Researchers analyzing data from the Dog Aging Project found that companion dogs given CBD or hemp supplements showed higher levels of aggression at first, with aggression identified as a common issue affecting about common behavioral issues affecting about 55% of dogs, but that aggression fell over time.

The team examined owner-reported information gathered between 2019 and 2023 from a cohort of 47,355 dogs to understand which animals received CBD or hemp products and how their health and behavior evolved. The findings, published in the academic journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, offer an early population-level look at long-term patterns tied to these supplements.

The dataset drew on the Dog Aging Project’s community science surveys of diet, lifestyle, health and living conditions. According to the analysis reported by ScienceDaily, researchers compared behavioral reports from owners whose dogs received hemp or CBD products with those whose dogs did not.

“Behaviorally, 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,” said Dr. Maxwell Leung, assistant professor at Arizona State University. His remarks underscore the need for a more nuanced understanding of aggression, often linked to fear-related, possessive, or territorial behaviors in dogs.

The research team noted patterns in which animals received supplements. Dogs receiving CBD or hemp tended to be older—on average about three years older than dogs that did not receive those products. Moreover, overall CBD/hemp use was 7.3%, with 5.8% using it daily, reflecting growing interest in these alternatives. The study also distinguished frequency of use: frequent users received a supplement every day, while infrequent users were given supplements less often than once a day.

Dr. Julia Albright, associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee, framed the behavioral findings as cautiously optimistic. “This long-term behavioral change highlights the potential of CBD as a therapy for canine behavioral issues,” she said. Nonetheless, Albright pointed out that pet owners addressing aggressive behaviors in dogs should consider professional behavioral modification as a crucial component, alongside any supplement use.

Albright also flagged limits in how the behavioral shifts can be interpreted. “Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety—a fight or flight response that kicks in. It is unclear why only aggression but not other types of anxious or agitated behaviors seemed to be improved with CBD treatment,” she said, noting the need for a fuller understanding of behavioral treatment plans that include positive reinforcement and clear identification of triggers.

The study relied on owner reports collected by the Dog Aging Project and therefore maps patterns of use and reported outcomes across a large, diverse group of companion animals rather than testing specific dosages or formulations. Researchers described changes in aggression over time but did not link those changes to controlled dosing regimens in the data analyzed.

Beyond behavior, the work documents who is receiving these products in practice: older dogs and animals with chronic conditions made up a noticeable share of users, indicating that the demand for CBD in dealing with various health issues is noteworthy, and daily use was common among those described as frequent recipients. The authors suggest these patterns offer a starting point for targeted clinical trials that could examine efficacy and safety in more detail.

The analysis and the accompanying commentary underline both potential benefits and gaps in current knowledge. “There are many similarities in how CBD can benefit dogs and humans medically,” Dr. Maxwell Leung said, framing the findings within broader interest in cannabinoid therapeutics.

For now, the research provides population-level signals rather than definitive clinical prescriptions. As the authors emphasize, long-term, controlled studies would be necessary to establish cause-and-effect and to clarify which behavioral problems, if any, respond reliably to CBD or hemp products.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.