Living with a reactive dog is a daily challenge. Even with a solid foundation of training and careful management, some dogs stay locked in high alert, nerves fired up at the faintest sound, scent, or flash of movement. While no spray is a cure-all, a calming spray such as Pet Remedy can be a smart extra tool in your kit for supporting dogs who struggle to switch away from their fight-or-flight mode.
How Calming Spray Supports the Dog’s Central Nervous System
Pet Remedy’s calming spray harnesses a blend of natural essential oils, including valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and clary sage. These are designed to mimic the action of GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid), which is the body’s own natural calming brain chemical. GABA tells nerve cells to slow down and rest, rather than fire up with stress
signals. When a dog is overwhelmed, their nervous system floods with arousal, leading to more adrenaline, more cortisol, and very little space for calm thinking. Spraying a small amount onto a bandana and having the dog wear it allows the scent to work subtly via the nose and delivers a message that it is safe to calm down, without sedation or fogginess. It is a gentle reset. The spray helps bridge the gap between your dog’s natural stress response and the calm state required to learn, focus, and cope with challenges.
Why a Bandana Makes Sense
A bandana is an easy and portable way to deliver the calming scent close to your dog’s nose. Place a couple of spritzes before a walk or a tricky training session, and your dog will carry the benefit with them wherever they go. This option avoids getting spray on the coat and there is no need to fuss with bedding each time, making it a practical solution for daily life
Addressing the Real Problem, Not Just the Behaviour
One of the biggest mistakes with reactive dogs is thinking that shouting or snapping the lead addresses the problem. These aversive methods only add to the stress and can flood the dog’s system with even more adrenaline. This reinforces the sense that the world is unsafe. The underlying cause of barking, lunging, or spinning is never disobedience; it is always emotion, such as fear, frustration, excitement or pain. Lead pops and shouting may pause the behaviour for a moment, but they do nothing to change the dog’s emotional state. In fact, research shows these methods can make dogs 3 more anxious and stressed in the long term and can undermine the trust between dog and handler.
Combining Calming Aids with Modern Training
A calming spray does not replace training, but it does support it by reducing baseline arousal. With the nervous system = soothed, your dog becomes more receptive to positive training and more able to process information. This sets the stage for behaviour change using reward-based, evidence-led training. When a dog learns new, healthier ways to respond to threats or high excitement, the odds of long-term success improve
Practical Application
Spray the bandana lightly and wait for a minute or so. Then put it on your dog before walks or when anticipating stress points. This should be used alongside established routines such as managing distance, desensitising the dog to triggers, and rewarding calm choices. Over time, the aim is to help your dog learn new ways to cope, no longer hijacked by nerves, but feeling safe enough to listen and learn.
Final Thoughts
A calming spray, such as Pet Remedy, when used as part of a compassionate plan, can give reactive dogs a gentler way to experience the world. It does not numb their senses or mask behaviours. Instead, it helps their brain and body to find that vital pause between stimulus and response, and this is where real change begins.
References
https://www.petsathome.com/product/pet-remedy-mini-calming-spray-15ml/7102193P
https://petremedy.co.uk/how-it-works/
https://www.groomers-online.com/pet-remedy-calming-spray-200ml-p10177
https://petremedy.co.uk/product/pet-calming-spray-200ml/
https://petremedy.co.uk/faqs/
https://www.peopleanddogs.co.uk/reactivity
https://www.science.org/content/article/bad-dog-think-twice-yelling-experts-say
https://www.gooddoggie.co.uk/four-reasons-you-shouldnt-yell-at-your-dog/
https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/comments/dsygzz/news_study_shows_the_longterm_eff
ect_yelling_can/
https://wearevetli.com/articles/lead-reactivity-in-dogs
https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/v9yc2c/too_manylord_how_do_i_get_rid_of
_emem_dashes/
https://proofed.co.uk/writing-tips/en-dashes-and-em-dashes-in-us-and-uk-english/
https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/how-to-use-dashes-in-fiction-dashes-ukand-us-style
https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/grammar/bracketsdasheshyphens
https://www.lighthouseproofreading.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-an-en-dash-and-em-dashcorrectly
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/dash/
https://forum.languagetool.org/t/em-dash-in-british-english/1703