"Hylands" is the brand name (like Kleenex or Juicey Juice). It's a good brand of homeopathics with a myriad of different products and blends.
I *think* they still just make plain "Calms" because some folks have used it for a zillion years and like it that way. Calms "Forte" -- the only difference in them is the "forte" has an extra small ingredient that makes it dissolve a bit better *in the stomach*.
Now that doesn't make sense if you don't use homeopathics much -- but 99.9999% of all homeopathics are meant to dissolve IN THE MOUTH. (under the tongue usually - absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the mucus membranes in the mouth).
Calms was originally formulated for human babies -- and of course you can't tell a little baby to leave something under their tongue so Calms was formulated to go to the tummy. I think Calms Forte was just an "improvement" but people were used to the old formula so they kept both.
There's actually a new formula "Calms Forte For Kids" that is back to the "under your tongue" soft tiny pellets and frankly I don't think they work well at all (not for the dogs and not for me!)
How much?
2 tablets. Same dose for a chihuahua or a rottweiler. Or a tiny human baby or a Sumo Wrestler!! Same dose.
Again -- that makes no sense except to say it's a homeopathic so it's already diluted hundreds and hundreds (and sometimes thousands and thousands) of times broken down to its cellular components -- rather than a medicine which causes an 'effect' in the body, a homeopathic simply 'nudges' the body to do what it really *wants* to do anyway. (i.e., relax and/or sleep when it's stressed and needs relief)
YES you can give Calms with valerian (I often do). Valerian is an herb -- whole different thing. Herbs *are* medicine --- and valerian is a relaxant. But yes-- those two work together really well. Particularly if you're dealing with a really high level of stress or excitement.
Valerian has more a tonic effect -- meaning "more" doesn't make it work harder, it makes it work a bit longer (the body takes what it needs a bit at a time) -- as long as it's a good brand most capsules you'd give two.
BUT if you bought the GNC valerian, if I recall correctly that's already labelled as "concentrated"??? It used to be, I think. In that case I'd only give one gelcap (I'm pretty sure it used to be gelcaps, not just the ground herb in a capsule??).
But if you bought Hylands "Calms" rather than "Calms Forte" you are FINE. Either is great, and honestly I've never noticed a big difference either giving to the dogs or for me.
Calms is routinely used by people who work a swing shift to help them sleep in daylight, or for people who occasionally need a bit of help going to sleep. Both formulas work really well on children, adults or dogs. But you can get conflicted just reading the darned label -- you'd think there was no difference in them (and there almost isn't) but it's labelled "Sleep-Aid" and then just below that "Non-Drowsy Formula".
*grin* Marketing!! LOL