How to Keep Your Gundog Calm and Collected

by
posted on December 11, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
know-how-calmthatdog_lead.jpg

Stay calm. Stop whining, stop barking, stop shaking, drop the squirrel, back away from that cow pie and nobody has to get hurt.

Not to be too Hollywood here, but if your hyperactive dog is driving you nuts with its over-the-top drama and excitement, you might want to investigate the latest in canine care—calming care. As in “calm down!”

We’ve all seen overly excitable hunting dogs in the field. Pointers that bark non-stop on the road to the hunt. Labs that whine and chatter their teeth incessantly in the blind. Worse are the hyper or fearful dogs that tear up the house, the kennel, the travel crate …

Regardless of the exact hyper behavior, it does neither the dog, the owner, or the guests any good. So calm down Rover. But how?

Via the magic of modern chemistry. Seriously, while there are such things as anxiety coats, snuggle toys, security blankets and “safehouse” kennels, drastic dogs demand drastic measures, and chemicals could be it. Other than the “doggy downers” joked about on Saturday Night Live skits back in the Belushi era, I had no idea there were over-the-counter dog calming agents until I received a sample pack of Purina Pro Plan Calming Care. That got me to researching, and I discovered a confusion of similar products. They contain a variety of ingredients: pheromones, B-vitamins, chamomile, magnesium, ginger root, probiotics, and L-taurine and L-tryptophan. (Isn’t that what’s in turkey that causes that infamous Thanksgiving afternoon nap?) Heck, there’s even one calming mix made with hemp, as in marijuana, though there is no active THC in it.

So does any of this stuff work? Most brands cite veterinarians who claim it does, but I doubt they’ve done any double-blind studies. Still, anything’s worth a try. I’m going to feed my setter Purina Calming Care this fall to cure her excessive drooling during car travel. Who knows? It might do the trick.

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.