7 Best Calming Treats and Chews for Anxious Dogs
Incoming storm? Sudden fireworks? Need to travel? These supplements might help your dog (and you).
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
For animals that share heritage with the mighty wolf, dogs can be real scaredy cats. When your dog is extra stressed, having calming dog treats on hand can be helpful. "I recommend calming treats for dogs facing separation anxiety, those scared by fireworks or thunderstorms, dogs unnerved by car rides or veterinary visits, or just general anxiety and nervousness," says Sylvalyn Hammond, D.V.M., a general practice veterinarian in South Carolina. "Calming treats can be extremely helpful for dogs who do not do well with change, including if you move to a new home or bring in a new pet."
To find the best calming treats for dogs, we sought the advice of Dr. Hammond and Lisa Lippman, D.V.M., a veterinarian and director of virtual medicine for Bond Vet, asking them to weigh in on the ingredients they recommend for canine patients. Our list omits CBD dog treats, as our GH Institute experts don't yet believe there's enough clinical research to recommend them for dog anxiety. While there is some research showing CBD can help dogs with pain, Dr. Hammond said that she recommends using it "with caution and after consultation with a veterinarian."
Best Deal
Pros
- Great for occasional stressful events
- Breaks into large or small pieces
- Vet-recommended
- Natural calming ingredients
Cons
- Pricey if you use them often or have a large dog
✔️ BEST FOR: Occasional use before events that will be stressful for your pup.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: The brand suggests that you serve a piece (not a whole bar) before an event such as local fireworks, a thunderstorm rolling in, or a planned car ride.
These Bliss Bars have a dog-pleasing peanut butter-bacon flavor. Break each bar into three pieces for most dogs, or serve smaller pieces to little breeds and larger pieces to big dogs.
These can get pricey, especially if you have a large dog or plan to use them frequently. The brand also makes smaller chicken-flavored calming chews that are great for small breeds. For breeds that like to gnaw, there are hard chews.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: Kradle is Dr. Hammond's top choice for calming dog treats. "It incorporates natural ingredients such as passionflower and L-theanine [an amino acid], which have been shown to have calming effects on dogs," she said.
| Type | Soft bars |
| Quantity | 6 bars; the brand suggests each can be broken into 3 pieces for 18 servings. |
| Active ingredients | GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), L-theanine, passionflower extract (aerial parts), L-tryptophan, ashwagandha root extract |
| Flavor | Peanut butter and bacon |
Pros
- Can reduce anxiety
- Easy-to-find brand
- Under-$20 price
Cons
- Calming but can also make a dog drowsy
✔️ BEST FOR: Occasionally calming a dog and maybe sending it for a nap. These could work well for travel.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Greenies is an easy-to-find brand in many supermarkets and mass merchants. It's the only choice on our list that costs less than $20.
The brand touts these for use in times of occasional (but normal) canine stress based on its lead ingredients, L-tryptophan and L-theanine, which may help reduce anxiety and stabilize mood, respectively. The tryptophan might also make a dog drowsy—it's the amino acid found in turkey meat.
Though the bag looks similar to the Greenies dental treats, these calming supplements don't promise any dental benefits.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: Though online reviewers say these work some magic on anxious dogs, many report their dog taking a nap after ingesting. You might not want to serve these before a walk if you need your dog to be alert.
| Type | Soft chews |
| Quantity | 40 |
| Active ingredients | L-tryptophan, L-theanine |
| Flavor | Chicken |
Pros
- Daily supplement for anxious dogs
- Works with probiotics
- Powder to sprinkle over your dog's food
Cons
- May take weeks to see results
✔️ BEST FOR: Settling an anxious dog who regularly displays behaviors such as barking, jumping, pacing, and spinning.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: This supplement is taken daily. Purina says its proprietary strain of probiotics can help calm your dog, but there is no clinical study on it.
The brand cautions that it might take up to six weeks to see results, which can feel like a long stretch to dog owners, but some online reviewers report seeing much faster improvement. Reviewers also say their dogs like the liver-flavored taste.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: We like that the powder is simple to sprinkle over your dog's regular food.
| Type | Powder |
| Quantity | 30 packets |
| Active ingredients | Bifidobacterium longum (BL999) |
| Flavor | Liver |
Pros
- Fast-acting at stressful times
- Recommended by one of our veterinarian consultants
- Relatively large bag, and three flavors available
Cons
- Not necessarily for daily use
✔️ BEST FOR: Treating your dog when a stressful event pops up, since the chews are relatively fast-acting.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: VetriScience says these chews will start working in half an hour. These are not meant to be daily supplements; they're given as-needed when there's an unexpected storm, your dog is heading to the groomers, or fireworks start going off nearby, etc.
The first ingredient is thiamine, a B vitamin, which, when deficient, can affect a dog's nervous system. The chews also use a proprietary Colostrum Calming Complex derived from cows.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: Dr. Lippman said she trusts this formula for her doggie patients who need a calming supplement. We like that you can get this relatively large bag, with 120 chews. These are chicken, but they also come in bacon and peanut butter flavors.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Soft chews |
| Quantity | 120 |
| Active ingredients | Thiamine (vitamin B1), L-theanine (Suntheanine brand), proprietary Colostrum Calming Complex |
| Flavor | Chicken |
Pros
- Melatonin, valerian, and melatonin to promote sleep
- Grain-free
- Brand has other specific supplements as well
Cons
- Some reviewers don't like the smell
✔️ BEST FOR: Bedtime, when you need a restless dog to settle down and fall asleep.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: These contain melatonin, which the Sleep Foundation says might help dogs with sleep disorders. Other mild, natural sedatives include valerian root, camomile, and magnesium—supplements that many people take for sleep, too.
The largest ingredient by volume is hemp seed oil. Pupgrade says these calming chews are grain-free, and simply describes the taste as "meat flavored," and not all online reviewers like the smell. The ingredients list pork and turkey sources, as well as "natural flavor."
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: PupGrade sells other supplements, too, including a dog multivitamin and chews for digestion.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Soft chews |
| Quantity | 60 |
| Active ingredients | Melatonin, hemp seed oil, chamomile powder, valerian root, passion flower, magnesium gluconate, L-Tryptophan |
| Flavor | Meat |
Pros
- For anxious puppies under a year old
- Natural, plant-based ingredients recommended by a vet
- Brand makes supplements for adult dogs, too
Cons
- Only turkey flavor available in the puppy version
✔️ BEST FOR: Calming a hyperactive or anxious puppy aged about 8 weeks to 1 year old.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Zesty Paws uses chamomile and passionflower, two of the ingredients recommended by Dr. Hammond, plus other plant-based ingredients such as valerian and ginger.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: These puppy bites are turkey-flavored. If you need a calming supplement for an adult dog, the brand has those in peanut butter flavor and bison flavor, using different active ingredients, including hemp seed powder.
| Type | Soft chews |
| Quantity | 90 |
| Active ingredients | Organic chamomile, proprietary relaxation blend (valerian root, L-tryptophan), organic passionflower, L-theanine (Suntheanine), organic ginger root, ashwagandha (Sensoril), magnesium citrate |
| Flavor | Turkey |
Pros
- Lets a dog gnaw its stress away
- Natural, single ingredient
- Vigorous chew experience versus a supplement
Cons
- Expensive
✔️ BEST FOR: Giving to dogs who feel at their most calm when gnawing a bone or bully stick.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: As an alternative to giving your dog a supplement with calming ingredients, you can give your dog a long-lasting chew treat that will calm his troubles. It keeps a dog busy and distracted!
Bully sticks are pricey, but made with just one single, natural beef ingredient.
✔️ EXPERT NOTES: One pet owner with a nervous Spaniel swears these chews work wonders. "It's a vigorous chew experience, and he's always calm and happy afterward," they said.
RELATED: The Most Indestructible Dog Toys
| Type | Hard chew |
| Quantity | 25 |
| Active ingredients | N/A |
| Flavor | Beef |
How we chose the best calming dog treats
Two veterinary experts weighed in on this story: Sylvalyn Hammond, D.V.M., a general practice veterinarian in South Carolina, and Lisa Lippman, D.V.M., veterinarian and director of virtual medicine for Bond Vet, a chain of veterinary offices in the Northeast and Midwest. We also checked in with Katie Brenner, a compliance officer with the National Animal Supplement Council.
On top of that, we consulted our in-house Good Housekeeping Institute experts on this guide, including Sabina Wizemann, a chemist who substantiates claims and evaluates products for the Good Housekeeping Seal, and Stefani Sassos, a registered dietitian who directs the Nutrition Lab. Last but not least, we interviewed real-life dog owners and sifted through online reviews for a complete picture of real-life use of canine dietary supplements.
What to look for when shopping for calming dog treats
"Supplements are not tightly FDA-regulated, and different things may work for different pets," Dr. Lippman says. "So it's really about looking for trusted brands and trying them out to see what works for your pet."
Dr. Hammond agrees. "Every pet is unique, and individual factors such as age, breed, health status, and concurrent medications must be considered before starting any new supplement regimen," which is why it's smart to first check in with your vet. Then, when shopping, consider:
✔️ Ingredients, including but not limited to:
- Chamomile: A medicinal herb with relaxing effects in dogs. (And humans, who enjoy chamomile tea.)
- Passionflower: Also a calming herb used for anxiety and sleep issues.
- Ashwagandha: A traditional medicinal plant used to combat stress.
- L-theanine: A natural amino acid that can promote relaxation.
- L-tryptophan: An essential amino acid that works with serotonin and melatonin to help reduce anxiety. A dog's body does not produce L-tryptophan, so it must be consumed as food or treats.
- Ginger: There is some evidence that ginger can help with motion sickness and vomiting.
- Rosemary: This herb is thought to possibly enhance a dog's mood.
- Valerian: A flowering plant known for its sedative qualities.
- Melatonin: A sleep-regulating hormone that can help with stress.
✔️ Made in the U.S.: Dr. Hammond prefers treats that aren't imported, because the FDA has established Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for American companies to follow that help ensure the safe composition of all dietary supplements, including ones for pets. All the treats on our list are made in the U.S., though some ingredients are globally sourced.
✔️ NASC-Certified: Both vets recommend looking for the NASC-Certified seal on dog supplements. Brands that are certified by the National Animal Supplement Council pay to be audited for quality so they can carry that third-party certification. Everything on our list is NASC-Certified except for the Bully Springs, which are not sold as supplements. (The action of chewing is calming with those, not the ingredients.)
When to see a vet
If calming treats aren't helping, there is more to try. "There are non-treat products to help calm dogs, like ThunderShirts, which provide gentle pressure to help reduce anxiety," Dr. Hammond says. "There are calming sprays containing pheromones, plus environmental modifications such as creating a quiet, safe space for your dog during stressful events. Regular exercise, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement can also contribute to overall stress reduction in dogs."
Need more help? Consult your vet about a prescription. "When the anxiety is really bad, see your vet because oftentimes, drugs are really helpful," Dr. Lippman says. "Drugs are a big part of a vet practice in that we want to do things that take stress off of our animals. It's better living through chemistry."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For 120 years, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been dedicated to helping consumers make sound choices. Guiding families with pets is part of that. Many of our Lab experts are dog and cat owners, and we test things such as dog harnesses and orthopedic dog beds in the Lab, in our own homes, and in consumer-tester homes.
Journalist Jessica Hartshorn has owned pets all of her life. She shares a home with her dog-owning cousin and has many dog-parent friends who share their wisdom and are willing to test dog products.
Hartshorn also leans on the expertise of Good Housekeeping Institute experts. Two who helped with guide are Sabina Wizemann, a chemist who helps substantiates claims for products seeking the Good Housekeeping Seal, and Stefani Sassos, a registered dietitian and Nutrition and Fitness Lab Director.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Readers Also Read
125 Unique Birthday Wishes for Friends
Sweet "Good Morning" Messages to Share
The Most Romantic Love Messages
110 Impossible Riddles for Adults
