Taking them irregularly or in a lower dosage than suggested by the packaging or your vet may significantly lower efficacy. For more detailed information, talk to your vet.
Zylkene
Active ingredient: Alpha-casozepine (Bovine casein)
Acts on inotropic GABA receptors and decreases stress reactions within 90 minutes of taking. In chronic cases, the decrease in stress reactions will not be immediate, but the first effects are generally observed in the first fifteen days.
Price: 35$ small dogs, 75$ large dogs
Quantity: 30 tablets / 1-2 per day
Solliquin
Active ingredient: L-Theanine
Non-sedating calming support supplement formulated with whey protein concentrate, magnolia and Phellodendron extracts, and L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea that stimulates the production of alpha brain waves.
Price: 20$ medium dogs, 35$ large dogs
Quantity: 75 tablets / 1-2 per day
Vetriscience Pro
Active ingredient: L-theanine
It’s clinically shown to work within 30 minutes and last up to 4 hours. It features a combination of four effective ingredients: Colostrum Calming Complex®, L-theanine, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), and L-tryptophan. These ingredients provide cognitive and brain function support that supports calm behavior.
Price: 40$
Quantity: 60 tablets / 1-2 per day
Anxitane
Active ingredient: L-theanine
Promote relaxation in dogs exhibiting nervous overarousal, environmentally induced stress, or anxiety. Containing a pure synthetic form of L-Theanine,
Price: 40$
Quantity: 30 tablets / 1-2 per day
Native Pet Calm
Active ingredients: L-theanine, Milk Casein, Melatonin
It helps maintain emotional balance, reduces hyperactivity, and promotes a calming effect.
Price: 15$
Quantity: 30 tablets / 1-4 per day
Calming pheromone
Calming pheromones mimic the pheromones produced by a mother dog to calm her puppies. They are often used to reduce anxiety and stress in dogs, especially in situations like thunderstorms, fireworks, or separation anxiety.
These solutions can come as sprays or calming collar, and also come as diffusers plugable to the electrotric outlets.
ThunderEase Diffuser
ThunderEase® for Dogs heated diffuser and refill provide calming pheromones for up to 30 days in a 700 square foot area. If your room is larger than 700 square feet, we recommend using an additional diffuser. Â
Price: 25$
Quantity: 30 days supply
Adaptil Spray
This travel spray helps calm and relax your dog on the move. It makes travel and visits to the vet less stressful and reduces crying, shaking, and pacing during travel.
Price: 25$
Quantity: 60ml
Zenidog Gel Diffuser
Fully portable, with no electricity required. Diffuses calming pheromones.
Price: 40$
Lasts: 2 months
Zenidog Calming Collar
The Collar releases natural pheromones and essential oils that evoke a mother dog’s calming properties and reduce stress and anxiety.
Price: 40$
Lasts: 3 months
Anxiety Wraps
Dogs who are shaking and trembling from anxiety may benefit from anxiety wrapping. Applied gentle pressure can help dogs to calm down. You can learn doing wraps yourself or buy a vest.
Calms dogs during fireworks, thunder, separation, travel, vet visits, grooming, and much more with no training and no medication.
Helps some dogs really well and doesn’t have any effect on other. Has to be applied snugly, will not work if worn loose.
ThunderShirt
The patented design applies gentle, constant pressure to calm anxiety, fear, and overexcitement. This gentle hugging produces a dramatic, calming effect. It is made of durable, breathable, soft fabric that is washable.
Price: 40$
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Mutt Muffs
Dog with noise sensitivity may benefit from sound reducing headphones made specifically for dogs.
Mutt Muffs
Specifically engineered to meet the contour of a dog’s head to provide the best passive sound reduction possible.
Price: 60-70$ (OG), 20$ (knock-offs)
Sizes: XXS-XXL
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