Dogs get anxious for many reasons, like noise and crowds, and some get separation anxiety when left alone. Vets treat the worst cases with medication, but what if you don't want to drug your dog? Canine Calm, a natural mist made by Earth Heart, soothes jittery canines with essential oils and other natural ingredients.
Canine Calm works on a proven principle. People have long used essential oils like lavender for their soothing properties, and this effect carries over nicely to pets.
Appealing Smell
The first thing you'll notice about Canine Calm, before you even observe its effects, is the product's pleasant smell. It contains pure essential oils of bergamot, tangerine, lavender, geranium, ylang ylang, and marjoram, so expect a soothing aroma rather than an artificial or chemical odor.
Dogs often find the scent just as appealing as humans. Two of my test dogs immediately starting sniffing each other once the mist was applied.
Easy Application
You can put Canine Calm directly on your dog or onto other objects, like bedding or a travel crate. My test subjects all used direct application, but you can choose the spot based on the anxiety you are attacking. For example, dogs who hate car trips will benefit from a misting in their carrier, and nervous canines who fear thunderstorms will appreciate the soothing scent on their beds to help them relax. You can even use it to help a newly-adopted pet during the transition to your household. If your dog doesn't like going to the groomer or home care like nail clipping and dental care, this product can make her more amendable.
Other potential uses for Canine Calm include calming your dog before a bath, vet visit or any other experience the animal typically dislikes or soothing him during 4th of July fireworks or Halloween doorbell ringing. Mist your dog before a walk if he tends to get overly excited by things he encounters outside.
Immediate Results
One problem with medication is that it takes some time to take effect. Your dog may spend half an hour or more getting stressed out while you wait for the drug to kick in. Canine Calm starts to work as soon as your pet breathes in the soothing mist. You can use it as often as you wish without worrying about side effects or long-term health effects, since it's not a drug.
Based on my tests on multiple canines, some dogs seem to benefit from this product more than others. You may see a dramatic effect on your pet, a more subtle calming, or, more rarely, no discernible change. This seems to be similar to the effect of essential oils on humans. I use lavender myself for relaxation, and I know others who love it just as I do, as well as people who notice no difference in their stress levels.
You can tell right away whether Canine Calm works for your dog or not because the effect is fast on dogs who react to this product. You'll see the animal's behavior and body language shift to a calmer level, with the exact amount of effectiveness varying among different dogs.
Pros and Cons
Here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of Canine Calm:
Pros
- Pleasant smell that's palatable to dogs and humans
- Easy to apply, and can be spayed on your dog or other objects
- Fast acting
- Active ingredients are natural essential oils
- May not be effective for some dogs
Canine Calm costs under $12 from its manufacturer, so it's worth trying a bottle to see if your dog is one of the many canines who succumb to its soothing effects. It's part of a positive trend toward natural pet remedies, with many natural supplements, and even probiotics, for dogs and cats.
If it works for your pet, I recommend getting a bottle for your home and for the car if you regularly take your pooch for rides. The bottles are small enough to store easily, and it's good to have one on hand if an unexpected stressful situation suddenly pops up.
