10 Best Calming Aids for Dogs in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Watching your dog go through stress and anxiety can cause you to be stressed and anxious. Dogs can feel stressed due to loud noises, new situations, and separation anxiety, and we can do our best to help them. But sometimes, we need help ourselves, and that can come in the form of calming aids. Locating the right product can take a while, however.

So, we have a list here of 10 of the best calming aids that have proven to work for most dogs. These reviews cover myriad versions, so hopefully, one (or more) will help your dog get through stressful events a bit easier.

A Quick Look at Our Favorite Picks in 2024

Rating	Image	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	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming OraStix	Uses hemp, Suntheanine, melatonin, valerian root, and chamomile Has peppermint oil, kelp, and rosemary extract for teeth and gums Makes your dog’s breath fresher	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Cognition Bites	Great for senior dogs Supports relaxation, memory, cognition, and nervous system issues Contains Sensoril to help relieve stress from environmental stressors	CHECK PRICE
		Helopssa Hemp Calming Chews	Duck flavored, with hemp as the main calming ingredient Contains ginger, chamomile, turmeric, valerian, l-tryptophan Don’t include wheat, soy, or corn	CHECK PRICE
		Zesty Paws Ancient Elements Calming Bites	Contains Sensoril and Suntheanine to calm your dog Can last 4–8 hours Has valerian root and melatonin to relax your dog	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Calming Aids for Dogs

1. PetHonesty Calming Hemp Soft Chews — Best Overall

The best overall calming aid for dogs is PetHonesty Calming Hemp Soft Chews. You can get them in containers with 90 or 180 soft chews 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.

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.

3. Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Cognition Bites — Premium Choice

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.

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. Helopssa Hemp Calming Chews

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.

5. Zesty Paws Ancient Elements Calming Bites

Zesty Paws 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, they seem a little dried out.

6. Bach Rescue Remedy

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.

7. ThunderShirt Classic Vest for Dogs

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 works on over 80% of dogs, which tend to show improvement after donning the vest. It is as effective for hyperactivity as it is 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 high anxiety.

8. PetHonesty Calming Hemp Max-Strength Soft Chews

PetHonesty 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.

9. Billion Pets Hemp Oil for Dogs

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 cause gastrointestinal upset, primarily diarrhea.

10. Zesty Paws Calming Chews for Dogs Composure & Relaxation for Everyday Stress & Separation

Zesty Paws Calming Chews for Dogs Composure & Relaxation for Everyday Stress & Separation contains soft chews in peanut butter flavor. They contain 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.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Calming Aids for Dogs

Before you decide on a calming aid 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 pet.

Flavor

If your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy a specific soft chew, you might need to try another flavor. If your pup 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 are 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.

The Right Amount

You’ll also need to figure out how much is the right amount for your dog. Obviously, the bigger your pet, 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 extra in tiny amounts until you start to notice a difference.

If you need guidance on how many calming treats to give to your dog, we suggest you speak to a vet.

To talk to a vet online now, click on the image or button below:

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.

Our Selection Process For Calming Aids for Dogs

To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog calming aids we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog calming aids. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog calming aids to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.

Why Trust Dogster?

Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog calming aids. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.

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 pet feel less than comfortable, and maybe one or more of these products will make your dog happier and more relaxed in the long run.

• Next on your reading list:Can Dogs Have Melatonin?

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