Study finds ginger, vanilla, coconut and valerian root are effective at reducing activity and vocalisations in kenneled dogs…might help with a stressed dog at home

Researchers exposed 15 dogs in shelter surroundings to a cloth with each of the scents on it for 2hrs then recorded their behaviour. They found:

• Vanilla and valerian reduce activity and vocalisations in kennelled dogs.

• Coconut and ginger reduce activity and vocalisations in kennelled dogs.

• Coconut and ginger increase sleeping behaviour in kennelled dogs.

The results are verifying what more natural-minded folks have known and have been using for years when needed. It might be useful for anyone with these issues in their pets or with dogs struggling to cope with being abandoned by their owners into a pound environment.

It’s so easy to do – vanilla from the long pod you can find in the health section, grate and leave around the place. Ginger you can simply pick up and grate it under their bedding. In fact, ginger also works extremely well for poor car travellers as it also settles the tum. Lots of studies back this up, though still folk aren’t sure how or why! In Guide Dogs we used to put lots of newspaper down under their blanket (works to reduce static too) and grate fresh ginger between the pages. It seemed to work a treat.

Tips when travelling with  your dog:

• Window down for fresh air
• Heat off, they don’t like engine air
• Lots of thick paper down (reduce static, or simply use a static remover in your car)
• Grate fresh ginger into their bedding or even include a bit in their food prior to travel
• Don’t feed too close to journey
• Consider some valerian root for very anxious travellers.
• Keep initial journeys very short whilst applying the above, turn engine on, then off, get out and treat! Repeat, eventually just moving out of the driveway and back. Ideally, just drive to the park the first few journeys, nothing like a BIG reward to do stuff you don’t enjoy!

Of all the herbs the researchers used, valerian root is probably the most well known to induce calmness in pets (and horses and people).  It’s one of the core ingredients used in the likes of Kalms for humans, the natural sleeping aid which I use should I be struggling to nod off, very effective. You can find it in your local health store and yes, you can use them in your dog. Failing that, you can always pick it up in liquid form such as Just Chillin’, which you can find on Amazon.

Other products go for the “whole shibang” approach and make popular treats that include most of the above, and often more, including things like tryptophan and a few other bits. If needed, pick up the ones in treat form, easiest to give, and tasty! Yucalm is a popular type, find on Amazon.

For dogs with bad anxiety, studies show CBD oil is very effective at controlling and reducing stress and anxiety in humans and rats and I have heard it works quickly in dogs too. However, it is a more expensive solution, so maybe start with the more readily accessible items above before considering.

Please remember guys these herbs are simply plasters, a short-term solution for a troubled dog. If he’s in kennels there’s little you can do but if you have a dog at home with separation anxiety or doing excessive barking, I have written an extensive article of how to deal with it. You can check it out here – Excessive Barking and Separation Anxiety in Dogs.