WOW! Didn't really believe it would work!

[bkcain]

I bought a Thunder Shirt for my GSD/Pyr mix. She is a SPAZ dog. watching people walk down the street can get her so excited she can't calm down for hours, panting, pacing. And storms.... we don't even want to go there. (luckily we have been in a SEVERE drought this summer, so only one storm to live through this year) 5 minutes after putting it on, she was calm, and the panting stopped. She could relax! I took it off her and let her out side. She saw the neighbors and started her spaz attack again. I got the shirt out, and called her. She sat right down like she couldn't wait to put it on. She LOVES it. The other dogs even treat her differently when it is on her. I am so glad that I have finally found something, that is not medication to help her. I keep it on her for about a half hour to an hour and then take it off. The effects seem to last quite a while. Now if we have a storm I will probably keep it on her until the storm has been over for that long, but we will see.:doggyhug2:

 

[Glasgowdogtrainer]

Great news. I went to a TTouch workshop a few years ago and was pretty sceptical myself about them. They put a body wrap (similar to a thunder shirt) on a nervous westie who immediately relaxed, lay on the floor and went to sleep. They don't work with all dogs but when they do they're great.

I would read un on desensitisation/counter conditioning as well. Your dog is now calm enough so she can learn whereas before she was so anxious she couldn't. If you follow up on DS/CC she will get even better and you might be able to do away with the thunder shirt in the future when she improves. Great news.

 

[ruby55]

We have one for Ruby when she travels. Does NOT like being in the car, but loves to go places. Sunny is nervous during rain/thunderstorms. The fabric appears to be hot; your dog doesn't get warm in it? I haven't tried it yet because I was afraid they'd get too hot, & would still be uncomfortable.

 

[raechiemay]

That's very interesting!! My parents have been contemplating getting one for their Aussie mix who sends herself into a complete spaz attack when it thunders. The other day we had some storms rolling through (none of which actually hit us) but I did hear one clap of thunder which sent Coco into panic mode. She will usually start with heavy panting, then pacing & finally goes & hides in the hallway where its dark. She's a very strange dog. I think we will try the thundershirt on her!

 

[STEVSH]

We have one for Topaz too for thunderstorms. It usually works. Just not all the time. If the storm is super loud, then she's under my covers in the bed no matter what

 

[m0rg4n]

Other than context suggesting it's a dog shirt that calms excited dogs. . . what's a Thunder Shirt? What makes it work?

 

[bkcain]

It is a pressure thing. It has velcro so you can wrap it around them snugly and for some reason it calms them down.

 

[Cody]

It is based on the theory/fact that physical pressure has a calming effect. Cattle squeezes or Temple Grandin's Hug Machine are examples. It is a tight fitting shirt that applies pressure to the chest, shoulders while worn.
It does really work. My mom has a neurotic Border Collie (imagine that), she is a working cattle dog on their ranch, but Jackie loses it during car rides and thunderstorms. Funny enough she is great in the back of the Gator, the ATV or truck. They got her a thunder shirt and now she travels great, can sleep through thunderstorms. She also LOVES to wear it.

 

[ruby55]

We had a little red sweater for the puppies. It was really cute; did the same thing as a thundershirt. If we had a crying nervous puppy, we'd stuff them into that sweater & they would calm right down.