Can CBD Dog Treats Calm Your Reactive Dog?

Reactivity sucks the fun out of having a dog.

Walks and dog parks become difficult, even impossible. Having guests over to be greeted by a dog that barks nonstop can be embarrassing.

Worst of all, it sucks the fun out of being a dog. Instead of playing, meeting new people and living a careless life, a reactive dog experiences frequent spikes in cortisol, the stress hormone, that can affect their physical health.

I received products and compensation from HempMy Pet to create content about their products, share my personal experiences and write an honest review. Little Dog Tips only features products that I love and use with my own dogs – I’m sure you’ll love them too!

Fortunately, we’re learning more and more about reactivity and dog behavior. One of the more recent advances in treated reactivity are CBD dog treats – tasty cookies with hemp-based CBD extracts baked right in. Used daily or about 30 minutes before a triggering event, CBD treats can change your reactive dog’s life.

Is Your Dog Truly Reactive?

It’s normal for dogs to react. If your dog gets excited about squirrels or barks when the doorbell rings, she’s showing normal dog behaviors that can be worked on, but aren’t abnormal.

However, if you find it extremely difficult to reel your dog in while she’s reacting, she might be overreactive.

Reactivity inhibits learning. You may have noticed that when your dog is totally engaged in staring down the mailman down the road, she will completely ignore your treats – even if you were to wave a juicy piece of steak under her nose. 

When a dog goes into “flight or fight” mode, and has that adrenaline rush, it’s impossible for her to eat. It’s also impossible for her to learn.

If you need to teach your dog to react differently to something, you will first need to dial back that adrenaline rush so your lesson can actually get through to her.

Calming dog treats can help your dog reach a calmer state and make them more receptive to learning without making them less alert.

What Are CBD Dog Treats, And How Do They Work?

It’s extremely important that you understand the distinction between hemp and marijuana.

Marijuana is still illegal in a lot of jurisdictions. It is used to make products that are high in THC, the chemical compound that makes humans feel high and giggly. THC is toxic to dogs in large amounts.

Hemp is used to make products that are high in CBD, a chemical compound that can alleviate pain, anxiety and inflammation, but does not have psychoactive properties, so it does not make people or animals feel high.

Humans and many animals, including dogs, are born with an endocannabinoid system made up of receptors throughout the body. These receptors help regulate appetite, mood, pain, memory and sleep. When the receptors connect with substances known as cannabinoids, homeostasis, or balance, is achieved.

Some cannabinoids occur naturally within the body, others are found outside the body, in foods like those that contain omega-3 fatty acids – fish, for example. CBD and THC are also cannabinoids, found only in hemp and marijuana.

So, when your dog ingests CBD, it is interacting with every part of her body. It can allow her to experience everything around her in a different way. Not only can she feel calmer around things that trigger her, she may feel more open and receptive to them.

To eliminate the possibility that you will give your dog a product that is impure, contaminated, high in THC, or otherwise bad for them, we love and recommend made-for-pets CBD products from HempMy Pet.

Will CBD Dog Treats Cure My Reactive Dog?

CBD dog treats are not meant to cure or prevent any disease, health condition or mental health problem. Thousands of anecdotal accounts and a growing number of research studies have been showing us that CBD can help relieve some symptoms, though what works for one dog may not work for another.

Reactivity can be a result of genetics, past trauma, underlying health problems, or even your dog’s diet. Your vet can rule out any other factors and help you decide how to try CBD oil as part of your plan to help your dog’s reactivity. Also consider working with a professional trainer or behaviorist that relies on science-based, reward-based behavior modification.

How Can I Use CBD Dog Treats To Help My Dog?

CBD dog treats can play a major role in your dog’s progress. But if you truly want to change your dog’s mind about something, you’ll need to show her how you want her to act in those challenging situations. It’s just a bit easier when you give them their CBD treats about 30-45 minutes before. Then, lead the way.

Dogs are highly social animals. Numerous studies show that dogs look to us when they’re scared.

If your dog starts screaming when they see another dog at the park, you’ll probably start holding your breath whenever you see another dog, especially if you see it first. See? Humans can become reactive too. It’s easier to control your own emotions first, and then allow your dog to follow your lead.

Also, keep in mind that your dog does not know what to do with their energy and attention. Speeding up the walk, and jogging in the other direction can sometimes help. A lot of the time, we exacerbate reactivity by giving our dogs too much time to react. A quick look at the other dog, a celebratory “Yay! A friend!” instead of a preemptive “Don’t even think about it… we’ve talked about this!” goes a long way. Then, keep it moving!

Even if it seems like your dog does not react to praise, celebrate every inch of progress. We often don’t see how far we’ve come, and don’t realize just how even a small change can lead to bigger things… like the uneventful park outing you’ve been dreaming of.

Try CBD Dog Treats For Free!

We partnered with HempMy Pet to give away a bag of Pumpkin Harvest CBD dog treats to three lucky winners.

You must be in the United States and 18 or older to enter to win.

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Keep an eye out for my upcoming posts on the different ways CBD oil can be used, how it works, and what researchers are still learning about its uses for domestic animals. In the meantime, you can learn more on the HempMy Pet website:

Visit the online store for more info about CBD oil and HempMy Pet Products

Lindsay Pevny

Lindsay Pevny lives to help pet parents make the very best choices for their pets by providing actionable, science-based training and care tips and insightful pet product reviews.

She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.

As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.

You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.