- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Anxiety is a normal part of life for dogs as much as it is humans. A trip to the vet, a thunderstorm, moving to a new home, or a new house guest can all cause anxiety in even the healthiest and happiest of pups. As pet parents, our instinct is to steer clear of anything that upsets our dogs, but many anxiety-inducing events can’t be avoided. The best we can do in those cases is to soothe our stressed pets—and one popular method is to use a calming dog treat.
To help you choose the right calming treats for your pup, we’ve rounded up some of the best treats available to help your pet—and you—relax.
- What To Know Before You Buy Calming Treats
- Ingredients Matter: How To Choose Calming Treats
- Best for Fast Results: VetriScience Composure Soft Chews Calming Treats
- Best Probiotic: Purina ProPlan Calming Care
- Best CBD Treat: Austin and Kat Bailey’s No More Wiggles Chews
- Best for Daily Use: NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin
- Best for Big Dogs: True Leaf Hemp Calming Chews
- Best for Nervous Travelers: Vet’s Best Comfort Calm Chews
- Best for Hyperactive Pups: Chill by Mount Ara Peanut Butter Spread
Based on expert advice, first-hand testing experience, and a wide range of reviews, here are our top picks for the best calming dog treats.
Best for Fast Results: VetriScience Composure Soft Chews Calming Treats
This sedative-free, veterinarian-formulated supplement has an appealing chicken flavor and claims to help keep dogs calm for up to four hours.
Chewy reviews are a mixed bag: some reviewers had great success with these for their dog’s separation anxiety, some reviewers felt these worked best for more mild situations like car rides, and others felt these calming treats weren’t as effective as other methods, such as a Thundershirt.
When they do work, however, they work fast—VetriScience says that the calming effects should kick in within 30 minutes.
Details to note:
- Available in 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-count packs as well as in liquid form
- Flexible for use as a daily supplement or as-needed, with the option to increase the dosage for high-stress situations
- Active ingredients include Thiamine, L-Theanine, and Colostrum Calming Complex, a proprietary calming formula
- Also available in a formula for cats
Shop on Chewy Shop on Amazon Shop on Petco
Best Probiotic: Purina ProPlan Calming Care (Verified Review)
With increasing evidence that good digestive health is tied to good mental health, this probiotic targets anxiety through the gut. Unlike most calming dog treats, probiotics require consistent use to be most effective, and they take time to see results—as much as six to eight weeks.
We tried it ourselves and saw good results in an older dog who was suffering from the blues, and we spoke with a vet technician who sang its praises for transforming an anxious rescue dog. It isn’t for everyone, though—many reviewers commented on the high cost of an everyday supplement, and not everyone saw the same positive results.
Details to note:
- Probiotics take time to work—for best results, make it part of your daily feeding routine
- Each box contains six weeks’ worth of individually-packaged doses, available in six-, twelve-, and 15-week quantities
- In a manufacturer study, 90% of canine participants experienced a positive change in behavior.
- Also available in a specialized formula for cats
Shop on Chewy Shop on Amazon Shop on PetSmart
Best CBD Treat: Austin and Kat Bailey’s No More Wiggles Chews
Natural pet supplement company Austin and Kat was founded by a pet parent (Kat) looking to support her dogs’ (Austin and Brady) various needs. CBD is a primary ingredient throughout the product line, but you’ll find the strongest dosage in these No More Wiggles hemp chews.
Friends of the Rover editorial crew are big fans of Austin and Kat, praising the treats for not only their calming effects on hyperactive and over-reactive dogs, but for their overall wellness support as well. The chews can be served whole or broken up for small dogs, but some reviewers noted that you’re likely to get some crumbs and waste with those smaller pieces.
Details to note:
- 14mg of CBD per chew, plus mushroom extracts and a blend of valerian root, chamomile, lavender, passionflower, and L-Tryptophan
- Also available in oil form: Bailey’s No More Wiggles Oil
- Many dogs won’t need the full 14mg dosage—it’s recommended pet parents start with just 2mg per 10 pounds of body weight
- All-natural inactive ingredients like apple, cinnamon, coconut oil, flax seed, oat flour, molasses, and peanut butter
- If your dog hasn’t had CBD before, check with your vet to make sure it’s a good fit for your pup
Best for Daily Use: NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin
Specially formulated with Thiamine, L-Tryptophan, and Melatonin, these soft chews taste like a treat and are said to help promote normal nervous system function and facilitate a calm, restful state.
NaturVet recommends daily use for the best results, and the lower price point of these treats make that a more palatable option for many pet parents. Chewy reviewers have had success with pups who won’t settle before bed time and anxious rescue dogs. But some reviewers found the anxiety relief was short-term or recommended pairing these calming treats with a pressure wrap.
Details to note:
- Active ingredients include chamomile, thiamine mononitrate, passion flower, ginger, L-Tryptophan, and melatonin
- Recommended for daily use or 30-minutes prior to a predicted anxiety trigger
- Made in the USA with a wheat-and dairy-free formula
- Also available in a senior-specific formula
Shop on Chewy Shop on Amazon Shop on Petco
Best for Big Dogs: True Leaf Hemp Calming Chews
Big dogs aren’t immune to anxiety, and their size can sometimes make it more difficult to comfort them in times of stress. These hemp-based chews are specifically formulated for the large breed pup in your life. L-Theanine works to calm your pet, while the Omega-3 from hemp seed oil supports general brain health and functioning.
Thunder, fireworks, and separation anxiety top the list of triggers mentioned by reviewers. While the treats didn’t work for everyone, some called them the best calming treats they’ve tried.
Details to note:
- Specially formulated for dogs 60-pounds and above; alternative options are available for or small- to medium-sized dogs
- Received a seal of quality from the National Animal Supplement Council
- Grain-free formula features chickpeas, molasses, coconut oil, honey, sweet potato, and more
Best for Nervous Travelers: Vet’s Best Comfort Calm Chews
Traveling can be stressful for pets and humans alike—even more so when your dog gets carsick. For pups on the move, these chicken-flavored soft chews do double-duty, with both relaxing ingredients like L-Tryptophan and Thiamine and ginger root to soothe an upset stomach.
In reviews on Chewy and Amazon, pet parents observe that the treats help their dogs through thunderstorms, long car rides, and trips to the vet too. But not all customers found these chews to be effective—one-star reviews mention needing prescription-level anxiety medication instead.
Details to note:
- Active calming ingredients include L-Tryptophan, thiamine, valerian root, and chamomile
- Available in both 30- and 90-count packages
- Reviewers note that the effects can take up to an hour or more to kick in, which may not be fast enough for all situations
- Vet-approved formula, with a seal of approval from the National Animal Supplement Council
Shop on Chewy Shop on Amazon Shop on Petco
Best for Hyperactive Pups: Chill by Mount Ara Peanut Butter Spread
For dogs who are always on the move, this spreadable peanut butter treat offers not only yummy calming ingredients but something to do too. Squeeze the calming spread onto a lick mat or fill the Mount Ara Superbite Dog Bone to help focus your dog’s excess energy or distract them from an anxiety trigger.
Details to note:
- Soothing melatonin tops a list of all-natural, real food ingredients like peanut butter, cinnamon, and oats
- The Mount Ara Dog Bone may not be durable enough for strong chewers—use your favorite lick mat, Kong, or other fillable toy as an alternative
- Squeeze out as much or as little as you need for your pup for more precise feeding and less waste
Ingredients Matter: How to Choose Calming Treats
The recent popularity of calming dog chews means that there’s no shortage of options on the market. But not all treats are created equal. Supplements like these aren’t subject to the same regulations as the medications prescribed by your vet. Experts recommend looking for ingredients tested and proven to provide calming effects to dogs:
- Casein (a milk protein)
- Tryptophan (that nap-inducing amino acid found in turkey)
- Melatonin (a hormone that aids in sleep)
- L-Theanine, sometimes called Suntheanine (another amino acid linked to relaxation)
Other options include treats with cannabidiol, commonly called CBD, which is a hemp-based substance that is shown to reduce anxiety, and probiotics, which rely on the apparent gut-brain connection to address anxiety through better digestive care.
While popular human-soothing herbal ingredients like chamomile are common, you don’t want to rely exclusively on them for calming effects—there just isn’t enough evidence available to confirm their effectiveness on dogs.
What To Know Before You Click the Buy Button
To help you choose the right calming treats for your pup, we’ve rounded up some of the best treats available to help your pet—and you—relax. But before you click the “buy now” button, there are a few things you should know. First, not all calming treats work for every dog. It’s likely to take some trial and error before you find the one that works for you and your pet.
For some dogs, especially those with extreme anxiety, treats may not work at all—intervention by a veterinarian and/or trainer is most likely necessary to help manage your pup’s stress. Because of the active ingredients in these treats, consulting your vet is a good idea in any case. Your vet can make recommendations, tell you what to look for, and even alert you to ingredients that might be problematic for your particular pup.
Finally, it’s important to know that calming treats are most effective when they’re paired with other other anxiety management techniques, such as behavior training, pressure wraps, and crate training. But for milder or situational anxiety, or as part of a larger treatment plan, calming treats can be a good place to start.
How We Chose
For this selection of calming dog treats, we considered the advice of experts in choosing safe and effective supplements, our own experiences and those of our colleagues and friends, and reviews from pet parents across a variety of retail platforms.
We particularly looked at the nutrition information of each treat, prioritizing treats containing ingredients proven to be effective for calming dogs. We also considered a range of dog situations, sizes, and sensibilities to ensure a good range of solutions. For any round up, we also draw on years of shared experiences with our much-loved, strongly-opinionated, and sometimes-anxious pets.
Further Reading
- Dog Calming Treats: Do They Really Work? Experts Answer
- The 8 Best Calming Beds for Anxious Dogs
- There’s a Classical Music Playlist to Help Ease Your Pet’s Separation Anxiety
- The Best Calming Dog Toys and Puzzle Toys for Anxiety
- Separation Anxiety in Dogs: What It Is and How to Help
- 7 Surprising Ways Your Dog Says “I’m Stressed”
