2025-11-28 13:29:44

Cannabis might calm angry dogs.

A huge new study from Arizona State University suggests that CBD — the cannabis compound beloved by stressed-out humans — could help soften aggressive behaviour in dogs.

Researchers sifted through data from 47,355 pooches in the Dog Aging Project, one of the largest canine studies ever conducted.

It found a surprising pattern – dogs given CBD supplements for years started out more aggressive than the rest, but gradually mellowed.

Maxwell Leung, senior author, who also heads the university’s cannabis analytics, safety and health initiative, said: “Dogs given CBD products for multiple years are initially more aggressive … but their aggression becomes less intense over time.”

The findings, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, stop short of declaring CBD a miracle cure.

Other behavioural issues – anxiety, agitation, general canine drama – did not shift much.

And co-author Professor Julia Albright urged caution, noting: “Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety… It is unclear why only aggression, but no other types of anxious or agitated behaviours, seemed to be improved.”

The dogs receiving CBD were typically older – about three years older than non-users – and more likely to have health problems such as dementia, osteoarthritis or cancer.

Male dogs were also more likely to get CBD, as were pets living in states with medical cannabis laws, suggesting that owners’ attitudes toward weed may be shaping canine treatment trends.

Researchers also warn that the study relies on owner-reported data, with no information on dosing or product quality — meaning the results should be handled with care.

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