Dog Appeasing Pheromones and Calming Products

Humans and dogs have been communicating for centuries, with our dogs able to be trained to understand verbal commands, hand signals or even whistles. But dogs also have their own ways of communicating with each other that are invisible to humans, including pheromones.

Pheromones are naturally produced chemical substances that are instantly recognisable between animals of the same species. Specific pheromones trigger different, instinctive responses from the animal. All dogs have a special structure located just above the roof of their mouth called the vomeronasal organ which identifies pheromones. One particular pheromone is the ‘Dog Appeasing Pheromone’, which triggers an instinctive calming response when dogs identify it. We use this dog pheromone in our Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Range to help reduce problem behaviour and general anxiety associated with stress in dogs.

The Dog Appeasing Pheromone is naturally produced by the bitch after giving birth and when she nurses her puppies. This specific dog pheromone triggers an instinctive calming response, helping the puppies feel safe and reassured. It is also a crucial part of the bonding process between mother and puppy. The Dog Appeasing Pheromone is instantly recognisable to dogs of all breeds and ages. It doesn't matter if they were hand-reared or nursed from the bitch.

Fireworks, thunderstorms, vet visits and other situations can be stressful for dogs, causing them to feel nervous or anxious. This stress is often displayed through destructive behaviour, such as chewing or scratching furniture, or barking excessively, which can be distressing for dog owners as well. Because the Dog Appeasing Pheromone promotes feelings of reassurance, we use a synthetic copy of it in our Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Range. This means we can mimic the pheromone’s calming effect, providing dogs with a message of continuous reassurance that helps reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

When dogs feel comfortable and reassured, they are less likely to exhibit problem behaviour, such as furniture destruction or urinary marking.

Beaphar CaniComfort® is ideal for use before or during a specific stressful situation, such as fireworks or travelling. It's also useful for helping reduce problem behaviour that has occurred around the home as a result of a stressful situation. For example, urinary marking indoors after moving house or destructive behaviour when left home alone.

You can also use Beaphar CaniComfort® during learning periods and new experiences. Helping your dog feel more at ease during this potentially stressful stage of their life allows them to concentrate more easily, and can help improve their training.

The Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Range includes a variety of different products, including a calming diffuser, calming collar, calming spray and calming spot-on. This means there is a calming solution to suit every dog, but can make choosing the right product overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve created a simple guide suggesting the best Beaphar CaniComfort® product for different stressful situations.

Stress or a stressful situation isn't always the cause of problem behaviour in dogs. In these cases Beaphar CaniComfort® may not produce the desired calming effect. It is important to first identify the cause of your dog’s problem behaviour.

However, if you believe your dog’s problem behaviour is due to any of the following, you should seek further advice from a vet or dog behaviourist.

• Poor or inconsistent training
• A lack of mental stimulation
• A lack of house training
• An underlying medical condition
• Irritation from external parasites

If you are concerned about the health of your dog or unsure if the behaviour is due to a medical reason, seek veterinary advice.

If your dog is displaying aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, pets or people Beaphar CaniComfort® will not be effective. You should consult your vet or a dog behaviourist as a priority.