Get Joy vs Wuffes Calming Chews: Two Sedative-Free Formulas, One Big Difference

Updated: July 2026 · Reviewed by the Get Joy veterinary and nutrition team · See our vet & nutrition experts

Rare good news on both sides here: Wuffes Calming Chews and Get Joy Calming Chews are two of the only melatonin-free, hemp-free calming chews among the category's most visible brands. Wuffes builds its formula on Relora, GABA, L-tryptophan, and chamomile extract, marketed plainly as sedative-free, with size-based dosing, accessible pricing, and NASC certification. Get Joy builds on whole-plant botanicals, chamomile, valerian root, and passion flower, plus omega-3 from algae, in a grain-free chew backed by a gut-first meal system. Sedative-free is the shared starting point; if Amazon convenience and the Relora approach appeal to you, Wuffes is a credible pick, and if you want whole-plant botanicals on a gut-first foundation, Get Joy is worth a look.

Because the two agree on the big things, hormones and hemp, the comparison comes down to what sits under and around the chew: the actives, the base, and the system.

What is the main difference between Get Joy and Wuffes?

With hormones and hemp off the table for both, the main difference is depth: Get Joy uses whole-plant botanicals on a gut-first system with a grain-free base, while Wuffes uses a Relora-and-GABA active blend in a chew base that includes pork, fish oil, and brewer's yeast. Same right instinct on the big ingredients; different approach underneath.

Wuffes sells a well-made sedative-free chew. Get Joy supports the dog the chew goes into, with a gut-healthy meal foundation beneath the daily botanical support. That is the one big difference no standalone chew can close.

How do Get Joy and Wuffes compare at a glance?

Here is the head-to-head on the factors dog parents ask about most.

What is in each chew, and how does it work?

Both formulas are sedative-free, and the honest difference is between proprietary extracts and whole-plant botanicals. Here is the breakdown.

Wuffes leads with Relora, a proprietary magnolia and phellodendron bark extract blend with research around supporting healthy cortisol levels, supported by GABA, a calming neurotransmitter supplemented orally, L-tryptophan, an amino acid precursor involved in mood-related signaling, and chamomile extract, with per-chew amounts published. One fair note on GABA: whether orally supplemented GABA meaningfully crosses the blood-brain barrier is a genuinely debated question in the research, so its contribution is less settled than the marketing around it.

Get Joy sticks to whole-plant botanicals with centuries of documented use: chamomile promotes relaxation and supports digestive comfort, valerian root is a traditional nervous system calming botanical, and passion flower supports relaxation and emotional balance. Omega-3 from algae supports brain health and a normal inflammatory response, sourced sustainably from algae rather than fish. The chews are vet-formulated, developed with PhD animal nutritionists, grain-free, and made in the USA. Both brands are NASC certified, a mark of audited manufacturing standards; read what NASC certification means for dog supplements for the full picture.

Which chew base is better for sensitive dogs?

Get Joy has the edge for sensitive dogs because its chew is grain-free, while the Wuffes base includes pork, fish oil, and brewer's yeast, which contains gluten. Formulas are more than their actives, and the base is worth knowing.

To Wuffes' credit, all of this is disclosed clearly by the brand. But for a dog with sensitivities, those base ingredients are exactly the kind of detail worth reading all the way down the label for. Get Joy Calming Chews are formulated by our veterinary team and PhD animal nutritionists with sensitive systems in mind, on a grain-free base. If your dog's stress and stomach tend to travel together, the base is not a footnote.

Which fits real life: travel, storms, and separation?

Both are daily, sedative-free chews, so both are built to support calm through the ordinary disruptions of real life: travel, storms, and time apart. The difference is what backs them up day to day.

Because neither chew relies on a hormone, both are appropriate for everyday feeding rather than last-minute dosing, and both can support a dog through predictable rough patches as part of a steady routine. Get Joy adds a gut-healthy meal foundation underneath, which matters most when stress shows up as loose stool during disruptions, appetite swings, or restless licking. For the separation piece specifically, see our guide to dog separation stress signs and solutions, and for gentle at-home approaches, natural calming remedies for dogs at home.

Why does gut health matter for a calm dog?

Gut health matters because the gut-brain axis means your dog's baseline stress response is shaped at every meal: much of the body's mood-related signaling originates in the gut. A supported microbiome underpins a healthy baseline, which is the difference no standalone chew can close.

Get Joy is the brand built around that fact: freeze-dried raw meals with Belly Biotics™, our proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, built directly into the food, with the Calming Chew as the daily layer on top. Wuffes sells a chew; Get Joy supports the dog the chew goes into. You can read the full science in our pillar on the dog gut-brain axis and behavior.

The verdict: Get Joy or Wuffes?

Wuffes made the right call on hormones and hemp, and we say so plainly; the remaining difference is depth. Whichever way you go, both choices keep hormones out of your dog's daily routine, and that is the right instinct.

Frequently asked questions

Is Get Joy a good alternative to Wuffes calming chews?

Yes. Both are among the few melatonin-free, hemp-free calming chews from major brands. Get Joy differs in using whole-plant botanicals rather than Relora and GABA, a grain-free base, and a gut-healthy meal foundation supporting the gut-brain axis that no standalone chew addresses.

Does Wuffes calming contain melatonin or hemp?

No, and credit to Wuffes for it. The actives are Relora, GABA, L-tryptophan, and chamomile extract, marketed as sedative-free. Note the chew base does include pork, fish oil, and brewer's yeast, which contains gluten, relevant for dogs with sensitivities.

What is Relora in dog supplements?

Relora is a proprietary blend of magnolia and phellodendron bark extracts with research around supporting healthy cortisol levels. It is Wuffes' lead calming active. Get Joy takes a different route with whole-plant chamomile, valerian root, and passion flower.

Can I give calming chews daily?

Both Get Joy and Wuffes are formulated for daily feeding at label dosing, and both avoid hormones, which makes daily use appropriate. Get Joy adds a grain-free base and a gut-first meal system. Consult your vet if your dog takes medication.

Why does gut health matter for calm behavior?

The gut-brain axis connects the digestive and nervous systems in constant two-way communication, and much of the body's mood-related signaling originates in the gut. A supported microbiome underpins a healthy baseline stress response, which is why Get Joy pairs calming support with gut-healthy nutrition.

Competitor details (active panels, chew base, melatonin and hemp use) are drawn from each brand's own website and public retailer listings (Chewy, Petco, Amazon) as of July 2026; formulas and SKUs can change, so confirm current details on each brand's site. Get Joy figures are from getjoyfood.com and internal product documentation. Get Joy Calming Chews are intended to support everyday calm and relaxation and are not a substitute for veterinary care; consult your veterinarian for persistent or severe stress behaviors.