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Best CBD for dogs: 5 CBD oils and CBD dog treats to help your pup relax

Top 5 CBD oils and treats to help your dog relax: Expert picks for a calm pup.

Best CBD for dogs: 5 CBD oils and CBD dog treats to help your pup relax

If your dog is often anxious or nervous, the best CBD for dogs may help it relax. CBD is a natural substance found in hemp, with many potential health benefits. Humans have long used it to manage anxiety, stress, and pain. More recently, CBD has become a common remedy for dogs, too. Some owners give their dogs CBD before stressful vet visits, and others give their pups a daily dose to keep them calm and content.

If you're interested in giving your dog CBD oil, it's important to make sure you buy from a reputable company. The best brands make CBD oil specifically for dogs. They carefully source their ingredients and formulate their pet CBD oil to be effective, well-absorbed, and enjoyable. So, what brands best fit this mold? Here are five top products we recommend you consider.

Best CBD Products for Dogs

  1. Best CBD Oil Overall: CBDfx CBD Oil for Dogs
  2. Best Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD for Stressful Experiences: R&R Multifunctional CBD Dog Chews
  3. Best CBD Hemp Oil Chews for Joint Support: Chou2 Pharma Comfort
  4. Best Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD Soft Chews for Anxious Dogs: Aspen Green Calm Organic Full Spectrum CBD Soft Dog Chews
  5. Best CBD Oil for Picky Dogs: Soul CBD Oil for Pets

Potential Benefits of CBD for Dogs

  • Stress Relief: Dogs often become stressed due to changes in their environment or schedule. CBD oil may help dogs relax and adapt to these changes more quickly.
  • Fewer Anxiety Behaviors: Does your dog chew, pace, or bark excessively? These behaviors are often due to anxiety, and CBD oil can help manage them.
  • Pain Management: In addition to relieving anxiety, CBD may also help relieve pain. It's quite effective for dogs with joint pain due to arthritis or other conditions.
  • Calmer Digestion: Dogs who experience frequent diarrhea and gassiness may benefit from CBD oil. It can help relieve inflammation throughout the digestive tract, leading to fewer symptoms.

Best CBD Products for Dogs

1. Best CBD Oil Overall: CBDfx CBD Oil for Dogs


How Well It Works:

CBDfx Pet Tincture is a broad-spectrum CBD oil with a potent bacon flavor that dogs love. Although it is made for dogs, this CBD oil is made with human-grade ingredients. Plus, despite its bacon flavor, it is entirely vegan. CBDfx has this and its other pet CBD products medically reviewed by a veterinarian so you can have confidence in its safety and effectiveness.

Pet owners find that their dogs seem calmer and less nervous within an hour of being given this CBD oil. Some customers occasionally give their dogs this CBD oil, such as before a stressful vet visit or fireworks show. Others give it to their dog once or twice a day to manage ongoing anxiety. Reviewers say they notice their dogs barking and chewing less after a few days of consistently using this CBD oil.

CBDfx Pet Tincture can also be used for dogs with pain or neurological conditions. Owners of arthritic dogs often find their pups seem more energetic and agile after being given this broad-spectrum CBD oil for a few days.

CBDfx is a leader in the CBD industry, putting care into their products. This CBD oil for dogs is not only made in the U.S. but has also been lab-tested and found to be solvent-free.

Pros:

  • Vegan and Cruelty-Free
  • Lab-tested and solvent-free
  • Medically reviewed by a veterinarian
  • Made with human-grade ingredients derived from the hemp plant

Cons:

  • Only available in one flavor

Specs:

  • CBD type: Broad spectrum CBD
  • Size: 30 mL per bottle
  • Strength: 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg, or 2000 mg CBD per bottle
  • Flavor(s): Bacon

Learn more about CBDfx CBD Oil for Dogs today.


2. Best Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD for Stressful Experiences: R&R Multifunctional CBD Dog Chews


How Well It Works:

For dogs who struggle with stressful experiences, we recommend trying R&R Multifunctional CBD Dog Chews. These full-spectrum hemp extract CBD chews contain 5 mg CBD apiece. The recommended serving is 1 chew for dogs weighing 1-25 pounds and 2 chews for dogs weighing 26+ pounds. Chews are very convenient when your dog is already anxious and on edge. Feeding them CBD dog treats is often easier than administering liquid CBD oil.

Since R&R Multifunctional Dog Chews are made with full-spectrum CBD, they contain not just CBD but also traces of CBC, CBN, and CBG. These other cannabinoids have their own relaxing and pain-relieving properties and also amplify the effects of CBD. So, your dog will get plenty of relief from these chews. Many customers find their dogs appear calmer and less worried within 30 minutes of taking a chew. Just like their “people products,” they do note that consistency is key for more visible benefits, and it may take up to 5 days of consistency to allow the compound to build and to begin noticing positive changes in your dog.

The other ingredients in R&R Multifunctional Dog Chews are healthy, whole-food ingredients, including sweet potato, flax seed, and chicken liver. These ingredients have their own health benefits, including healthy digestion and improved energy levels. R&R specially formulated them for a low refusal rate - meaning, it is one of the best tasting chews on the market that even the pickiest of dogs will like!

Reviewers say their dogs enjoy the flavor of these treats and eat them willingly. Many customers use these treats when their dogs are nervous about fireworks displays, guests in the home, or new pets. R&R Multifunctional CBD Dog Chews are lab-tested, and the results are available on the company's website. They hold nearly perfect 5-star reviews on their site and on Google for this product.

Pros:

  • Made with whole-food ingredients like chicken and sweet potato
  • Recommended for dogs of all sizes
  • High in antioxidants and minerals
  • Lab-test results available

Cons:

  • Due to their soft profile, a few chews may break apart during shipping in the jar

Specs:

  • CBD type: Full spectrum CBD
  • Size: 60 treats per jar
  • Strength: 5 mg CBD per treat
  • Flavor(s): Chicken

Learn more about R&R Multifunctional CBD Dog Chews today.


3. Best CBD Hemp Oil Chews for Joint Support: Chou2 Pharma Comfort


How Well It Works:

Chou2 (shu-tu) Pharma Comfort Hip & Joint Support is a CBD product designed specifically to support joint health and mobility in dogs. Using targeted cannabinoids, these soft chews provide CBD and CBG (and no THC), making them even more potent and effective than treats containing broad-spectrum CBD. They are also formulated with MSM, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine, all of which are shown to help keep joints healthy, loose, and limber.

Owners of athletic dogs like using these chews to help keep their dog’s tendons, ligaments, and joints comfortable. These treats are also popular for older dogs starting to develop hip and joint concerns. Customers say their aging dogs become more interested in running and playing after a few days on these treats.

Chou2 Pharma Comfort Hip & Joint Support treats are designed for maximum absorption. The cannabinoid molecules are specially processed to be more bioavailable and better absorbed. These treats are also made with organic ingredients and are entirely grain-free and soy-free, making them suitable for dogs with sensitive digestive tracts.

These CBD dog treats are THC-free and veterinarian-approved. They have also been tested in a third-party lab, which gives pet owners confidence in their purity and potency. But still make sure to talk to your vet about any changes to your dog’s health routing and diet.

Pros:

  • Contains targeted, pure cannabinoid molecules
  • 0% THC
  • Contains MSM, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine for joint health
  • Formulated for maximum bioavailability
  • Grain-free and soy-free
  • Veterinarian-approved

Cons:

  • Bag can be hard to reseal

Specs:

  • CBD type: blend of pure CBD and CBG
  • Size: 30 chews per bag
  • Strength: 5 mg CBD/CBG per chew
  • Flavor(s): Savory Beef

Learn more about Chou2 Pharma Comfort Hip and Joint Support today.


4. Best Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD Soft Chews for Anxious Dogs: Aspen Green Calm Organic Full Spectrum CBD Soft Dog Chews


How Well It Works:

We suggest Aspen Green Calm Organic Full Spectrum CBD Soft Dog Chews for dogs who pace, bark excessively, or show other signs of serious anxiety. These bacon-flavored chews are specifically formulated to be relaxing. Reviewers say they notice a positive change in their dogs' demeanor after consistently feeding these treats for a few days. Hyperactive dogs tend to calm down and spend more time resting.

Aspen Green Calm Organic Full Spectrum CBD Soft Dog Chews are USDA Organic. They're formulated by veterinarians, which gives us confidence in their safety and effectiveness. These soft chews are made with full-spectrum hemp extract. So, in addition to CBD, they contain plenty of beneficial terpenes and flavonoids from hemp. Organic chamomile and passion flower provide additional calming benefits.

Aspen Green makes these treats and their other products with hemp grown in Colorado. They use an eco-friendly CBD extraction method called Supercritical CO2 extraction, which produces very pure CBD oil. Their CBD products are all third-party lab-tested and confirmed free of mold, salmonella, and heavy metals. You can scan the QR code on any package to see the lab test results for that batch.

Pros:

  • Enhanced with calming chamomile and passion flower
  • Formulated by veterinarians
  • Lab-confirmed free from common contaminants
  • CBD extracted using eco-friendly, Supercritical CO2 method

Cons:

  • Large dogs need 4 chews per serving

Specs:

  • CBD type: Full spectrum CBD
  • Size: 60 soft chews
  • Strength: 10 mg CBD per chew
  • Flavor(s): Bacon

Learn more about Aspen Green Calm Organic Full Spectrum CBD Soft Dog Chews today.


5. Best CBD Oil for Picky Dogs: Soul CBD Oil for Pets


How Well It Works:

Soul CBD Oil for Pets is a great choice for dogs who turn up their noses at other CBD oil for dogs. It has a tempting bacon flavor, and many customers find their dogs lap it willingly from the dropper. This CBD oil for dogs is also made with CBD isolate, so it has far less hemp flavor than broad spectrum or full-spectrum CBD oil. If your dog is not a fan of the taste of hemp, they'll probably like this CBD oil for dogs.

Soul CBD Oil for Pets has a simple ingredient list. It's made with sunflower oil as a carrier oil. The product has been lab-tested to ensure it's safe and potent. Customers also like that it comes in a plastic bottle, so they don't have to worry about it breaking if their dog knocks it on the floor.

Some customers use this CBD oil for dogs who are anxious or overly hyperactive. They find that CBD oil helps their dogs stay calmer and more focused during training. Other customers give this CBD oil to their older dogs. They find it helps ease arthritis symptoms so their dogs can run and play more comfortably. The suggested dose is one dropper of oil, but customers with smaller dogs often find they only need half a dropper to enjoy substantial relief.

Pros:

  • Made with CBD isolate; little to no hemp taste
  • Simple ingredient list
  • Comes in a plastic bottle
  • Lab-tested

Cons:

  • Some customers find the bacon aroma unpleasant

Specs:

  • CBD type: CBD isolate
  • Size: 30 mL per bottle
  • Strength: 250 mg CBD per bottle
  • Flavor(s): Bacon

Learn more about Soul CBD Oil for Pets today.


How We Picked The Best CBD for Dogs

As more and more dog owners have discovered CBD, the market has become flooded with CBD dog treats and CBD oil for dogs. Unfortunately, not all products are of the same high quality. It's important to make sure the CBD products you give your dog are safe, pure, and effective. We were careful in our analysis to ensure we selected only the best CBD oils and treats to recommend in this article. Here are the main criteria we considered in our analysis.

Lab-Testing Protocols

CBD oil for dogs should always be lab-tested. This testing demonstrates two things. First, it can show that the CBD oil is free from contaminants like heavy metals and bacteria. Second, it shows how much CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids the CBD oil contains. Dogs are very sensitive to THC and cannot have very much of it. So, in this article, we only included CBD oil that has been lab-tested and found to have THC levels that are safe for dogs.

Ingredient Sources and Quality

The quality of the ingredients really matters in CBD oil for dogs. First, we made sure the hemp was sourced responsibly from producers within the U.S. We also looked into other ingredients. We often preferred products made with organic ingredients and those with short, simple ingredient lists.

Company Reputation

How long has the company been in business? While there are some promising newcomers on the market, we tended to prefer companies that have been in the CBD industry for a while. We also looked for companies with good guarantees and shipping policies.

Reviewer Opinions

We spent a lot of time reading reviews from dog owners who purchased and tried each product. Overall, we selected high-quality CBD oil products that reviewers consistently found effective. We also selected CBD oils that dog owners said their dogs ate willingly. After all, nobody wants to fight with their dog to get them to take CBD oil!

How to Find the Best CBD Oil for Your Dog

There are many great brands of CBD oil for dogs, but not every brand will be suitable for your dog. We suggest making a short list of CBD oils you're most interested in. Then, read more about each of those oils to determine how well it fits your pup's needs. Here are the key features and characteristics to focus on as you shop for CBD oil for dogs.

Strength or Potency

CBD oil for dogs comes in many different potencies. Some brands only contain 2 mg CBD per mL, while others contain 5 or 10 mg CBD per mL. You generally want a stronger product for larger dogs and a weaker product for smaller dogs. You may also want a stronger CBD oil for dogs if your pup has really serious anxiety or pain symptoms. Such dogs sometimes need a larger dose of CBD, and it's easier to give a big dose when you have a more concentrated CBD oil. CBD interacts with a dog’s endocannabinoid system, the same as yours, so stronger chews might have more anti-inflammatory properties.

Flavor

Some CBD oil for dogs is unflavored, while others are flavored, with flavors like beef, chicken, or bacon among the most common. If you plan on mixing your dog's CBD oil into their food, then an unflavored product may work best. On the other hand, if you plan to give your dog CBD oil straight from a dropper, you'll probably have better luck with a flavored product. Choose a flavor you already know your dog loves. For example, if they go crazy every time you give them bacon, then a bacon-flavored CBD oil for dogs is likely a good choice.

Other Active Ingredients

Some CBD oil for dogs contains other active ingredients, in addition to CBD. If a CBD product is intended mainly for joint pain relief, as some are, here are some additional ingredients you might see:

  • MSM: MSM is an anti-inflammatory agent that can help ease arthritis symptoms. It's a common ingredient in joint supplements for dogs and is sometimes added to CBD products for pets.
  • Glucosamine: Glucosamine is an amino acid that may help keep ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue healthy. It may also help prevent arthritis in active dogs and prevent it from worsening in older dogs.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is a natural fluid component that lubricates joints. It can help keep joints loose, limber, and pain-free.

If you're looking for a CBD oil with potentially calming benefits, here are some additional ingredients you might see:

  • Chamomile: Chamomile is a calming herb often used to promote sleep. If you give your dog CBD oil when you want it to rest, a formula with chamomile extract may be a good choice.
  • Passion Flower: Passion flower can help calm an anxious dog's mind. It is thought to lower the activity levels of brain cells involved in the anxious response. If you're using CBD to help calm anxious behaviors like pacing or panting, then a formula with passion flower should work well.
  • Valerian Root: Valerian root may be helpful for dogs who struggle with insomnia or anxiety. If you plan on giving your dog CBD in the evening, a formula with valerian may help them drift off peacefully.

Dietary Suitability

Look at the other inactive ingredients the CBD product contains, and make sure you pick one suitable for your dog's unique dietary needs. For instance, if your dog is allergic to chicken, choose CBD oil or CBD treats that do not contain chicken.

Most CBD oil for dogs has a relatively simple formula, so you should be able to find a good one, even for a dog with allergies or food sensitivities. However, this can be a little harder to achieve with CBD treats, which tend to contain more ingredients than CBD oils.

CBD Product Type

It's best to decide early on whether you'd prefer a CBD oil or CBD treats. This way, you can focus only on products in your chosen category.

Both CBD oils and CBD treats have their pros and cons.

CBD Oils

CBD oils make it easy to control your pup's amount of CBD. You draw the desired serving up into a dropper or syringe; you can always draw up a little less or a little more to suit your dog's needs. The ingredients for CBD oil are pretty simple, too. Most just contain CBD, a carrier oil, and some natural flavors. CBD oil is a good choice for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies.

One downfall of CBD oil for dogs is that it can be messy. If you knock the bottle over, it may spill. You may squirt a little on the floor or dribble it down your dog's neck. Some dogs also don't like the taste of CBD oil, which makes it harder to administer. You can mix it into your dog's food, but they may still turn up their nose if the oil has a more potent hemp scent.

CBD Treats

CBD treats are certainly easier for pets to consume than CBD oil for dogs. There's no measuring involved. Picky dogs also tend to like them better. However, if you have an older dog with poor teeth, pay close attention to the texture of the treats you choose. Your dog may be unable to chew crunchy hard treats, so you'll want to pick soft chews.

It is a little harder to control your dog's dose of CBD with treats than with oil. You can divide a treat in half or quarters, but this is hard to do precisely, and some treats do crumble when broken apart.

If you have a dog who is picky about treats, you may prefer to give them an unflavored CBD isolate oil instead of CBD treats. You can hide the CBD isolate oil in their wet food, and they're more likely to eat it.

Types of CBD Products for Dogs

CBD products for dogs can be divided into three different types based on the kind of CBD they contain. The three types are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. Which type is best for your dog depends on the symptoms you're trying to treat, your dog's palate, and how sensitive your dog is to CBD and other cannabinoids. Here's a closer look at each CBD product type and their differences.

Full-Spectrum CBD

When CBD is extracted from hemp, several other compounds come along with it. Most of these compounds are other cannabinoids, like THC and CBN. Others are terpenes, aromatic compounds that give hemp its scent. Some common terpenes you may have heard of include pinene and limonene. This hemp extract also contains flavonoids, antioxidants, and various other beneficial compounds.

This total substance extracted from a hemp plant is called full-spectrum hemp extract. If it is added as-is to a carrier oil, you get full-spectrum CBD oil.

Full-spectrum CBD oil is the most potent type of CBD. There are two reasons for this. First, many of the other compounds in full-spectrum CBD, such as terpenes and cannabinoids, may have their own calming and pain-relieving benefits. Second, some of these compounds interact with CBD and enhance its effects.

So, if your dog has really serious anxiety or pain symptoms, a full-spectrum CBD oil is likely to offer them the most health benefits. The downside to full spectrum products is that they have a really strong hemp aroma due to their high terpene content. This can be off-putting to some dogs. They also contain traces of THC.

CBD oil for dogs has presumably been tested to ensure the amount of THC it contains is safe. However, if your dog consumes more full-spectrum oil than intended, they could end up ingesting more THC than is safe. This can lead to THC toxicity, the symptoms of which include nausea, lethargy, and seizures.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD is another potent option for dogs that may need a stronger CBD option. This type of CBD also contains terpenes, other cannabinoids, and flavonoids from hemp. However, any traces of THC that were found in the hemp extract have been removed. Broad-spectrum CBD is essentially full-spectrum CBD that has had the THC removed.

Broad-spectrum CBD products still work very well for anxiety and pain in dogs. They may not make your dog quite as tired and relaxed since they don't contain any THC.

You can also expect broad-spectrum CBD products to have a strong hemp aroma. So, they may be off-putting to pickier dogs. However, they can be a good choice if you're worried about your dog breaking into their treats or eating more than recommended. You won't have to worry about them accidentally consuming too much THC.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is quite different from full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD. All CBD isolate contains is CBD. It contains no other terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids, or antioxidants.

Pet CBD oil made with CBD isolate can certainly be effective in managing anxiety, pain, and other symptoms. However, since your dog will only be getting CBD and no other active compounds, you may need to use more of it to get the relief you seek.

One major benefit of CBD isolate is that it has barely any hemp scent or flavor. So, picky dogs who turn up their noses at broad-spectrum and full-spectrum pet CBD oil will often eat CBD isolate products willingly. Some of the best CBD brands offer CBD isolate products that taste like bacon, chicken, or beef. If you're buying CBD oil for a pup with a particular palate, this is usually a good place to start.

FAQs

Is CBD safe for dogs?

CBD is safe for dogs as long as the product you're giving your dog does not contain any contaminants and is low enough in THC to be safe for dogs.

CBD itself won't harm your dog and is unlikely to cause serious side effects. Sometimes, dogs become a bit drowsy after taking CBD, and they may experience some mild dry mouth that causes them to drink more than normal, but these effects wear off when the CBD wears off within a few hours.

To make sure the CBD hemp oil you buy is free from contaminants, look at the lab test results. They should show that the CBD oil is free from heavy metals, mold spores, bacteria, and pesticide residues. The best CBD brands all have their CBD dog health products lab-tested. If a product has yet to be lab-tested, don't buy it.

How do I give my dog CBD?

If you are giving your dog CBD treats, check the back of the bag to see how many treats your dog should have based on their weight. Then, give your dog the suggested number of treats. Most dogs will willingly eat CBD chews; just watch to make sure your pup does not hide the treat in the couch or drop it on the floor.

Giving your dog CBD oil is harder than giving them CBD chews. First, you need to decide how much CBD oil to give your dog. Check the bottle for recommendations. Most CBD oil is formulated so that about 1mL of oil is a single serving. However, if you have a really small dog or a really large dog, you may need to give them a larger or smaller volume to reach the desired dose.

Once you've drawn up the desired amount of CBD oil into your syringe or dropper, there are two ways you can give it to your dog. The easiest option is usually to mix it into some wet food. Or, if your dog only eats dry food, you can dribble it carefully over their kibble. Just make sure the oil absorbs into the kibble nuggets and doesn't end up on the bottom of the bowl. The other way to give your dog CBD oil is to squirt it into their mouth. Use one hand to gently open their mouth and the other hand to deposit the CBD oil into their tongue. It helps to have someone else hold your dog while you do this.

What happens if I give my dog too much CBD?

What happens when you give your dog too much CBD depends on the type of CBD product they consume. If it is a CBD isolate product or a broad-spectrum CBD product, you don't have to worry. Due to the high dose of CBD, they will probably be really tired or drowsy for a while, but it will wear off within a few hours, and they should return to their normal behavior then.

If your dog consumed too much of a full-spectrum CBD product, then there may be cause for concern. Full-spectrum CBD products contain traces of THC. If your dog consumes more of these products than the suggested dose, they'll likely consume more THC than is safe. Dogs are really sensitive to THC, and when they consume too much of it, they can develop a number of symptoms such as:

  • Extreme fatigue and lethargy
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Drooling
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting
  • Dilated pupils

Most dogs recover from THC toxicity, but it is best for them to receive veterinary care to help manage the symptoms and prevent further consequences down the road. So, if you suspect your dog has consumed too much full-spectrum CBD or has otherwise consumed too much THC from any other source, contact your vet ASAP.

Can dogs have human CBD oil?

No, it is not a good idea to give your dog CBD oil or any other CBD product designed for humans. Many of these products are full-spectrum CBD products that contain more THC than is safe for dogs to consume. Dogs are far more sensitive to THC than humans. CBD products made for humans may also contain flavors, colors, or other additives that are unsafe for dogs or cause allergy symptoms in some dogs. Stick to CBD pet products only for your furry companion.

Is hemp seed oil the same thing as CBD oil for dogs?

No, hemp seed oil and CBD oil are two different products. CBD oil is extracted from the flowers and sometimes hemp leaves. It is a therapeutic substance or remedy usually given to dogs to ease pain or anxiety.

Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant. It does have some health benefits because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy fats. For instance, it may help reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease. Some hemp seed oil products for dogs promise these benefits, but they are not the same as CBD oil products for dogs.

Can you give a large dog CBD oil for small dogs?

Some brands offer different CBD oil formulas for dogs of different sizes. If you have a large dog and a small dog, you may not want to buy two separate formulas. Luckily, you don't have to.

Typically, the only difference between large dog and small dog products is the amount of CBD they contain. For example, CBD oil for large dogs may contain 10 mg of CBD per mL, whereas one for small dogs may contain 2 mg per mL. So, you can give your large dog a CBD product made for small dogs; you'll just have to give them a larger dose.

You can usually give a small dog a CBD product made for larger dogs, too. However, it can be harder to measure the dose precisely. If a large dog's dose of a certain oil is 1 mL, a small dog may only need 0.25 mL, which is a pretty small amount to measure. Ensure you have an accurate, well-marked syringe if you decide to go this route.

Find The Best CBD for Dogs Today!

CBD is a safe, effective remedy for dogs who struggle with anxiety, anxiety behaviors, pain, and even some neurological problems. There are many good brands available, but the five brands recommended in this article are true stand-outs in the industry. Read a little more about each one, and order the one you think will bring your dog the most relief. They're sure to thank you with a tail wag and maybe with an appreciative bark, too.

Parenting

Yet another school district shifts to 4-day week and parents are sounding off

So...when are we getting the matching 4-day work week?

Unsplash

Students working; an empty classroom.

When talking with other parents I know, it's hard not to sound like a grumpy old man when we get around to discussing school schedules: "Am I the only one who feels like kids have so many days off? I never got that many days off when I was a kid! And I had to go work in the coal mine after, too!" I know what I sound like, but I just can't help it.

In Georgia where I live, we have a shorter summer break than some other parts of the country. But my kids have the entire week of Thanksgiving off, a week in September, two whole weeks at Christmas, a whole week off in February, and a weeklong spring break. They have asynchronous days (during which they complete assignments at home, which usually takes about 30 minutes) about once a month, and they have two or three half-day weeks throughout the year. Quite honestly, it feels like they're never in school for very long before they get another break, which makes it tough to get in a rhythm with work and career goals. Plus, we're constantly arranging day camps and other childcare options for all the time off. After a quick search, I can confirm I'm not losing my mind: American kids have fewer school days than most other major countries.

 school's out, school days, school week, work week, schedules Schools Out Fun GIF by Pen Pals  Giphy  

So, it caught my attention in a major way when I read that Whitney Independent School District in Texas recently decided to enact a four-day week heading into the 2025 school year. That makes it one of dozens of school districts in Texas to make the change and over 900 nationally.

The thought of having the kids home from school EVERY Friday or Monday makes me want to break out in stress hives, but this four-day school week movement isn't designed to give parents a headache. It's meant to lure teachers back to work.

Yes, teachers are leaving the profession in droves and young graduates don't seem eager to replace them. Why? For starters, the pay is bad—but that's just the beginning. Teachers are burnt out, undermined and criticized relentlessly, held hostage by standardized testing, and more. It can be a grueling, demoralizing, and thankless job. The love and passion they have for shaping the youth of tomorrow can only take you so far when you feel like you're constantly getting the short end of the stick.

School districts want to pay their teachers more, in theory, but their hands are often tied. So, they're getting creative to recruit the next generation of teachers into their schools—starting with an extra day off for planning, catch-up, or family time every week.

Teachers in four-day districts often love the new schedule. Kids love it (obviously). It's the parents who, as a whole, aren't super thrilled.

 school, kids, teachers, instruction time, classes, schedule Class in session Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash  

So far, the data shows that the truncated schedule perk is working. In these districts, job applications for teachers are up, retirements are down, and teachers are reporting better mental well-being. That's great news!

But these positive developments may be coming at the price of the working parents in the communities. Most early adopters of the four-day week have been rural communities with a high prevalence of stay-at-home parents. As the idea starts to take hold in other parts of the country, it's getting more pushback. Discussions on Reddit, Facebook, and other social media platforms are overrun with debate on how this is all going to shake up. Some parents, to be fair, like the idea! If they stay-at-home or have a lot of flexibility, they see it as an opportunity for more family time. But many are feeling anxious. Here's what's got those parents worried:

The effect on students' achievement is still unclear.

The execution of the four-day week varies from district to district. Some schools extend the length of each of the four days, making the total instructional time the same. That makes for a really long day, and some teachers say the students are tired and more unruly by the late afternoon. Some districts are just going with less instruction time overall, which has parents concerned that their kids might fall behind.

Four-day school weeks put parents in a childcare bind.

Having two working parents is becoming more common and necessary with the high cost of living. I know, I know—"school isn't daycare!" But it is the safe, reliable, and educational place we send our kids while we we work.

Families with money and resources may be able to enroll their kids in more academics, extracurriculars, sports, or childcare, but a lot of normal families won't be able to afford that cost. Some schools running a four-day week offer a paid childcare option for the day off, but that's an added expense and for families with multiple kids in the school system, it's just not possible.

This will inevitably end with some kids getting way more screentime.

With most parents still working five-day weeks, and the cost of extra activities or childcare too high, a lot of kids are going to end up sitting around on the couch with their iPad on those days off. I'm no expert, and I'm certainly not against screentime, but adding another several hours of it to a child's week seems less than ideal.

Of course there are other options other than paid childcare and iPads. There are play dates, there's getting help from family and friends. All of these options are an enormous amount of work to arrange for parents who are already at capacity.

Working four days is definitely a win for teachers that makes the job more appealing. But it doesn't address the systemic issues that are driving them to quit, retire early, or give up their dreams of teaching all together.

 teachers, stress, education, work, job Season 3 Running GIF by The Simpsons  Giphy  

A Commissioner of Education from Missouri calls truncated schedules a "band-aid solution with diminishing returns." Having an extra planning day won't stop teachers from getting scapegoated by politicians or held to impossible curriculum standards, it won't keep them from having to buy their own supplies or deal with ever-worsening student behavior.

Some teachers and other experts have suggested having a modified five-day school week, where one of the days gets set aside as a teacher planning day while students are still on-site participating in clubs, music, art—you know, all the stuff that's been getting cut in recent years. Something like that could work in some places.

As a dad, I don't mind the idea of my busy kids having an extra day off to unwind, pursue hobbies, see friends, catch up on projects, or spend time as a family. And I'm also very much in favor of anything that takes pressure off of overworked teachers. But until we adopt a four-day work week as the standard, the four-day school week is always going to feel a little out of place.

This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated.

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Woman who traveled abroad for 2 weeks realizes why she can't marry an American man

"I'm actually embarrassed to talk about this."

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A woman holding back her laughter.

One of the biggest topics in parenting these days is the mental and physical drain that comes with being the default parent in a family. The default parent is the one who is first in line when it comes to taking responsibility for parenting duties, whether that means making doctor’s appointments, ensuring the homework is done, or making sure the child has enough socks to make it through the week.

Being the default parent can lead to fatigue and burnout, and the parent can experience incredible anxiety when their attention turns away from the household or family. The situation is even worse when the default parent’s partner only does the bare minimum. Unfortunately, in American society, fathers are often the parents who do just enough to get by and are praised for it.

The notion that men don’t have to pull their equal weight in American family life is so ingrained that when Emma Hughes, a travel nanny with over one year of experience in childcare and family support, visited Sweden for two weeks, she experienced extreme culture shock.


"I've been in Sweden now and I think I've been ruined for American men," the 24-year-old said in a viral Instagram video. "Specifically raising a child with an American man in America, because these Scandinavian dads? Chef's kiss …"

"I'm actually embarrassed to talk about this because all of the observations that I've made have really revealed to me how deeply ingrained [expletive] dads have become like in my brain, and it's just like the default,” she continued.

The notion that fathers only have to do the bare minimum was so ingrained in Hughes’ psyche that she couldn’t understand seeing so many involved fathers in Sweden.

 sweden, swedish dad, swedish fathers, soccer, swedish child A dad playing soccer with his child.via Canva/Photos

"When I see more dads pushing their strollers in the park on a Saturday morning than moms, what does my brain think … That's weird, there is something abnormal about that,” Hughes said. “When I see dads at the grocery store with their kids. When I see dads out at restaurants or in public. It is so deeply telling of a lot of subconscious stuff that I have going on in my brain after working with so many families."

She said that even the best dads she's worked with in America would be considered the "Scandinavian bare minimum." She applauded one Swedish father who purchased a new size of diapers for his baby without being told to do so by his partner.

 swedes, swedish couple, scandanavia, swedish flag, happy swedes A couple holding up the Swedish flag.via Canva/Photos

"Like I watched a Swedish dad go to the grocery store and come home with like four bags of groceries and in that trip he had bought size two diapers for a baby that had previously been wearing size one and was ready to move into size two but that conversation had not happened between the mom and the dad,” she said.

Given Swedish dads' dedication towards their parenting responsibilities, it’s fair to assume that their partners are much happier and stress-free than those in the States. But what about their kids? Researchers at the United Nations who studied “child well-being in rich countries” found that Swedish fathers also ranked high by their children. The survey asked children in 28 countries if it was easy to talk to their dads, and while 67% of children in the study said their parents were easy to talk to, Swedish fathers scored higher at 72.4%. Meanwhile, the U.S ranked 25, out of 28, at just 59.7%.

 sweden, swedish dad, swedish fathers, swedish child, dad reading note,  A Swedish dad reading a note. via Canva/Photos

Ultimately, Hughes makes an important point that Scandinavian men have set a high bar for being fathers and that American men need to step up. The positive sign is that in America, the discussion around default parenting has been getting louder and louder, and hopefully, that will prompt more American men and women to set higher expectations so that one day, American men can catch Sweden’s.

This article originally appeared in May.

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A 6-yr-old's art teacher said she did her painting 'wrong'. Professional artists disagreed.

Someone is wrong in this story, but it's not the 6-year-old.

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A 6-yr-old's art teacher said she did her painting 'wrong' and the responses are just great

The impulse and ability to create art is one of the highlights of being human. It's a key quality that sets us apart from the animal world, one that makes life more meaningful and enjoyable. While there are artistic skills that make it easier for people to bring their imaginations into the visible, tangible world, art doesn't abide by any hard and fast rules. Especially kids' art. Especially young kids' art.

There is no right or wrong in art, only expression and interpretation. That's the beauty of it. Unlike working with numbers and spreadsheets and data, there is no correct answer and no one way to arrive at the proper destination. As the famous quote from Dead Poet's Society goes, "Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

That's why one mom was furious when her 6-year-old's art teacher told the girl her painting was "wrong."

Gemma Leighton, mother of 6-year-old Edie, shared her daughter's painting on Twitter with a request for support. Edie created the painting in an after school art club, and her art teacher told her she did it wrong.

"You can't do art wrong!" wrote Leighton. "She was so upset as art is her favourite thing to do."


 

Now, we don't know exactly what the teacher said to Edie, or why, but if a 6-year-old comes home upset and feeling like there's something wrong with their art, the teacher did something wrong. Full stop. Six-year-olds are just beginning to learn about technique, and encouragement is the most vital thing a teacher can offer a budding artist.

The internet rightfully pounced to Edie's defense, and the responses are incredibly heartwarming.

Many people shared how hurt they were as children when a teacher told them something was wrong with their art—and that they were wrong. Knowing that grown-ups had experienced the same kinds of unnecessary criticism as kids and realized that it was wrong can help Edie feel confident that her painting is not "wrong."

Others pointed out the famous artists that her painting reminded them of. Seeing how her own painting reflects some of the style and color choices of professional artists can help Edie see the spark of genius in her own artwork.

 

Songwriter Kimya Dawson, most famous for her songs in the movie Juno, shared that a middle school English teacher had told her to stop writing poems because they were "too juvenile."

"I never stopped though and making rhyming poems has been my career for over 20 years!" Dawson wrote in a Reply. "Your painting is perfect! Keep it up! Don't worry what anyone else thinks."

Professional artists chimed in with words of encouragement, pointing out that Edie's use of perspective and expressionism were quite impressive for her age.

"The only 'wrong' is not making art that speaks from your heart," wrote an artist who goes by @Artsy on Twitter. "When she expresses her passion, her vision of her world, her personal reactions to what she sees and feels, she'll never be 'wrong.'"

Now that's how it's done! Experts say that not just general encouragement, but pointing out specific things in a child's work that are the building blocks of art and literacy are key to building their self-esteem. In fact, the creative process in and of itself is great at building a child's self-esteem! It allows them to practice independence and feel immense pride at their finished product, no matter what anyone thinks it looks like. Really the only way to turn art into a negative thing for a child is to criticize it.

Even KISS guitarist Paul Stanley offered Edie words of encouragement.

 art, artists, kids, children, kids art, imagination, play, creativity, self-esteem, education, teachers, parents, moms Judging technique can come later. Way later. For now, just let kids create.  Photo by Bahar Ghiasi on Unsplash  

"Your art is AWESOME!!!" he wrote.

"There is no such thing as doing art 'wrong.' There are only teachers who are wrong!!! Your art shows amazing freedom and spirit. How can that be 'wrong'?!?! Keep doing EXACTLY what you are doing. I LOVE it!!!"

 

Imagine being a heartbroken 6-year-old who has been told by a teacher that her art was wrong, and then seeing a flood of thousands of supportive comments from people who looked at the same piece of art and told you what they loved about it. This is how social media should be used. To lift people up, to encourage and inspire, to share beauty and creativity.

After the outpouring, Leighton created a new Twitter account called Edie's Art for people to share kids' artwork, and gracious, it's a delight to peruse.

There's nothing more pure, more colorful, more full of life than art that came from a child's imagination. They may not have the technical skills to perfectly create what they envision in their minds or what they're looking at for inspiration, but that's part of what makes it so beautiful. They aren't self-conscious enough yet to hold back, and their art comes from a place of confidence and acceptance of their own abilities—that is, until some adult comes along and squashes their artistic spirit.

 

One of my favorite things as a parent has been watching my kids' artistic expressions evolve as they've grown, and I've loved their artwork at every stage. And not just because I'm their mom, but because kid creations are the best reminder of how natural the human impulse to create really is, and how beautiful it is when we share that impulse without fear or doubt.

As for Edie, she didn't let that early criticism keep her down. The original story happened about four years ago, and today Evie continues to pursue art. Her mom still occasionally shares the odd piece or two on Twitter/X, and even posted a fun stop-motion video Evie created using one of her stuffed animals. Clearly, her creative spirit could not be suppressed so easily.

"Edie is now immersed in the digital art world and still creates wonderful things every day Keep creating little artists," her mom shared in a recent update on X.

Keep painting, Edie, and all you kiddos out there. Don't let one person's opinion—even a teacher's—hold you back.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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Woman who lost her 'pretty privilege' overnight says it changed how she saw everyone

She went from the center of attention to "invisible."

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A smiling blonde woman.

There is something extremely unfair about people born with great genetics who are extremely good-looking. Sure, some folks can improve their looks after putting in some work at the gym or learning how to present themselves. but many people we consider conventionally attractive hit the jackpot by simply being born that way.

With little effort, these people have an incredible social advantage in life. They are seen as morally virtuous, receive random favors, are always the center of attention, and are more likely to get raises and promotions at work. The funny thing is that those with pretty privilege don’t realize the incredible advantage they have until it's gone.

What happens when people lose their pretty privilege?

A woman on Reddit recently shared how she realized the power that comes with pretty privilege when she gained a lot of weight, and the world immediately began treating her differently.

 pretty privilege, good looking people, social experiment, beauty benefits, weight, inequity, drinks, date A man hitting on a beautiful woman. via Canva/Photos

“Whether we want to admit it or not, pretty privilege is a thing. And it’s something that I now realize I had for the majority of my life,” the woman wrote in a viral Reddit post. “People were usually very nice to me. I got offered perks like drinks at bars and extra attention when I went out. And I was stared at a lot.”

Things changed for the woman after she had a health condition that required her to take a medication that slowed her metabolism, so she rapidly gained weight. “The fatter I got, the less attention was paid to me. I didn’t notice it at first, but I began to have to ask for customer service at places instead of being offered, and I started to feel invisible, because no one looked at me,” the woman continued. “No one. People would walk right by and not even acknowledge my existence. It was strange at first, then incredibly humbling. I thought, well, this is the new normal.”

The power of thin privilege.

It’s important to note that being a certain weight doesn’t automatically make you good-looking. People can be good-looking at any weight. However, it would be naive to believe that thin people don’t have an advantage in this world.

 pretty privilege, good looking people, social experiment, beauty benefits, weight, inequity,  A woman weighing herself. via Canva/Photos

The drastic fluctuation in the woman’s weight made her conscious of what other people who don’t have the privilege of being pretty or thin go through in life. It allowed her to have greater compassion for people, regardless of how they look. “My personality started to change a little. I began being thankful for any small interaction someone had with me, and responded to any small act of kindness with gratefulness,” she wrote. “I noticed other not conventionally pretty people, and other overweight people, and made an effort to talk to them and treat them like they mattered. I became a better person. Not that I wasn’t a good person before, but I was now more aware and empathetic to those around me.”

 pretty privilege, good looking people, social experiment, beauty benefits, weight, inequity,  A woman with curly hair. via Canva/Photos

The woman soon went off the medication and, just like that, she lost weight, and people began to treat her as they had before. “The first time I noticed it was when I was in a store looking for something, and a handsome male worker came up to me and asked if I needed help. He looked me in the eyes. I felt like I mattered again,” she continued. “Then I instantly felt sad and horrified, because of the cosmic unfairness of life, that how we look really does determine how people treat us, even though it shouldn’t.”

After the woman lost her privilege, she better understood what other people go through. On one hand, she probably enjoys the privilege, but on the other, she feels that the world is much less fair than she once imagined. At least, in the end, it’s taught her to be more empathetic to everyone she meets. “And also, when someone looks at me and smiles, no matter who they are, I give them a huge smile back,” she finished her post.

This article originally appeared in May.

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Studies show non-parents are happier than parents unless 1 of these 3 things are true

"Bundle of joy" might not be the most apt nickname.

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Having kids decreases your quality of life and marital satisfaction, but that doesn't mean you can't be happy.

For decades now there's been one great question looming over society: Does having kids make you happier?

Most studies show that, perhaps surprisingly, people without children tend to be happier, or have more life satisfaction. And when you really think about it, it makes sense why. Being child-free eases your finances and allows you more time to pursue friends, romance, hobbies, travel, adventure, and career aspirations. Having children makes your immediate quality of life and marital satisfaction go down temporarily, or in some cases, permanently. The Surgeon General even recently issued an advisory warning that parental stress is a major public health issue.

But there are three factors that might turn the tide. In the right circumstances, the joy and immense satisfaction of raising children can overcome all the associated stressors and lead to incredible joy and happiness. Other studies from around the globe prove that you might just be a happy parent if:

 parents, parenting, moms, dads, children, kids, family, love, stress, happiness, studies, research When your kids grow up and move out, it's like you've won: That's when the happiness really kicks in.  Photo by Esther Ann on Unsplash  

1. Your kids have moved out

A study from Heidelberg University in Germany specifically looked at happiness in people aged 50 and older. What they found makes a lot of sense.

People who have children were happier than those without, but only in the older age group, and only when those grown children no longer lived at home. Drilling down, the research found that when children become a source of "social enjoyment" rather than stress, life satisfaction increases dramatically while symptoms of depression decrease.

You can think of it as finally getting to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor. After spending decades teaching, nurturing, and shaping your children, your twilight years is when you get to really enjoy them as fully-fledged people who enrich your lives. While there's lots of joy and fun and happiness to be found in the younger years, those years are also marred with financial and other stressors which can subdue our overall happiness.

2. You have a lot of money AND good work/life balance


 parents, parenting, moms, dads, children, kids, family, love, stress, happiness, studies, research Parents struggle to make enough money while devoting time to caring for and enjoying their kids.  Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash  

One study out of Bocconi University in Milan, Italy found that "Parents are happier than non-parents ... as long as parents feel they can handle their work pressures to find work/life balance and they have the financial and other resources they need."

Oh, is that all?

Some estimates say it costs roughly $24,000 per year to raise a child, on average. A family with three kids would need to make about $75,000 just to cover the absolute bare minimum food and childcare costs — yowza! The costs are more when they're young (daycare, childcare, diapers, toys) but it never stops being expensive. Parenting is also extremely time-consuming, requiring several hours per day of childcare and extra housework for most families.

The impossible conundrum that many parents find themselves in is somehow having enough money and enough time to do it all. It's easy to see that if you can somehow solve that puzzling equation, yeah, you'd be a heck of a lot happier. Easier said than done!

3. You don't live in the United States

 parents, parenting, moms, dads, children, kids, family, love, stress, happiness, studies, research Parents in Spain, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, and more are enjoying more time off to spend with family.  Photo by Mauro Lima on Unsplash  

In 2016, The Council of Contemporary Families wanted to look into whether parental discontent was a global phenomenon or not. So, they studied parents and non-parents from 22 different countries to see if they could find any differences in life satisfaction.

The report found that parents in countries like Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Finland, Sweden and Spain were shown to be happier than non-parents.

And yet, according to Time Magazine, "Of the 22 countries the researchers studied, America has the biggest happiness differential between parents and the child-free."

The report specifically cites the high cost of childcare for young children and the limited amount of paid leave Americans receive—and not just parental leave, but simple vacation time. Countries like Spain and Portugal mandate anywhere from 22-30 paid leave days per year, while Americans average about 11. That allows for significantly less time to actually enjoy time with your kids, and has a big impact on our happiness, or lack thereof.

Of course, happiness can be measured in a lot of different ways. Is happiness a blissful feeling of freedom and joy? Or is it a deep satisfaction and sense of purpose in your life? Or maybe a combination of the two?

What the overall body of research seems to show is that there are many different paths to happiness, whether you choose to have children or not. Finding joy and satisfaction in your life as a parent might be considered "hard-mode." There are a lot of obstacles working against you, especially in America, but the research is beginning to give us some clues about how we can get there.

This article originally appeared in May.

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