About 14% of dogs have separation anxiety, and that’s not counting other problems such as fear aggression, excessive barking, or noise phobia. At best, these issues can be a little distressing for owners or a bit of an annoyance. At worst, they can cause havoc in the household.
None of us like to see our dogs suffer from anxiety or deal with the behavior problems that come with it. We will always need to work on our dog’s training, energy outlets, and other issues contributing to anxiety.
Luckily, some products can help us out. So if you have a dog with anxiety or fear, here are the seven best products you can use to help calm your dog and ease those unwanted behaviors and anxiety.
CozyVest 3-in-1 Anxiety Vest Music & Aromatherapy Dog Coat
The pressure vest claims to use the power of touch to tightly swaddle the dog like a baby and provide them comfort when they are stressed. It is 100% machine washable and fits dogs from 7 lbs to 110 lbs.
The music box and the essential oil dispenser ($12. are sold separately). The essential oils are mildly helpful, as studies have shown lavender and chamomile help dogs relax.
Studies show that music is also helpful, but the attached music box on this vest seems to only play a lullaby on repeat. This might make this attachment not really worth the effort.
VetriScience - Composure, Calming Treats for Dogs Dealing with Anxiety
Many dietary and herbal supplements are sold on the market to calm anxious dogs. Still, actually, very few of them have much of a basis for their claims.
Fortunately, Vetriscience Composure contains vitamin B1 (thiamin). This heat-sensitive vitamin is one of the most common deficiencies in modern dog food. Its second ingredient is colostrum, the “first milk” a puppy drinks for the first three days of its life. Finally, there is L-Theanine, an amino acid shown to have a calming effect on dogs.
It’s an excellent product for dogs who have anxiety over short-lived events such as traveling, storms, visiting the groomers, or separation anxiety.
Hemp Oil for Dogs (Organic)
Research into whether hemp products are helpful for anxiety issues is still lacking. Still, owners swear that it creates calmer dogs and helps with chronic pain. In fact, studies show that CBD effectively relieves pain in conditions like osteoarthritis. Hence, it is very likely that future research will show this is an effective treatment for puppy anxiety.
ThunderEase Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser Kit
This pheromone diffuser is also widely recommended by veterinarians. The pheromones mimic those of a nursing mother and use scent to signal to the dog that they are okay and protected.
It is over 90% effective for anxiety-related problems such as noise phobia or separation anxiety. It comes with a simple plug-in adaptor that needs a reliable 120-volt electrical outlet.
Keep in mind that the diffuser is excellent for anxiety-related issues but may not be effective for other problems such as extreme aggression. Since the diffuser is also limited to a single area, it is best used for problems that can be contained in one room, such as during a storm, but won’t be of much use while traveling.
Calming Collars for Dogs (3 Pack)
Pheromone collars help get around the one problem of the pheromone dispenser, in that the collar goes where your dog goes. This pack comes with a handy three collars to avoid the nuisance of making multiple purchases.
The collar begins to work within one hour of being placed on the dog and can last up to 30 days. The manufacturers do warn that results can vary according to the dog. They are waterproof, so no need to remove them when your dog goes swimming.
The collars are claimed to be 100% hypoallergenic with no side effects. The pheromone and essential oil combination should help reduce problems like noise phobia and separation anxiety.
SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Stuffed Toy
Suppose you are about to bring a new puppy home and are worried about those first few puppy nights where your puppy may struggle to sleep on their own. In that case, this toy is fantastic to help the transition.
Although it is not a solution for behavior issues in older dogs, it is great for new puppies who have just arrived home.
A plush toy that simulates a heartbeat is a fantastic way to mimic the sensation of having another dog nearby and help your puppy cope with being alone at night. When the heartbeat device is removed, the toy is entirely machine washable and made from skin-sensitive material. The heartbeat device uses 2 AAA batteries to work.
While this might not helpful for older dogs, using this toy in conjunction with a pheromone diffuser can help calm a young puppy and reduce nighttime loneliness. Together, this can help prevent behavior problems later in life.
PetMedics Pet Sound Soothing Machine
Fascinatingly, studies do show that calm and classical music does reduce stress in kennelled dogs. While music is definitely not a cure-all, it can definitely be part of the solution, making this product so helpful.
PetMedics is a water-resistant and noise-activated machine. It comes with reggae, soft rock, and classical music tracks, all genres that have had beneficial effects on dogs. It can be set to play for one hour or all day if needed when you can plug it in. It comes with a one-year warranty as well.
It is a great investment as an additional product to help your dog with noise phobia, stress, or separation anxiety.
Final Thoughts
Dog anxiety and destructive or unwanted behavior are rarely something that can be cured easily. In some cases, simply adding a pheromone diffuser or a few drops of hemp oil will solve periodic problems such as fear of a storm or firecrackers.
In more severe cases, these products should be seen as secondary aids to help you deal with your dog’s behavior while you work on exercise, behavior training, playtime, and nutrition to deal with the root cause.
