Cannabis products may offer a new way to reduce aggression in dogs, according to a new study by researchers from the Arizona State University.
Data from nearly 50,000 dog owners shows that dogs receiving regular CBD supplements—which usually tend to be older or have health issues—exhibit reduced aggressive tendencies over time.
Cannabidiol, which has already gained popularity among humans for its potential to relieve pain, anxiety and inflammation, appears to have similar benefits for canines too.
Researchers examined data from the Dog Aging Project, a long-term study that collects information on the health, behaviors, and lifestyles of dogs across the country.
The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, suggest that prolonged CBD use in dogs may help alleviate certain behavioral issues, particularly aggression.
According to Maxwell Leung, senior author of the study and director of the cannabis analytics, safety and health initiative at Arizona State University, dogs given CBD products for multiple years are initially more aggressive compared to dogs not receiving those products, but their aggression becomes less intense over time.
This behavioral shift, observed over a period of several years, suggests that CBD could be a promising treatment for canine aggression.
While no significant changes were noted in other behaviors, such as anxiety or agitation, the reduction in aggression could point to CBD’s potential role in calming some behavioral issues.
The study was based on data from 47,355 dogs, collected between 2029 and 2023; owners provided information about their pets’ health, behaviors and CBD supplements usage.
Of the dogs in the study, 7.3 percent had received CBD or hemp products, with 5.8 percent receiving them daily.
Dogs receiving CBD supplements were on average three years older than those who did not receive them. These dogs also had higher rates of health issues, particularly dementia (18.2 percent), osteoarthritis (12.5 percent) and cancer (10 percent).
Interestingly, male dogs were more likely to be given CBD than their female counterparts, and dogs in states where medical cannabis is legal were more likely to receive these products too, which suggests that pet owners’ attitude toward cannabis might influence their decision to give their pets CBD.
The researchers have warned owners that more studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism behind this change and to confirm the long-term benefits of CBD use in dogs.
Paper coauthor professor Julia Albright of the University of Tennessee, emphasized the need for caution.
“Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety—a fight or flight response,” she said in a statement. “It is unclear why only aggression, but no other types of anxious or agitated behaviors, seemed to be improved with CBD treatment.”
The researchers also noted that the study has limitations, including the lack of data on CBD dosage, formulations and administration methods. Additionally, since the data was self-reported by dog owners, there may be some bias in the findings.
For dog owners considering CBD supplements for their pups, the researchers stress the importance of selecting a reputable brand and monitoring dosage carefully, as CBD can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal issues and diarrhea.
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Reference
Conrow, K. D., Haney, R. S., Malek-Ahmadi, M. H., Albright, J. D., Kaplan, B. L. F., Snyder-Mackler, N., Kerr, K. F., Su, Y., Promislow, D. E. L., Bray, E. E., Dog Aging Project Consortium, & Leung, M. C. K. (2025). Demographic features, health status, and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the Dog Aging Project. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1666663