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Best* Dog Calming Treats of 2023

Dogs can experience anxiety for various reasons. And anxiety treats for dogs can help when your pup feels nervous due to travel, moving house, being around new people or even chronic stress. Calming treats, chews and oils can help take the edge off.

What to look for in the best calming treats for dogs

Consult your vet about calming treats for dogs and which ones might be best for your pet.

Ingredients

Calming treats can include ingredients that help promote calmness, such as melatonin, tryptophan, CBD, hemp and valerian root. These ingredients work to produce serotonin and other happy chemicals in the brain to help naturally calm your pet. Select calming treats made with high-quality ingredients appropriate for your pup and approved by your vet.

Benefits

As with all supplements and snacks, your pet may react differently to some calming dog treats than others. The best strategy is to match the intended benefits of the calming treat with your dog’s specific needs. Some calming treats for dogs are made to use on an as-needed basis, while others are better suited for daily use.

Quality and Value

Dog calming treats come in different forms, including treats, chews and oils. Choose the type that works best for your lifestyle. Look for treats available in quantities that work for your intended frequency and are available at a price you feel comfortable paying.

Pet parent faves

We’ve rounded up some of the best dog calming supplements most frequently purchased by Petco’s pet parent customers.

Compare All
Best Calming Treats for Dogs During Fireworks
Best Calming Treats for Dogs for Travel
Best Calming Drops for Dogs
Best Calming Shirt for Dogs
Best Calming Treats for Dogs for Long Car Travel
Best Calming Treats for Dogs with High Anxiety
Best Calming Diffuser for Dogs
Best Calming Powder for Dogs
Best Calming Treats for Dogs with Behavior Problems

Dog Calming Supplement	Active Ingredients	Life Stage	Benefit	Food Form	Avg. Review*
NaturVet Quiet Moments Plus Melatonin Calming Aid	Melatonin, chamomile, passionflower, L-tryptophan	Over 12 weeks	Helps reduce stress and tensions	Soft chews	3.6/5
NaturVet Quiet Moments Plus Hemp Calming Aid	Hemp seed oil, hemp seed powder, chamomile, L-tryptophan, melatonin	All life stages	Helps support sensitive stomachs during travel and reduce stress and tension	Soft chews	4.1/5
NaturVet Hemp Quiet Moments Calming Drops Hemp Oil	Thiamine, L-tryptophan, hemp seed oil, chamomile extract, valerian extract	All life stages	Helps reduce stress and tension while promoting rest and relaxation	Oil	3.9/5
Thundershirt Heather Gray Dog Anxiety Solution	N/A	All life stages	Helps with separation anxiety, loud noises, travel with a medication-free, easy-to-use anxiety wrap	Anxiety wrap	4.0/5
ThunderWunders Hemp Calming Chews	Hemp seed oil, hemp seed powder, chamomile, passion fruit, L-tryptophan, melatonin	All life stages	Helps promote calm behavior and relaxation to manage normal stress	Soft chews	3.9/5
Drs. Foster and Smith Ultra-Calm Calm Behavior Support Soft Chews	Passionflower extract, valerian root extract, milk protein hydrolysate	All life stages	Supports calm behavior during travel, thunderstorms, trips to the vet or groomer	Soft chews	3.8/5
ThunderEase Calming Diffuser Kit for Dogs	Pheromones	All life stages	Helps calm dogs during loud noises, problem barking, socialization, new pets in the home, visitors, separation anxiety and more	Diffuser kit	3.3/5
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplement Calming Care Probiotic Powder	Bifidobacterium longum	Adult dogs	Supports dogs with anxious behaviors and external stressors. Helps maintain positive cardiac activity and a positive emotional state.	Probiotic powder	4.3/5
VetriScience Laboratories Composure Canine Bite-Sized Chews	Thiamine, L-theanine	All life stages	Helps calm pets while reducing behavior problems associated with fears. Supports calm behavior and relaxation	Soft chews	4.2/5

*Ratings as of April 14th, 2022

Best Calming Treats for Dogs During Fireworks

NaturVet Quiet Moments Plus Melatonin Calming Aid

These wheat-free treats are designed for dogs at least 12 weeks old and in need of anxiety treatment for incidents like thunder and grooming. They also feature ginger, which can aid upset stomachs.

Calming ingredients: Melatonin, chamomile, passionflower, L-tryptophan
Great for storms, fireworks, travel and grooming
Wheat-free
Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients
Soft chews

Best Calming Treats for Dogs for Travel

NaturVet Quiet Moments Plus Hemp Calming Aid

These chews are formulated for everyday use, but you can also break them out when company comes over or you take your pet to the vet. In addition to ingredients like hemp seed oil and melatonin, these treats also have ginger and chamomile in a dose that may help sensitive stomachs.

Calming ingredients: Hemp seed oil, hemp seed powder, chamomile, L-tryptophan, melatonin
Helps promote relaxation while reducing stress and tension
Helps support sensitive stomachs, especially during travel
Effective yet gentle enough for everyday use
Tastes like a treat
Great for thunderstorms, fireworks, traveling, grooming and separation anxiety
Soft chews

Best Calming Shirt for Dogs

Thundershirt Heather Gray Dog Anxiety Solution

If you want a supplement-free and easy-to-use calming solution for your stressed puppy or adult dog, try Thundershirt. These tight-fitting wraps feel like a warm embrace and can cuddle your pet when they’re under stress. The constant pressure is designed to provide anxiety relief.

Effective solution for anxieties in canines
Lightweight, breathable and machine washable
Wraps around your dog for gentle, constant pressure
Ideal for separation anxiety, thunderstorms, loud noises or travel
Adjustable straps for proper fit
Available in various sizes to suit all types of dogs

Best Calming Treats for Dogs for Long Car Travel

ThunderWunders Hemp Calming Chews

These chews have a variety of calming ingredients and are perfectly bite-size. The treats are designed for dogs at any life stage by the creators of ThunderShirt, a leading brand in dog calming solutions.

Calming ingredients: Hemp seed oil, hemp seed powder, chamomile, passionfruit, L-tryptophan, melatonin
Perfect for traveling, grooming, vet visits, thunderstorms or fireworks
Unique formula helps reduce stress and tension and improve mood and temperament
Hemp seed oil provides additional calming, and melatonin is a natural sleep aid that promotes relaxation
Chamomile promotes calm, alleviates nausea and may help induce sleep
Ginger root supports sensitive stomachs and helps prevent nausea, gas and diarrhea

Best Calming Treats for Dogs with High Anxiety

Drs. Foster and Smith Ultra-Calm Calm Behavior Support Soft Chews

This product is recommended before travel, storms and other stressful events. It’s formulated by veterinarians and contains milk protein hydrolysate, an ingredient not commonly used that helps with both nerves and upset stomach.

Calming ingredients: Passionflower extract, valerian root extract, milk protein hydrolysate
Soft chews provide the same active ingredients as the tablets in an easy-to-give chew boasting an irresistible cheddar flavor most dogs will love
The calming support of milk protein hydrolysate is a key ingredient found in no other calming support product by Drs. Foster and Smith
Advanced formula to support calm behavior

Best Calming Diffuser for Dogs

ThunderEase Calming Diffuser Kit for Dogs

Does your dog need around-the-clock calming? A diffuser kit can be a simple way to provide comfort all day and night. Just plug it into the wall, and calming pheromones fill the air, undetectable by humans. These pheromones remind your pet of their mother and make them feel safe.

Calming ingredients: Pheromones
Great for noises like thunder and fireworks or dogs with problem barking
Helps calm dogs when visitors come over or when introducing new pets to the home
Replace refill cartridge after 30 days

Best Calming Powder for Dogs

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplement Calming Care Probiotic Powder

For a daily solution, consider this probiotic powder. It is specifically formulated to help your dog maintain a healthy heart rate and avoid excessing jumping or pacing when they’re stressed out. It may take up to 6 weeks for the full effect, and you should consult your veterinarian before beginning this regimen.

Calming ingredients: Bifidobacterium longum
Contains a proprietary use of probiotic strain BL999, a beneficial bacteria shown to help dogs maintain calm behavior
Helps calm anxious behaviors and during external stressors
Helps dogs maintain positive cardiac activity during stressful events
Promotes a positive emotional state and healthy immune system in dogs
Probiotic powder

Best Calming Treats for Dogs with Behavior Problems

VetriScience Laboratories Composure Canine Bite-Sized Chews

Dogs who love chicken will love these small calming chews made for puppies and adult canines. These treats are designed for dogs experiencing environmental stressors. Dogs over 100 lbs. can receive 2 treats daily, while smaller pets will only need a single treat each day to feel the calming benefits.

Calming ingredients: Thiamine, L-theanine
Helps calm pets while reducing behavior problems associated with fear
Contains colostrum, l-theanine and thiamine to support calmer behavior and relaxation
Easy to administer chicken liver flavored chew
Veterinarian formulated

*Based on petco.com sales data.

Learn More About Calming Treats for Dogs

Are calming treats good for dogs?

Calming treats can be effective for many dogs. Always consult your vet before adding new supplements to your pet’s diet. You will want to consider your dog’s overall health and any specific medical issues that may put them at risk. Your veterinarian can assess your pet’s current medications and health conditions to determine if anxiety treats are appropriate.

Ingredients like melatonin and tryptophan may be effective at curbing nervousness but can induce sickness when consumed in large quantities. Common overdose side effects include vomiting, sleepiness, loss of coordination and urinary incontinence. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your dog has overdosed on their calming treats.

Do calming treats work for dogs?

As with all treats and supplements, your pet may react differently to calm dog treats than other pets. The best way to ensure effectiveness is to consult your vet and match the intended benefit of the treat you buy with your dog’s specific needs. Some calming chews for dogs are made to be used every day or on an as-needed basis. If your dog gets stressed by the occasional fireworks display or if they have chronic anxiety, consider adding one of the best dog calming treats to your dog's health and wellness plan.

How do calming treats for dogs work?

Calming treats contain ingredients that promote calmness, such as melatonin, tryptophan, CBD, hemp and valerian root. These ingredients help produce serotonin and other happy chemicals in the brain that can help naturally calm pets and may even make them sleepy.

What are the best calming treats for dogs?

This best-sellers list includes our most popular calming oils, powders, vests, treats and calming chews for dogs. We’ve included puppy calming treats and supplements that can be great for large adult dogs. You’ll also find some non-edible options for nervous dogs. Your vet may recommend a suitable anxiety medication from our pet pharmacy. Consult your vet about supplementing your pet’s routine with calming treats for dogs.