The effectiveness of competitive peptide vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor antagonists was evaluated on heart rate in the anaesthetized dog. Two specific antagonists, VIP (6–28) and [D-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP, and a nonspecific antagonist, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide fragment (6–27) (PACAP), were studied. VIP (6–28) and [D-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP (100 µg i.c.) increased the heart rate, whereas PACAP (100 µg i.c.) reduced the baseline heart rate. All three shifted the VIP dose-response curve to the right by two- to threefold for 30 min. In conclusion, PACAP, VIP (6–28), and [D-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP have a direct effect on the heart rate, are equally effective, and the effects last approximately 30 min in vivo.