If you have a jumpy or anxious dog on your hands, be sure to consult a vet to assess the severity of the situation. To soothe their nerves from the inside out, our Calm & Relaxation range , including calming treats, contains relaxing, serotonin-boosting ingredients to keep your pooch happy and grounded. Sleepiness/lethargy. As calming treats can have sedative effects, some dogs may be more affected and become sleepier than others. Finding it easy to go to sleep is a desired outcome - but if your pooch is acting overly drowsy or confused, it could mean the treats don’t suit them, or they’ve eaten too many. There are dog calming products on the market that resemble ‘tablets’, more like a traditional health supplement. These generally contain the same natural calming ingredients for dogs as mentioned above, and could have the same effect, but may be crumbled or added into food. As a more appetising option, calming dog treats or calming biscuits for dogs may be a tastier route for you and your pooch. What’s more, as calming treats are considered ‘nutritional supplements’ rather than medication, there’s the chance that pet food manufacturers can make unsubstantiated claims. Non-natural ingredients, according to the AAFCO, are items that are “chemically synthesized, such as vitamin ingredients, mineral ingredients, preservatives, and special-purpose food additives,” such as “artificial flavors and colors, chelated minerals, mineral amino acid complexes, vitamin supplements, propylene glycol, calcium ascorbate, and other preservatives (such as BHA and BHT).”

In this article, we’ll look at natural dog treats, including what they are, whether they’re healthy, and which are the best natural dog treats for your pup’s diet. What Are Natural Dog Treats?Lavender. The musky scent of purple lavender flowers are known to induce a sleepy sensation, and so are often used in aromatherapy. Hemp. The hemp plant is renowned for its naturally occurring compounds called cannabinoids, which can have calming and anxiety-reducing effects on dogs by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain. Hemp that’s safe for our pooches is THC free - meaning it’s free from tetrahydrocannabinol; the compound that causes intoxication. This means THC free hemp won’t have psychoactive effects on your dog, and is safe for them to consume. As a rule, you can assume that calming dog treats containing natural ingredients will have a much more beneficial effect on your dog than sugary or fatty ‘calming treats’ containing junk and artificial preservatives. For dogs with grain allergies, our Pooch & Mutt calming treats are organic and grain-free, so are safer for dogs who are allergic to grain or struggle to digest it. Ultimately, Devereaux says, “treats that are described as natural are not necessarily a healthier option.” That’s because even though such treats may be labeled as natural, there are still a lot of variables to consider. Another reason natural dog treats might not be the healthiest option for your pet? “Natural” doesn’t necessarily mean the treat contains healthy ingredients. Again, as AAFCO maintains, “There is no requirement or statement that natural feeds or ingredients are safer than those produced by a chemically synthetic process.”

Calming food can be another great addition to a pooch’s anxiety reduction plan. As with calming treats, it’s unlikely to resolve the problem completely for severely anxious or excitable dogs - but the active and nutritional ingredients in the complete recipes can make a significant difference. Here at Pooch & Mutt, we have our Calm & Relaxed Dry Food and Calm & Relaxed Wet Food Pouches that can be fed at mealtimes to help support your pooch. Tasty and functional, to make feeding times a winner for everyone. The biggest question in your head surrounding calming dog treats is probably, do they even work? Though it’s always dependent on your individual dog and their level of anxiety, the answer is usually yes, they can help. As with anything dogs eat, there’s always the potential for side effects. With calming treats however, the side effects are usually specific to the natural calming ingredients included in the treats, which can cause certain behaviours, especially if the dog eats too many. Commercial dog treats have to pass certain standards to be sold in the UK, so in general they are safe for dogs to eat. That said, there are different standards of dog treats - and your pooch may have specific dietary requirements that mean you should pay special attention to the ingredients.

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Valerian root. The compounds on valerian root contain mild sedative properties, which can cause a feeling of relaxation in some dogs. The term “natural” can mean a lot of things, but it has a certain connotation when it comes to pet food and treats. Sweet potato. This tasty carbohydrate contains high levels of B vitamins which act as mood boosters, having a natural ‘anti-stress’ effect. Whatever form they come in, natural dog calming products usually contain a specially chosen range of known relaxants to soothe a dog’s anxiety without relying on artificial ingredients or fixes. This could include:

You can read AAFCO’s lengthy definition of what “natural” means here, but basically, it’s pet food derived “solely from plant, animal, or mined sources.” It is either completely unprocessed or processed in natural ways, such as “physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation.” When shopping for natural dog treats (or any dog treats, really), it’s wise to give the ingredient list a close look. This will tell you which ingredients are used in the greatest proportion and whether there are any artificial or potentially harmful additives.Calming treats can be an important tool in our toolbox when it comes to helping our anxious pooches. Food is undeniably powerful and certain ingredients have the potential to affect both mood and anxiety and to encourage rest and relaxation. As well as providing calming treats, an owner of an anxious dog may consider using a calming diet, modifying their dog's environment and using training programmes. Very anxious dogs may benefit from prescription medicine and/or the input of a professional behaviourist.”