Tried & True: Thundershirt Review

The latest summer fashion trend for dogs here in the South is called the Thundershirt, have you heard of it? Because thunderstorms in the South--or really anywhere else in the country for that matter, during the summertime can pop up at a moment's notice and be quite severe, many pups with anxiety caused from these storms might benefit from a Thundershirt. A friend of mine from college, Kathryn, has a Weimaraner named Sawyer. He is such a handsome doggie-dude; even more so in his Thundershirt. Because I knew Kathryn had tried this product on Sawyer, I was hoping she would be so lovely to write up a review and possibly help out another anxiety-stricken pup. Thankfully, she willingly agreed! Here is what Kathryn and Sawyer had to say:

**This review is not sponsored in any way, shape, or form. It is also NOT an advertisement. :-)

Last summer our Weimaraner, Sawyer (now 4), suddenly became afraid of thunderstorms.  Living in the south, it’s not unusual to get several afternoon storms a week during the summertime.  Out of nowhere, poor Sawyer began panting and shivering at the first crack of thunder he heard!  He’d follow me around, try to sit in my lap (did I mention he’s 100lbs?), shake uncontrollably, or even hide under blankets and pillows during a storm or God forbid…fireworks.  We had to do something to help him deal with his anxiety.

We spoke with the helpful folks at our local holistic pet store, and recommended the Thundershirt.  Essentially, it is a jersey knit, wrap-around style t-shirt for dogs.  Because Thundershirt offers a 45 day 100% money back guarantee, we felt we had nothing to lose by trying it out.

It didn’t take long before we had an opportunity to give it a shot...  Using the sewn in Velcro strips, we were able to adjust the amount of pressure the shirt offered our pup.  This pressure made him feel secure during times that he’d otherwise feel anxious.  At first, Sawyer was very interested when we got him “dressed” but it served as a good distraction from the storm.  Since that first trial session, he’s paid less and less attention to the Thundershirt when wearing it.  Also, it’s become even more effective over time.  He still does like to follow closely behind me when there’s a storm or fireworks, but he no longer pants like crazy, shakes uncontrollably, or tries to hide under the covers in bed.  We are so thankful to have found a product that works so well for him!

The great thing about Thundershirt is that it’s not just for noise anxiety; it can be used to treat other types of behavior, such as: separation and travel anxieties, barking,  fear of crating, and more.  The creators of Thundershirt have put a lot of research into this.  They offer a great product and also a lot of training tips on their website to use in conjunction with the shirt.  If your dog has any of these issues, Sawyer proudly recommends trying a Thundershirt!

                                   Sawyer calmly “enjoying” 4^th of July fireworks thanks to his Thundershirt.

Thank you, Kathryn and Sawyer! 

As with any medical issue concerning your pet, be sure to speak with your veterinarian about your dog's anxiety issues. Some vets may prescribe a sedative but before you dose your doggy with a Xanax, you might want to try a Thundershirt. Have you seen or read Marley & Me? Both the book and movie had me bawling like a baby. That poor dog had awful thunderstorm anxiety and separation anxiety. 

Like Kathryn said, this can be a great training tool for those pups with separation anxiety. My parent's Weim, Jake, might have benefitted from a Thundershirt. That poor dog would bark from the very second you told him to "kennel up!" until the moment you got back home. Oh, Thundershirt creators, where you were you 15 years ago?

I am thankful that Heidi does not have anxiety caused by storms. We live near a military installation and many days and nights they conduct artillery training exercises resulting in LOUD booms and our house shaking. Poor Sawyer would be wearing his Thundershirt endlessly. Heidi doesn't bat an eye, bark, or even seem to notice when it happens. Thankfully, Logan doesn't either! 

Does your dog have anxiety? Anyone else out there try a Thundershirt yet?

Thanks for stopping by!