The 8 Best Calming Aids for Dogs That Helped Soothe Our Anxious Pets

Best Overal

VetriScience Composure Calming Chews for Dogs

 

Veterinarian-recommended and doggo-approved, VertiScience Composure Calming Supplement for Dogs is our favorite calming aid for dogs. Vets recommend these chews to decrease anxiety in dogs without turning to prescription medication. And my nervous border collie mix, Brodie, will chill out a little with just half of one of these chews when it’s raining hard or there’s construction on the street.

Each soft chew contains the following active ingredients: colostrum, l-theanine, and thiamine, which have properties that promote relaxation in dogs. We like that you can give the chews with ease as needed—like before fireworks or a trip to the vet—or even daily to help your dogs deal with everyday stress.

The Composure chews appear to be pretty tasty, and they come in peanut butter, bacon, and chicken flavors. They are safe for dogs of all sizes, and you can give up to three bone-shaped treats depending on your dog’s weight. In times of extreme stress, VetriScience says it’s safe to double or even triple the dose, but check with your veterinarian first and start with the smallest recommended serving to see how your dog responds.

Composure has the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) seal of approval, which means the manufacturer has met several requirements including having strong quality control, a system to monitor products, a willingness to submit to random testing, and a commitment to strict labeling guidelines. Of course, not all products work for all dogs, and Composure comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. VetriScience offers several other formulas including a longer-lasting version and an unflavored liquid version.

Best Calming Vest

ThunderWorks ThunderShirt Classic Calming Vest

We like that the ThunderShirt Classic Calming Vest for Dogs acts like a gentle hug, swaddling your pet in soft, breathable fabric. While wearing the calming vest, our dog tester Penny seemed at ease and comfortable. She still hid in another room once the vacuum cleaner came out, but we don’t blame her for not wanting to be next to a loud machine.

The jacket is easy to wrap and adjust with hook and loop straps. The jacket comes in seven sizes for dogs as small as eight pounds and as big as 110 pounds. The traditional gray ThunderShirt is made from a stretchy, soft blend of polyester, rayon and spandex. There’s also a polo version with a slightly different design and the same fabric blend.

For the first few wears, closely monitor your dog to make sure it’s not rubbing or irritating anywhere. It can be worn in the car if travel is stressful, to the vet’s office, or in the home for thunderstorms, fireworks, or separation anxiety.

Can be worn for several hours

The ThunderEase Calming Diffuser is a plug-in device that releases pheromones that mimic those of a nursing mother dog that help her communicate with her puppies. Pheromones are chemicals that act like hormones, but outside the body, and they can have an impact on the behavior of others in the same species. The result, for some dogs, is a calming effect.

“You’ll often see these pheromone diffusers plugged in at vet offices or training centers,” says Annie Grossman, a certified dog trainer who keeps one in each room at her School For The Dogs in New York City. “It’s been shown to help calm some anxious dogs in stressful situations.”

We’ve used the diffusers in a number of situations: 24/7 at home for separation anxiety, plugged in during times of stress like thunderstorms, and even on the road in hotel rooms and other unfamiliar surroundings.

You can plug the diffuser into any standard 120-volt outlet, and it typically lasts for about 30 days (if used continuously). Refills are easy to find and simple to replace, too. The pheromones have no scent that is detectable by humans.

Similar to the pheromone diffuser, we love that the ThunderEase Dog Calming Pheromone Spray offers an instant mist of calming pheromones to encourage feelings of relaxation in dogs. We sprayed directly on some of our dog tester Toast’s favorite items, including his blanket, his bed, and an armchair that he particularly fancies when left at home alone. With the spray in place, Toast was less interested in exerting any of his usual physical interactions with the armchair (humping can be a sign of stress), and he also seemed slightly less agitated when the vacuum was in use.

The spray comes out easily with an initial scent that reminded our human testers of rubbing alcohol, but it quickly dissipates and leaves no residue or lingering fragrance. The calming effects of the spray take about 15 minutes to activate, so it’s easy to use on the go. “I spray it on my dog’s bed sometimes. Can’t hurt, might help!” says Grossman.

How to use: The brand recommends starting with 8 to 10 pumps in one area, such as a car or a dog bed, and to wait 15 minutes before bringing a dog into the area. The calming experience from the spray should last for a few hours, but you may need to respray every four to five hours. For even more calming effect, you can spray it directly on a ThunderShirt anti-anxiety vest or use it along with a calming chew.

Can use it anywhere

The Qwizl from West Paw is one of our favorite dog toys, and we especially like it for its calming effects. The twisty, durable Qwizl has an opening that runs through the whole length of the toy and then little open spots along the ends and sides. That opening allowed us to slather in peanut butter, yogurt, and other soft spreads, and then poke in some dog treats or kibble, and freeze the whole thing. Since the act of licking can be self-soothing for anxious or nervous dogs, we found that giving them a long-lasting treat toy like the Qwizl helped calm them down.

You can also poke a bully stick down the center of the toy, making it a challenge for your pup to get to it. The Qwizl is made of a hard, rubber-like substance and comes in two sizes (small or large), and three bright colors. The toy also floats so you can use it at the beach or lake. And because they’re so sturdy, some pups just like using it as a chew toy.

The Zoni Pets Happy Hoodie Calming Cap can be especially helpful when you take your dog to the groomers or the vet, and some dogs seem to find comfort with it under thunderstorms. Groomers often like this stretchy headband because it helps drown out the loud noises during grooming, which can ease anxiety. It depends on whether your pup finds it soothing or if the cap itself bugs them more than the noise.

The Purina Pro Plan Calming Care Supplements are probiotics supplements for dogs. They’re designed to support a dog’s digestive system and neutralize stress hormones. They can be helpful, but it can be frustrating that it can take up to six weeks before seeing effects.

Zesty Paws Advanced Calming Bites have nine organic ingredients, including chamomile, melatonin, and hemp seed powder, which may have calming properties. You may need to experiment before finding a calming chew that works for you, and these had an impact on just some of our dog testers.