10 Best Calming Treats For Dogs: Chews, Gummies, Peanut Butter & More
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If your dog becomes a hot mess when you leave him alone or during thunderstorms or car rides, you’re certainly not alone. Nearly two-thirds of all dogs have some form of anxiety, and it’s so disconcerting as a pup parent to see our furry friend frightened. Fortunately, the market is full of dog anxiety supplements to give your pup relief. We’ve researched dozens of products and narrowed down some options to help you find the best calming aid for your dog.
At A Glance: Best Calming Supplements For Dogs
How Can The Best Calming Supplements Help My Dog?
“I find that good quality calming treats can work wonders for mild anxiety or stress,” says Sarah-Jane Molier BSc, BVM&S, MRCVS, a head veterinarian at a small animal clinic in the U. K. “I’ve successfully treated many dogs with mild separation anxiety or mild firework phobia with calming supplements. I find they work best if used alongside some home modifications and behavioral training.”
However, Molier has found in her practice that calming supplements typically aren’t as effective for moderate to severe anxiety. “That’s not to say that they can’t be helpful in these situations, just that they would need to be used alongside sessions with a Clinical Animal Behaviorist and possibly prescription medication.”
Common Uses
Best Calming Treats For Dogs
We’ve chosen our top picks based on the quality of ingredients, company reputation, pricing, customer support, and more factors. We’ve noted in our reviews the products that have the quality seal of approval from the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) for safe manufacturing practices. The NASC is a non-profit trade organization that’s committed to setting standards for pet supplements that aren’t regulated by the FDA.
Best Calming Chews For Dogs: PetHonesty Hemp Calming Max Strength Review
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PetHonesty’s maximum strength Hemp Calming soft chews are formulated with an all-natural blend of 13 herbs and other clinically proven calming ingredients to help ease anxiety in dogs within 30-45 minutes after feeding. We love that PetHonesty uses a unique no-heat cooking method for its soft chews, which maximizes the health benefits and nutritional value of every ingredient.
They’re also committed to the highest safety and quality standards. We highly recommend PetHonesty’s calming chews as well as many other supplements for allergies, joint pain, and more.
Recommended use: 1 chew per 25 lbs of body weight
Active ingredients: Valerian Root, Chamomile Powder, Gingko Biloba, Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Hemp Seed Powder, Passion Flower, L-Theanine, Organic Ashwagandha Root, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Lemon Balm, L-Tryptophan, Magnesium Citrate, and Melatonin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent blend of 13 all-natural calming active ingredients | Some owners said their dogs didn’t like the taste |
| Made with a nutritious vegetable blend | |
| NASC-certified | |
| Made in an FDA-approved, GMP-certified facility in the USA | |
| 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| Subscribe for auto-shipping and save 20% |
Price
You can save 20% by subscribing for auto-shipping with PetHonesty.
Get free shipping over $49 – no coupon code required. Use this link to take advantage of this offer.
Best Calming Peanut Butter For Dogs: Honest Paws Calm CBD Peanut Butter
Honest Paws is a leading manufacturer of pet CBD (cannabidiol) products, including oils, treats, and topicals. One of their top sellers, this peanut butter is infused with organic, full-spectrum CBD, which has been shown in studies to reduce anxiety in dogs. It’s also a good supplement for canines suffering from joint problems.
Made in the USA with USDA organic hemp, non-GMO dry-roasted peanuts, and MCT oil, this product is third-party tested for quality. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
This product is ideal for dogs up to 50 pounds. However, it’s not recommended for larger dogs to achieve effective CBD dosing due to the high calorie and fat content of peanut butter. CBD oil is a healthier option for larger dogs.
Recommended use: 1 tbsp for dogs less than 25 lbs, 2 tbsp for dogs 25-50 lbs
Active ingredients: Organic Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil 40mg (1 tbsp contains 5mg of naturally occurring CBD)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-natural, non-GMO ingredients | Only recommended for dogs up to 50 lbs |
| Third-party tested (results available on website) | |
| Made in the USA with USDA organic full-spectrum hemp oil | |
| 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| Save 15% with auto-shipping |
Price
You can subscribe for auto-shipping and save 15%. See more CBD subscription options for dogs.
- 160mg jar: $29.95
- Free shipping over $48
Use this link to take advantage of the best offers from Honest Paws.
Best Calming Biscuits: HempMy Pet Organic Dog Biscuits Review
HempMy Pet’s organic pumpkin biscuits are another excellent choice if you want the calming effects of CBD. If you’re just starting out with CBD or you have a small dog, HempMy Pet’s 2mg-strength biscuits could be a great way to introduce CBD into your dog’s system. For larger dogs, they offer 5mg-strength biscuits, which are a healthier option, versus CBD peanut butter (for dogs over 50 pounds).
HempMy Pet makes its biscuits in small batches using only human-grade and organic ingredients. They’re also gluten-free, GMO-free, cruelty-free, and third-party tested for quality. Their biscuits and oils include their full-spectrum hemp extract, which is rich in CBD, CBG, CBC, terpenes, and other cannabinoids for the full entourage effect.
Recommended use: 1 biscuit (2mg) per 10 lbs of body weight, 1 biscuit (5mg) per 50 lbs of body weight
Active ingredients: Organic Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Biscuits made with organic, gluten-free, pesticide-free, and cruelty-free ingredients | 5mg bag is expensive for only 15 biscuits |
| Available in 2mg and 5mg strengths | 60-day return policy isn’t clear about whether you can get a refund for opened products |
| Third-party tested (results included with every product) | |
| They grow their own organic, non-GMO hemp | |
| Made in the USA |
Price
You can subscribe for auto-shipping and save up to 30%.
Looking for a discount on HempMy Pet? Visit our dedicated HempMy Pet Discount Code page.
Best Calming Gummies For Dogs: Licks Pill-Free Dog Calming Gummies Review
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Licks Pill-Free Calming Gummies were formulated by a veterinarian to have high levels of active ingredients and a 98% absorption rate to give your pup fast-acting relief for anxiety. These all-natural gummies are made with human-grade ingredients in a facility certified for human food/supplement production. They get excellent reviews from pup parents who say they’re extremely effective. Licks also carries calming liquid packets with the same powerful active ingredients.
Recommended use: 1 gummy for dogs under 30 lbs, 2 for dogs weighing 31-85 lbs, 3 for dogs over 85 lbs. Repeat as needed every 4-6 hours.
Active ingredients: Chamomile, L-Tryptophan, L-Theanine, Eleuthero Root, and Ashwagandha Root
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-natural, human-grade ingredients | Not healthy for diabetic or overweight dogs (contains beet sugar and tapioca syrup) |
| Designed to be fast-acting | Some complaints that they arrived melted together |
| Natural bacon flavor | |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee | |
| Sourced and made in the USA |
Price
What About NaturVet, VetriScience, Zesty Paws & More?
We’ve also reviewed several other popular and high-quality calming supplements you may want to consider.
Native Pet Calming Chews Review
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Many pup parents rave about these chicken-flavored anxiety chews for dogs. They contain a unique blend of calming ingredients, including hydrolyzed casein. This peptide derived from cow milk has been found to be effective in alleviating stress in dogs. We love Native Pet’s variety of supplements, which are slow-cooked and air-dried to preserve the efficacy and freshness of all ingredients.
Recommended use: 1 chew per 25 lbs of body weight (use daily or as needed)
Active ingredients: Hemp Seed Powder, Dried Hydrolyzed Casein (Bovine), L-Theanine, and Melatonin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Only uses responsibly-sourced, clean-label ingredients with no soy, gluten, or artificial ingredients | May not be ideal for dogs with allergies (contains chicken, beef, and pork products) |
| Formulated by vet nutritionists | Some complaints that the treats are too hard |
| 30-day satisfaction guarantee | |
| Subscribe for auto-shipping and save 10% | |
| Made in the USA |
Price
You can save 10% if you subscribe for auto-shipping with Native Pet.
NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Review
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NaturVet has been a well-respected manufacturer of pet supplements and vitamins for over 25 years. These vet-formulated NaturVet soft chews are among the most popular and affordable calming aids for dogs. With carefully chosen calming ingredients, these treats may help give your pup relief from his major stressors and produce a calm, relaxed state. Quiet Moments also comes in a hemp formula, senior dog formula, and several cat formulas.
Recommended use: Give recommended amount 30 minutes prior to a stressful situation. Do not exceed double the specified amount in a 12-hour period.
- 1 chew for dogs up to 26 lbs
- 2 chews for dogs 27-50 lbs
- 4 chews for dogs 51-99 lbs
- 6 chews for dogs 100 lbs and over
Active ingredients: Chamomile, Thiamine Mononitrate, Passion Flower, Ginger, L-Tryptophan, and Melatonin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly | Several customers said they weren’t effective for their dog |
| Formulated by veterinarians using all-natural ingredients | |
| NASC-certified | |
| Third-party tested for quality | |
| Made in the USA at a cGMP-compliant facility | |
| 180-day satisfaction guarantee |
Price
Ollie Chill Pills Review
Ollie, the popular all-natural, fresh-frozen dog food subscription service, now offers several supplements as an optional add-on. Their vet-formulated anxiety chews for dogs contain an all-natural blend of six calming ingredients. They’re made in the U.S. in a cGMP-certified facility using a cold extrusion process to preserve the potency of every active ingredient. And they come in a yummy allergen-free peanut butter and banana flavor.
Recommended use: The following guidelines are per day. Do not exceed the recommended daily amounts.
- 1 chew for dogs up to 30 lbs
- 2 chews for dogs 30-60 lbs
- 3 chews for dogs 61-90 lbs
- 4 chews for dogs over 90 lbs
Active ingredients: Gingko Biloba, Chamomile Flower Powder, Passion Flower Powder, L-Tryptophan, Valerian Root, and Melatonin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-natural ingredients | Must have a dog food subscription to get add-on supplements (but also available on Amazon) |
| Scientifically formulated | A few complaints that it doesn’t come with a protective seal |
| Third-party tested for quality | |
| Allergen-free peanut butter and banana flavor | |
| Made in the USA in a cGMP-certified facility |
Price
Open Farm Calming Supplement Chews Review
Open Farm, one of our favorite dog food brands, offers several different supplements, including these calming soft chews. They’re formulated to help reduce stress and anxiety using 100% traceable and vet-recommended functional ingredients. And many pet parents find them effective for their canine companions.
We love all of Open Farm’s pet food and other products. Not only is this company committed to ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients, but it cares about every detail, from entirely recyclable supplement jars to minimizing its carbon footprint throughout its manufacturing process.
Recommended use per day: 1 chew for dogs up to 25 lbs, 2 chews for 26-75 lbs, 3 chews for over 75 lbs (begin with half the recommended amount and gradually increase)
Active ingredients: Hemp Seed Oil, Passion Flower, Chamomile, Valerian Root, Ginger Root, L-Theanine, L-Tryptophan, and Magnesium
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vet-approved blend of 8 calming ingredients | May not be ideal for dogs with grain sensitivities (contains oat flour) |
| All-natural with no corn, wheat, or soy | Several customers said they weren’t effective for their dog |
| NASC-certified | |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee | |
| Made in the USA |
Price
You can save 5% by subscribing for auto-shipping with Open Farm.
VetriScience Composure Calming Treats Review
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VetriScience prides itself on using well-researched ingredients in all of its pet supplements, including these Composure Calming soft chews. Composure was clinically proven to work within 30 minutes and last up to 4 hours to give your pup plenty of anxiety relief. These chews for dogs over 25 pounds come in bacon, chicken, and peanut butter flavors. But they also have a small-canine formula for pups up to 25 pounds.
VetriScience also offers a long-lasting formula (up to 8 hours), which could be a better option for separation anxiety, boarding, traveling, routine changes, and other situations when your pup needs extended anxiety relief.
Recommended use: Give up to 2 times daily or as needed. It’s safe to double or triple in times of increased stress.
- Small dog formula (up to 25 lbs): 1 chew daily or as needed
- 1 chew for dogs 26-50 lbs
- 2 chews for dogs 51-100 lbs
- 3 chews for dogs over 100 lbs
Active ingredients: Thiamine (Vitamin B1), C3 Tm (Colostrum Calming Complex), and L-Theanine
Personal Experience With VetriScience Composure
“We’ve used both PetHonesty and VetriScience Composure. Both our pups gobble them right up, and do seem more relaxed after. The calm is not enough to keep Barley from attacking the front door when the mailman shows up, but it’s great for anxious situations like arriving in a new Airbnb for vacation, or calming them down before guests arrive. Today we regularly stock Composure, which has worked better for our dogs than PetHonesty.”
– Alex Schenker, Canine Journal co-founder and mixed breed rescue parent
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clinically proven to reduce anxiety | Several customers said they weren’t effective for their dog |
| All-natural ingredients | |
| NASC-certified | |
| Made in the USA at an FDA and SQF-certified facility | |
| Comes in several flavors | |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee |
Price
- Starts at:
$18.62
(for 60 chews)
Zesty Paws Calming Bites Review
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Zesty Paws is an extremely popular brand for its high-quality pet supplements at a reasonable price point. These all-natural calming bites feature a fantastic blend of nine calming ingredients to help soothe your pup’s stress or hyperactivity. Each soft chew contains a premium form of L-theanine and ashwagandha to maximize the effects of calmness, relaxation, and mental focus.
Zesty Paws also offers turkey-flavored Advanced Calming Bites, which add melatonin to the same blend of calming ingredients for enhanced relaxation. They even have a puppy formula for dogs as young as eight weeks old.
Recommended use: 1 chew for dogs up to 25 lbs, 2 chews for 26-75 lbs, 3 chews for over 75 lbs (begin with half the recommended amount and gradually increase)
Active ingredients: Organic Hemp Seed Powder, Organic Chamomile, Valerian Root, Organic Passionflower, L-Theanine, Organic Ginger Root, Ashwagandha, L-Tryptophan, and Magnesium Citrate
Personal Experience With Zesty Paws Calming Bites
“I’ve given Zesty Paws Calming Bites to my dog, Sally, for two main situations. The first is if I’m having guests over and need Sally to be more chill. Typically, Sally greets someone by jumping up onto the person and barking. She’s looking for affection and attention from them. After about a minute, she calms down, and there’s no more barking or jumping. However, she weighs 60 pounds, so she can have a lot of force in her excitement. I wouldn’t say the Calming Bites eliminate her excitement during the initial greeting. However, if I give her Calming Bites, she is less likely to be up in others’ personal space.
I have also given Sally Zesty Paws Calming Bites for the past three years around the Fourth of July. She hates fireworks, and nearby neighbors set them off several nights. The treats don’t eliminate her anxiety from the fireworks entirely, but I think they help calm her down. Other dogs in my neighborhood do great with the Calming Bites. I make little dog baggies and write the dosage instructions for each neighbor’s dog. Some of the parents swear it helps their dog entirely.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that Sally really dislikes the taste of the treats. I’ve found that the best way to administer them is by covering them in peanut butter.”
– Kimberly Alt, Coonhound Mix Parent
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Competitive pricing | Some owners said their dogs didn’t like the taste |
| All-natural chews with 9 calming ingredients | |
| NASC-certified | |
| Peanut butter flavor | |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee | |
| Made in the USA |
Price
Common Active Ingredients To Look For
“There’s a huge selection of calming treats on the market for dogs, with some being more effective than others,” says Dr. Molier. “Ingredients such as B vitamins, GABA, L-tryptophan, and other amino acids have been shown to have calming effects. But it’s a good idea to ask your vet which calming supplements they recommend for your dog.”
Here’s a brief overview of the most commonly used active ingredients in supplements to reduce anxiety and promote calmness in our furry friends. Just keep in mind that every dog is different, and ingredients that work for some aren’t effective for others. So, it may take you some trial and error to find the best calming supplement for your pup.
- CBD — an active cannabinoid compound extracted from hemp plants, CBD has been shown in studies to reduce anxiety in dogs
- L-theanine — an amino acid found in green tea, black tea, and some mushrooms that has been found to reduce storm anxiety in dogs
- Valerian root — a sedative herb that’s commonly used to help people and dogs with insomnia and anxiety
- L-tryptophan — an α-amino acid that increases serotonin levels, producing a sense of relaxation
- Chamomile — a daisy-like plant commonly used in herbal teas for its sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties
- Passionflower — a climbing, flowering vine that scientists believe works by increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which produces a feeling of relaxation
- Melatonin — a naturally occurring neurohormone with sedative properties that are used to treat sleep and behavior disorders in dogs
- Hemp seed oil or powder — extracted from hemp seeds, hemp seed oil or powder doesn’t contain CBD, but it does contain omega-3 fatty acids, which limited research has shown to have mild anti-anxiety effects in dogs
Consider An Anti-Anxiety Vest, Calming Collar & Calming Bed
While calming supplements can be quite effective for many dogs, there are some other home remedies you may want to consider. And you can use these in addition to supplements to give your pup added anxiety relief. See our ultimate guide on dog anxiety, which includes our recommendations for calming collars, vests, and more, as well as tips on how to keep your dog relaxed. We also have reviews of the best calming dog beds.
Tagged With: Comparison, Supplements, Treats
