A Guide to Dog Pheromone Collars

Many years ago, I attended a dog training conference where a veterinarian was lecturing about the effects of pheromones on dog behavior. I remember scratching my head and thinking pheromone therapy was some type of woo woo stuff and it didn’t work. Thankfully, I kept digging into the topic. If you’ve never heard of pheromone collars or other products before, allow me to introduce you to the world of calming pheromones for dogs. I’ll also answer whether or not pheromone collars work!

What are Pheromone Collars?

Mammals, and some insects, emit pheromones that affects behavior. When a mother dog gives birth, she releases a calming pheromone that calms herself and her puppies. Since a mother dog’s pheromones are so calming, a synthetic version was created. Pheromones can now be found in dog collars, room sprays and wall plug-ins (Adaptil, 2016).

At first, I wasn’t convinced that a synthetic pheromone would calm a dog, so I purchased the wall plug-in version to give it a try. I’m happy to say, it seemed to calm my dog that suffers from separation anxiety and has helped many of my clients’ dogs too.

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

That’s the magic question, right? Yes, pheromone collars do work—in the sense they reduce your dog’s anxiety and stress. Pheromone therapy won’t change your dog’s behavior though. I’ve heard some pet owners swear that using an Adaptil diffuser (pheromone therapy wall plug-in) stopped a puppy from pottying in the house. That doesn’t seem likely because pheromones won’t teach a dog a new behavior.

I do believe pheromone therapy will reduce worry, stress and anxiety, which will ultimately reduce fear and aggression. Think about it this way: if you’re learning how to drive a car for the first time, pheromone therapy will keep you calm. As a result, you learn better. Pheromones won’t show you how to steer a car. Never underestimate the power of remaining calm; it’s the key to learning in a stressful situation. 🙂

Pheromone Therapy Effects on Dogs and Cats

Over the years, research has been conducted on the effects of pheromone therapy on cats, puppies, fearful dogs and puppy mill dogs. For those who don’t know, puppy mill dogs are puppies purchased from pet stores. Researchers found pheromone therapy reduced stress, which then discouraged fighting between cats as well as prevented inappropriate urination in pets.

Several of my dog training clients swear that pheromone therapy keeps their dogs calm during thunderstorms and stressful car rides. I also know many veterinary practices using pheromone therapy to keep pets calm during veterinary visits. So far, pheromone therapy for dogs looks pretty promising!

It’s Not Magic Though

While pheromone products have proven to work, it shouldn’t be used as a fix-all solution. In my opinion, a combination approach is always best.

Dog pheromone collars should be used in combination with:

• Prescribed medications
• Anxiety wraps (Thundershirts)
• Supplements
• Behavior modification (changing your dog’s behavior)

How to Use Pheromone Products

Pheromone therapy has evolved and with that comes a slew of dog calming products.

Diffusers or Wall Plug-Ins

It’s best to place wall diffusers in a commonly used room by family and pets, such as the living room or bedroom. That way, your dog is exposed to the pheromone scent, but it’s not directly in his or her face. One pheromone diffuser lasts about 30 days. What I’ve found super interesting is most clients are reminded to replace empty diffusers because their previously calm dogs begin acting anxious again. When they refill the diffuser, their dogs calm down again.

Spray

Using spray pheromone therapy works well if you travel a lot. You can spray a paper towel and place it inside your car, hotel room, RV, or kennel when going to the vet’s office or groomer. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, so I don’t recommend spraying your dog with it.

Pheromone Collar

This is the newest addition to pheromone therapy, and it’s a dog collar that contains the right amount of pheromones. As your dog wears the collar, his or her body heat warms up the collar, which disperses the pheromones. Dog pheromone collars aren’t overpowering; they’re just effective enough for dogs on the go.

Pheromone therapy products are certainly worth a try for your anxious or stressed dog! You can purchase them online or at your local pet supply store. I would love to hear your comments after using these products, so please comment below. 🙂