My unspayed dog is aggressive and barks. Will calming products help?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this is a sudden behavioral change I would have her examined. She could be painful or not feel well and she is acting out because of that. It is better for her health to be spayed, she is at risk for an infected uterus which is an expensive surgical emergency. Hormones can affect temperament, so it MAY help but it might not be the solution. If her exam and blood work are normal, you can have her spayed then consider training and medications to control her aggression. I hope this helps and I wish you and Bella the very best!

I would try a Sentry calming collar to see if that helps. This release calming pheromones when in contact with Kash's skin. I'd also get DAP diffusers, which also release calming pheromones. Play with her every day to tire her out, and distract her with playing and treats when she starts the humping behavior. I hope this helps!

You can try the calming treats but they may not help much. Vigorous activity every day like running or playing fetch will likely be most beneficial for him. Spaying and neutering provide health benefits for both sexes and I recommend to have both pets fixed. Henry can be neutered at any point but he will still have sperm in the reporoductive tract for about a month so he can still impregnate a female in heat. Bailey should be spayed 2-3 months after the last day of her heat cycle. She will come into heat about every 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, spaying (or neutering) does not have significant impacts on any aggressive or temperamental behaviors. It tends to reduce sexual behaviors (and eliminate the risk of pregnancy and infections of the uterus), but there is no guarantee that spaying her will change her behavior. I would consult with a Veterinary Behaviorist who can make recommendations for Kali's specific behavioral issues, as not all are treated equally. I hope this is helpful!

These likely won't help much with the behaviors of a cat in heat, as these calming tablets work on animals with anxiety. Certainly you can try it, but because these behaviors are hormonally driven, the only way to stop these behaviors is to remove the source of the hormones: the uterus and ovaries. I would have Jolly spayed as soon as possible if you don't want to deal with her behaviors during heat.

Anti- anxiety or sedation medication may help Anakin, but it probably won’t completely solve the situation. I think it might make it easier on him AND on you. Best of luck and I hope she recovers quickly. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Spaying both dogs is going to help, as it will take hormonal cues out of the equation. You may need further socialization and dog-dog aggression help as well. Please consult this fantastic dog behavior website for more information and free tips: www.dogstardaily.com.