The Best Dog Nips

There's nothing like a tasty dog nip to soothe your anxious pooch. These nutritious treats make a fantastic way to calm your dog down during their anxious moments, and they're great for reinforcing good behavior too. But not every dog nip will pass the sniff test, which is why we've made this list of the ones we think your dog will love the most. Read on and get ready to treat your dog to a bit of bite-sized therapy.

What To Look For

We had three major qualifications when searching for the perfect dog nip: does the treat effectively calm down your dog? Does it taste good and will it make a great incentive for your dog to calm down? Finally, is it nutritious and free of harmful chemicals that could do a number on your canine companion? Every dog nip on our list won its spot by fulfilling these three criteria. NaturVet won our top spot by providing a chew that hit the perfect balance between promoting health and tasting delicious. We also had to admire the descriptively-named Doggijuana for creating a toy that managed to charm us while putting our pups at ease. Read on to see which dog nip will be chilling out your pooch today.

NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Dog Nip

Doctor approved

The veterinary seal of approval is well earned when it comes to this dog nip.
Best Overall

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If you need a high-quality dog nip, NaturVet makes for an excellent first choice. Its vet-approved formula includes melatonin and ginger, meaning it’s gentle and won’t be likely to cause adverse side effects when your dog needs to calm down. It also comes in a generous serving size with 180 tasty chews per bottle. Whether you rely on dog nip or are new to the concept, this chill pill will surely do the trick. 

Pros 

  • Inexpensive considering the quality and quantity of dog nip included 
  • Textured to easily crumble into your dog’s meal 
  • Potent enough to work reliably without being too strong to use on small dogs 

Cons 

  • Less successful if taken on an empty stomach 

PetHonesty Calming Hemp Dog Nip

The natural choice

This hemp-based formula makes for an excellent dog nip.
Runner Up

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Hemp can be used for many things, and now we can officially add great dog nip to that list. Its all-natural formula mixes hemp and valerian root to make a soothing chew totally free of both synthetic chemicals and allergens like wheat and corn. This extends to the protein too, which uses quality animal parts to make for a tasty snack. It’s easy for your dog to live a calm and healthy lifestyle with the help of this dog nip.  

Pros 

  • Good variety of unique flavors including duck and pumpkin 
  • No drowsiness or sluggishness after the effect wears off 

Cons 

  • Needs to be taken on a full stomach 

Doggijuana Refillable Naturally Calming Dog Nip

Taking it easy

Playtime and rest can coincide in the form of this innovative dog nip.
Best Toy

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Dog nip treats can not only be relaxing and tasty but lots of fun as well. This charming toy from Dogijuana lets you fill it with your nip of choice, letting your dog roughhouse while getting some much-needed chillout time as well. And since the pouch is refillable, you never have to stop the fun. Anyone seeking an alternative to everyday dog nip chews would be well served by checking this toy out.  

Pros 

  • Comes in lots of different fun designs 
  • A fraction of the cost of other dog nip products 
  • Ensures your dog will sleep well after getting plenty of exercise 

Cons 

  • Can oscillate between calming dogs down and hyping them up 

Milk-Bone Calm & Relax Dog Nip

Snacking made simple

Each bone makes for a tasty treat as well as an excellent calming aid.
Best Treat

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Dogs love nothing more than a tasty treat, which is what makes Milk-Bone’s dog nip so enticing. These delicious snacks are infused with melatonin, valerian root, and l-tryptophan, ensuring that your pup will start calming down as they’re chowing down. And this formula is vet-approved, so there’s little to no risk of side effects for your canine companion. Reward your pooch with this excellent dog nip and see how long it takes for them to calm down.  

Pros 

  • Comes in different varieties including one which promotes fur health  
  • Also functions as a reliable pain reliever 
  • Inexpensive for the quality of sedation offered 

Cons 

  • Smell can be off-putting to humans 

Kradle Chillers Hard Chew Dog Nip

A bone to pick

Gnawers and slobberers will adore this hardy dog nip.
Best Hard Chew

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Some pups need something they can really chew on, which is where this dog nip bone comes into play. Each of these hard chews contains a tasty chicken flavor and a healthy blend of soothing ingredients that will put your dog at ease. They’re also easy to break apart and portion out to dogs who only need a small piece. This is one dog nip your pooch will really be able to sink their teeth into.  

Pros 

  • Ideal choice for bigger and hardier breeds 
  • Works quickly and lasts for a substantial amount of time 

Cons 

  • Expensive price for relatively few chews 

Frequently Asked Questions

When is it OK to give my dog some dog nip?

Most types of dog nip will recommend giving your dog a nibble during thunderstorms, fireworks displays, or other events that might put them on edge. They generally have a recommended portion size that adheres to the weight of your dog, too, so you’ll rarely risk giving them either too much or too little.

Should dog nip be taken on its own or with meals?

Certain types of dog nip should be eaten on a full stomach, while others work perfectly well as standalone treats. It varies from nip to nip (and dog to dog) but generally speaking, you should be safe with either option.

About the Author

Chris lives in Austin with a very spunky red heeler mix. This pooch has very specific dietary needs and requires lots of attention and exercise, so Chris knows exactly how to search for the best products out there to keep dogs happy. Chris is great at finding dog-friendly items that aren't just the best in their class, but work for the specific needs of different types of dogs as well.

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