Understanding Dog Appeasing Pheromone and Its Uses

Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) is a synthetic version of the pheromone mother dogs produce to calm their puppies. This pheromone is made up of a specific mix of fatty acids that mimic the natural pheromone.

DAP is available in various forms, including diffusers, sprays, and wipes, making it easy to use in different situations. The diffuser is a popular choice for calming anxious dogs in their home environment.

The synthetic pheromone in DAP works by sending a signal to a dog's brain that says "I'm in a safe space." This helps to calm the dog and reduce anxiety.

Pheromones are chemical messengers that animals use to communicate with each other.

A mother dog secretes pheromones from her sebaceous glands when she's nursing, which has a relaxing and comforting effect on her puppies.

These pheromones are replicated in products that use Dog-Appeasing Pheromones (DAP), which has a calming effect on dogs.

Studies have shown that DAP can improve the recovery of shelter dogs who undergo spay or neuter surgery.

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DAP stands for Dog Appeasing Pheromone, a natural chemical that mimics the pheromones mother dogs produce to calm their puppies.

It's available in various forms, including collars, plug-in diffusers, and sprays, with Adaptil being the most common product on the market.

In Dr. Parthasarathy's private practice in Oregon, about 50 percent of anxious dogs see an improvement after using DAP products.

Pheromone treatment is very unlikely to cause any harm, so it's easily paired with a more robust behavior modification plan.

DAP may provide subtle, but important, improvements, and some owners report an almost immediate improvement.

The most common conditions that DAP helps with are anxiety, separation anxiety, noise phobias like thunderstorms, and adjusting to a new home or environment.

Do DAPs work? The answer is a resounding yes, especially for anxious dogs. In fact, about 50 percent of anxious dogs see an improvement after using DAP products.

Dr. Parthasarathy's private practice in Oregon has seen this firsthand, with many dogs showing significant reduction in anxiety. Pheromone treatment is very unlikely to cause any harm, making it a great addition to a more robust behavior modification plan.

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Some owners report an almost immediate improvement, while others notice a subtle but important increase in their dog's calmness when using DAP products. One blind dog who was experiencing aggression-related anxiety saw a marked improvement when wearing her DAP collar.

In Dr. Parthasarathy's experience, DAPs work best for dogs with anxiety, rather than those struggling with basic obedience skills. Dogs with separation anxiety, noise phobias like thunderstorms, and puppies or dogs adjusting to a new home are the most common patients to benefit from DAP.

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Dog owners have tried various calming aids to help their pets cope with anxiety. Jessica tried the plug-in with her dog Rainy, but wasn't sure if it made a difference.

Some calming aids have been used in conjunction with medication, such as Prozac. Nic used the dog appeasing pheromone in conjunction with Prozac for her dog with generalised anxiety, and noticed a definite difference in her dog's behavior.

The effectiveness of calming aids can vary depending on the individual dog and situation. Jessica also tried the cat room spray, but didn't notice any change in her dog's behavior.

A DAP collar has been found to be useful for outdoor situations, helping dogs with generalised anxiety cope better when meeting other dogs. Nic trialled a DAP collar and found it to be helpful in this situation.

Here are some calming aids that have been tried by dog owners: