Just like us, certain events or situations can cause stress and anxiety in dogs. But unlike us, your dog can’t simply tell you what is causing this. Instead, dogs display their anxiety through stress-related behaviour, which can be distressing for owners too. Such stress-related  behaviour may include furniture destruction, chewing or excessive barking. Some causes of stress cannot be removed, such as a new pet or family member, or moving house. This means choosing the right calming product is essential to help your dog feel more at ease.

At Beaphar, we understand that every pet is different, which is why we offer two complementary calming ranges, both of which can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs. Our pheromone-based Beaphar CaniComfort® range uses pheromone technology, while the Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Range uses natural plant-based ingredients which are well-known for their calming properties. This means you can choose the approach that best suits your cat, or even use the ranges alongside each other for complete support.

Using pheromone technology, Beaphar CaniComfort® is a simple and effective solution to helping to reduce anxiety and stress-related behaviour in dogs and puppies of all ages. The product range uses a synthetic copy of the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) to help your dog feel more at ease, wherever they are. The Dog Appeasing Pheromone is naturally produced by the mother dog when she nurses her puppies, helping them to feel safe and reassured. These pheromones are instantly recognisable to dogs of all breeds and ages, whether they were nursed by their mother or hand-reared as puppies.  Using a dog pheromone product, such as Beaphar CaniComfort®, will help reassure your dog and reduce problem behaviour.

The Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Range uses natural, plant-based ingredients which are well-known for their calming properties such as Valerian, Lavender and Melissa, and have been used in human healthcare for many years to help reduce stress and anxiety. 

While our homes are generally places we feel most comfortable, some events could cause our dogs to feel unsettled. Dogs may hide away from things that frighten them within the home, like fireworks and thunderstorms.

Beaphar Calming Diffusers are ideal for planned events like fireworks and parties, as well as keeping your covered for unexpected situations such as thunderstorms, and for ongoing general anxiety caused by everyday occurrences, such as being left at home alone. For best results, Beaphar Calming Diffusers should be used continuously. Do not switch off at night or when you leave the house.

Choose from the Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Diffuser, which is effective for up to 30 days and can be used in an area up to 70m². Additional 30 day refills are also available, to ensure your dog feels at ease all year round.

Alternatively, choose the Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Diffuser for a plant-based alternative. Effective for up 4 weeks and suitable for areas up to 50m², the diffuser contains Valerian and Lavandin, and releases a calming scent that reassures both dogs and cats, so this is a great choice if you live in a multi-pet household.

Both calming diffusers are easy-to-use, simply plug in anywhere in your home, and allow the calming effect to reassure your dog.  

Long car journeys or visits to the vet can be a stressful experience for your dog. Using a combination of calming products is a great idea, helping to support your dog during travelling and when you arrive at your destination.  

Calming sprays are ideal for helping  your dog feel more at ease during the journey. Simply spray your dog’s empty crate, blankets or the interior of your car before you set off. This will help create a calm, more relaxing environment for your dog when travelling. Do not use the spray on your dog or while your dog is inside their crate or the car.

The Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Spray is pocket-sized, simple to use and effective for up to five hours. Apply the spray 15 minutes before your journey, or placing your dog inside the car. Alternatively, choose Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Spray, which contains calming Valerian to help reassure pets.

Make sure your dog’s calming support continues after the journey, by using a calming spot-on. Calming spot-ons reassure your dog wherever they go, and can applied before you travel, so you don’t have to worry once your reach your destination, whether that’s the vets or an outdoor adventure.

The Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Spot-On begins working around 15 minutes after application and provides reassurance for up to one week. Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Spot-On begins working around 1 hour after application and is also effective for up to one week.

If your dog isn’t fond of spot-ons or is an extremely nervous traveller and you’d like to give further calming support, try Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Tablets. The tablets calm without sedating, and begin working around 1.5 hours after ingestion.

Some dogs love staying in kennels but for other dogs it fills them with anxiety. A calming collar is a great option for when your dog is staying away home. Calming collars are often long-lasting, providing calming support that travels with your dog for the duration of their stay. You can relax on your holiday knowing your pet is relaxed on theirs.

The Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Collar is effective for up to 4 weeks, and begins working around 15 minutes after being fitted. Available in two sizes, for adult dogs and puppies. The Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Collar is suitable for dogs from 12 weeks old. It is effective for up to 6 weeks and begins working around 1 hour after fitting.

If you’ve recently welcomed a puppy into your family, they’re a bundle of joy but also have a lot still to learn. The pheromones in the Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Collar – Puppy can help your puppy feel relaxed, meaning their more likely to respond to training positively.
 

For home-based problem behaviour, such as chewing or furniture destruction, using a diffuser and a spray is the best way to combat it.  

Plug in the diffuser in the room where the behaviour is occurring, then apply the calming spray to the object/area where the behaviour is occurring.

Use either the  Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Diffuser and Calming Spray, or the Beaphar StressLess Calming Diffuser and Spray, or you could even use a combination of both ranges.

Moving to a new home involves several situations your dog may find stressful, so we’d recommend using a combination of calming products support them through the change.

If you’re moving from one home to another we suggest your dog stays with a friend. Alternatively, you could consider placing them in kennels for the night. This avoids you worrying about losing your dog while trying to transition between houses.

Before setting off with your dog, fit a calming collar. You may wish to do this a few days beforehand so your dog is reassured as the house is packed up and their environment changes. Calming collars are generally long-lasting, so provide  continuous comfort during the journey and when they reach the kennels or friend’s home. If your dog will be travelling in the car, you can also use a calming spray in their dog crate or in the car before the journey.

Once you have dropped your dog off and arrived in your new house, plug in a calming diffuser. Just before you pick up your dog, spread some of their favourite toys in the room and spray their bed with the calming spray to help them settle quickly into their new home. If you’re bringing home a new puppy or dog, simply plug in the calming diffuser around a week before collecting your dog. On the day, use the calming spray in the car or dog crate before you set off to pick them up. Before you take your dog home, fit a calming collar to help reassure them as the settle into their new home.
 

Both the Beaphar CaniComfort® and Beaphar StressLess ranges include diffusers, collars and sprays, and you can use any combination of those three products across both ranges depending on your needs and what works best for you.

There are certain situations when a calming product will not help your dog. This is because not all problem behaviour in dogs is caused by stress or a stressful situation.

Situations where problem behaviour may be occurring but a calming product will not produce the desired calming effect are:

• If your dog has had poor or inconsistent training, or is lacking mental stimulation, this can lead to over-excitement, barking or destructive behaviour.
   
• A lack of house training or an underlying medical condition could cause your dog to urinate indoors or in inappropriate places.
   
• Your dog may be suffering from an underlying medical condition or irritation from external parasites, which may cause excessive licking and scratching.
   
• If you believe your dog’s problem behaviour is being caused by one of the issues above, you should consult your vet or a dog behaviourist.