Dogs are usually fun-loving animals, but some dogs get overly excited or stressed out for one reason or another. For example, your dog might get excited and jump on people when you’re in social settings, or maybe they get anxious and stressed when they are left at home alone. Whatever the situation, you want to know whether calming collars work can help correct your dog’s behavior. Overall, it will depend on your dog, there are people that claim it works wonders with their dogs and others that say it doesn’t do much. Read on for the detailed answer.
Do Calming Collars Really Work? Some people say that the collars work for their dogs, but others say that the collars don’t make any difference in their pets’ behavior. We cannot offer a definitive answer as to whether a calming collar will work for your dog. There are no scientific studies that prove or disprove whether calming collars work, so all we have to go by is anecdotal evidence. However, it won’t hurt to try one out and see if it works for your dog. It may work for your dog all the time, on certain occasions, or never. It depends on how your dog reacts to the collar. Image Credit By: MVolodymyr, Shutterstock What Exactly Are Calming Collars? Calming collars are non-invasive, pain-free devices that are designed to help destress and relax dogs. They are not shock collars, and they are not meant to replace your dog’s regular collar. They are used in a variety of situations that may result in stress, fear, and/or anxiety. There are two basic types of calming collars.
Pheromone Collars: These collars are infused with synthetic pheromones that are supposed to mimic the hormones that mother dogs release when they are caring for and nursing their puppies. There is scientific data that pheromones can affect the behavior of animals, including dogs. However, the quality, type, and amount of synthetic pheromones used in a calming collar may not be enough to affect your dog. You may have to try multiple brands before finding one that works.
Aromatherapy Collars: These are relatively new to the market. No clinical research has been done on the use of aromatherapy for dog behavior. These collars are infused with scents like lavender that are thought to help calm dogs down. The ASPCA says that lavender is toxic to dogs, but although Dogs Naturally Magazine recognizes the toxicity, it says that lavender can still be beneficial for dogs. You should talk to your veterinarian before deciding whether to use this type of calming collar.
Image Credit: Lynda McFaul, Shutterstock How and When to Use a Calming Collar A calming collar should only be used when a stressful or anxiety-filled situation calls for it. If the collar stays on all the time, it will lose any effect that it had in the first place. Once you identify what situations make your dog anxious or stressed out, you can start putting on the calming collar right before those situations occur. Take off the collar after it is no longer needed. When putting a calming collar on your dog, don’t take their regular collar off. Calming collars are not strong enough to hold leashes. The calming collar should be tight enough to not fall off yet loose enough that it doesn’t rub tightly against your dog’s fur. When not in use, the collar should be kept in a resealable plastic bag or container to preserve the infused pheromones. Image Credit: tookapic, Pixabay
In Conclusion Calming collars may work for your dog, but they may not. The only way to find out is to try one (or a couple of different brands). It’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian before putting any calming collar on your dog, though. They may be able to recommend specific types and brands of collars that they have had good experiences with.
Featured Image Credit: Kevin Seibel, Unsplash
Dogs are usually fun-loving animals, but some dogs get overly excited or stressed out for one reason or another. For example, your dog might get excited and jump on people when you’re in social settings, or maybe they get anxious and stressed when they are left at home alone. Whatever the situation, you want to know whether calming collars work can help correct your dog’s behavior. Overall, it will depend on your dog, there are people that claim it works wonders with their dogs and others that say it doesn’t do much. Read on for the detailed answer.
Do Calming Collars Really Work?
Some people say that the collars work for their dogs, but others say that the collars don’t make any difference in their pets’ behavior. We cannot offer a definitive answer as to whether a calming collar will work for your dog. There are no scientific studies that prove or disprove whether calming collars work, so all we have to go by is anecdotal evidence. However, it won’t hurt to try one out and see if it works for your dog. It may work for your dog all the time, on certain occasions, or never. It depends on how your dog reacts to the collar.
What Exactly Are Calming Collars?
Calming collars are non-invasive, pain-free devices that are designed to help destress and relax dogs. They are not shock collars, and they are not meant to replace your dog’s regular collar. They are used in a variety of situations that may result in stress, fear, and/or anxiety. There are two basic types of calming collars.
Pheromone Collars: These collars are infused with synthetic pheromones that are supposed to mimic the hormones that mother dogs release when they are caring for and nursing their puppies. There is scientific data that pheromones can affect the behavior of animals, including dogs. However, the quality, type, and amount of synthetic pheromones used in a calming collar may not be enough to affect your dog. You may have to try multiple brands before finding one that works.
Aromatherapy Collars: These are relatively new to the market. No clinical research has been done on the use of aromatherapy for dog behavior. These collars are infused with scents like lavender that are thought to help calm dogs down. The ASPCA says that lavender is toxic to dogs, but although Dogs Naturally Magazine recognizes the toxicity, it says that lavender can still be beneficial for dogs. You should talk to your veterinarian before deciding whether to use this type of calming collar.
How and When to Use a Calming Collar
A calming collar should only be used when a stressful or anxiety-filled situation calls for it. If the collar stays on all the time, it will lose any effect that it had in the first place. Once you identify what situations make your dog anxious or stressed out, you can start putting on the calming collar right before those situations occur. Take off the collar after it is no longer needed.
Pheromone Collars: These collars are infused with synthetic pheromones that are supposed to mimic the hormones that mother dogs release when they are caring for and nursing their puppies. There is scientific data that pheromones can affect the behavior of animals, including dogs. However, the quality, type, and amount of synthetic pheromones used in a calming collar may not be enough to affect your dog. You may have to try multiple brands before finding one that works.
Aromatherapy Collars: These are relatively new to the market. No clinical research has been done on the use of aromatherapy for dog behavior. These collars are infused with scents like lavender that are thought to help calm dogs down. The ASPCA says that lavender is toxic to dogs, but although Dogs Naturally Magazine recognizes the toxicity, it says that lavender can still be beneficial for dogs. You should talk to your veterinarian before deciding whether to use this type of calming collar.
- Pheromone Collars: These collars are infused with synthetic pheromones that are supposed to mimic the hormones that mother dogs release when they are caring for and nursing their puppies. There is scientific data that pheromones can affect the behavior of animals, including dogs. However, the quality, type, and amount of synthetic pheromones used in a calming collar may not be enough to affect your dog. You may have to try multiple brands before finding one that works.
- Aromatherapy Collars: These are relatively new to the market. No clinical research has been done on the use of aromatherapy for dog behavior. These collars are infused with scents like lavender that are thought to help calm dogs down. The ASPCA says that lavender is toxic to dogs, but although Dogs Naturally Magazine recognizes the toxicity, it says that lavender can still be beneficial for dogs. You should talk to your veterinarian before deciding whether to use this type of calming collar.
When putting a calming collar on your dog, don’t take their regular collar off. Calming collars are not strong enough to hold leashes. The calming collar should be tight enough to not fall off yet loose enough that it doesn’t rub tightly against your dog’s fur. When not in use, the collar should be kept in a resealable plastic bag or container to preserve the infused pheromones.
In Conclusion
Calming collars may work for your dog, but they may not. The only way to find out is to try one (or a couple of different brands). It’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian before putting any calming collar on your dog, though. They may be able to recommend specific types and brands of collars that they have had good experiences with.
Featured Image Credit: Kevin Seibel, Unsplash
