Today, our pets are surrounded by products designed in laboratories to change, manage and control their behaviour. But is stronger always better?

Our dogs are exposed to more products than ever before.

Calming tablets. Medications. Sprays. Pheromones. Devices. Supplements. Products designed to make them sleep, relax, stop barking or feel less anxious.

And while many of these products have been developed with good intentions — and some can be genuinely helpful when used appropriately — it is worth asking ourselves:

What are we actually giving our dogs?

And perhaps even more importantly:

What are the possible consequences?

Studies show that calming medication can come with side effects

Prescription medication can be an important tool for dogs suffering from significant anxiety or behavioural disorders. But medication isn't without potential unwanted effects.

For example, a veterinary evidence review examining two randomised, placebo-controlled studies of fluoxetine in dogs found that some dogs experienced decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea and other adverse effects during treatment. In one of the studies, decreased appetite was reported in 24.2% of dogs receiving fluoxetine, while calmness, lethargy or depression was reported in 18.2%.

Another study included in the review reported lethargy in 39% of dogs receiving fluoxetine and decreased appetite in 23%.

That doesn't mean these medications are "bad."

In fact, the same evidence review found moderate evidence that fluoxetine can reduce some anxiety-related behaviours in dogs. For dogs with serious behavioural problems, medication prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian can therefore be an appropriate part of treatment.

But it does remind us of something important:

There is always a trade-off to consider when we introduce something into our dog's body.

And it's not only tablets

Today, there are countless products promising to create a calmer dog.

Some use medication.

Others use pheromones, sounds, pressure or other sensory stimulation.

But the evidence behind these approaches isn't always as strong as the marketing might suggest.

For example, a review of eight controlled trials investigating dog-appeasing pheromones found that the overall evidence for reducing anxiety-related stress behaviours was weak. The researchers concluded that a clear clinical benefit remained undetermined, although the products were considered unlikely to cause harm.

This doesn't mean every calming product is ineffective.

It means we should be careful about assuming that something works simply because the packaging says "calming."

So why are we looking back to nature?

For centuries, people have turned to plants and herbs for their natural properties.

Today, researchers are also investigating whether certain botanical ingredients may have useful effects on stress and anxiety.

At CalmyCollar, this is what inspired us.

Rather than asking:

"How strong can we make a calming product?"

We asked:

"Can we create something gentler?"

Something inspired by nature.

Something that supports calm without trying to change who your dog is.

Something that makes us think more carefully about what we put on and around our pets.

Natural doesn't automatically mean safe

This is important.

We don't believe that everything natural is automatically better.

Some plants can be harmful to dogs. Some herbal ingredients have limited scientific evidence. And natural products should never be presented as a replacement for veterinary treatment when a dog has serious anxiety or a behavioural disorder.

Instead, we believe in thoughtful, responsible use of nature-inspired ingredients.

Because "natural" should never be an excuse to stop asking questions.

It should be a reason to ask better ones.

A different philosophy

Your dog doesn't need to be completely sedated to have a calm day.

They don't need to lose their personality.

They don't need to stop being playful, curious or energetic.

Sometimes, what they need is simply a little support in situations that make them feel overwhelmed.

That's the philosophy behind CalmyCollar.

Natural calming. Nothing harsh.

A nature-inspired approach for dog parents who want to be more conscious about the products they choose for their pets.

Because when it comes to our dogs, we believe they deserve the same thing we want for ourselves:

thoughtful ingredients, responsible choices and a little more nature.

Every dog is different

If your dog experiences severe anxiety, destructive behaviour, aggression, self-injury or sudden behavioural changes, always speak with your veterinarian. Behavioural problems can have different causes, including underlying medical conditions, and some dogs may benefit from professional behavioural treatment or medication.

But for everyday calming support, there are also gentler approaches worth exploring.

Because sometimes, less is more.

CalmyCollar

Natural calming. Nothing harsh.