Sometimes I feel like a commercial for the things I really love and the Thundershirt is definitely at the top of my list of beloved items right now. Rita is so afraid of the thunder. She will make herself sick within about 5 minutes of the first clap of thunder. It’s sad that we get so little rain but the good side of that is that we don’t get a whole lot of thunder but when we get it, Rita definitely needs help.
I have friends who swear by the Thundershirt and I had looked at them a couple of times, wondered if it was worth the cost and when talking to my aunt one day, she told me that they still had the one they had for their precious little Yorkie who had recently passed on and she would send it to me.
Rita’s Thundershirt
Every time I use it, I have a hard time believing how well it works. We had rain off and on all day yesterday and I could hear thunder in the distance and Rita remained calm so I was thinking she might be cured of her fear of thunder but about 11 p.m. last night, the big guns rolled in and it was non-stop thunder and she was in a panic. I tried holding her and she was up and down, pacing the floor so I put the Thundershirt on her and I think the picture tells you what a difference it made. She went right to sleep! Instantly!
I think I need a “Bridgeshirt” that I can put on when I have to drive across a bridge. Think that might work for me?
Denise in PA says
So glad it’s working for little Rita! I often wonder if I should get one for my Peke Lilly. However, she’s not scared of the thunder (or anything really), she just wants to beat it up – LOL – and I’m not sure if it works for that. It would be great if it did – particularly at night. Because when Lilly’s not happy, no one is happy – ha ha!
Sherrill says
WOW, that is AMAZING!! So glad it works for her and now she won’t have to be ‘skeerd’ anymore. Maybe if you get one of those spandex shirts that are 4 sizes too small and put it on before you cross the bridge, it’ll work the same way as Rita’s shirt works! HAHA
Vicky says
I keep forgetting to get one for Penny. She’s the first dog I’ve ever had that gets all shaky and whiny when it thunders. She is glued to me. I’ve been putting her in her tiny travel kennel and that seems to work somewhat. I mentioned this to the vet and she told me to get a thunder shirt! LOL. I guess I need to bring the little kennel downstairs and your bad weather is coming this way today.
glen in louisiana says
So totally works! GrandDog Hugeaux uses his and the transformation is amazing.
PS Last night he ate 3 bags of chocolate candy bars and ended up in the VET ER. I had Carrie make him throw up about 1/2 bag of 3 Musketeers but it was obvious that some were already in the intestines. Yes, he threw up only one brand of the three……hmmm.
Did you know that Valium is the antidote for Doggy Chocolate Poisoning? Hmmmm.
Sharon Downey says
I had never heard of one. We have a little Shitzu that hates Thunder or heavy rains. I’m going to try to find one. Any ideas where they are sold. Maybe Amazon? I don’t remember seeing one in Walmart but I wasn’t looking either.
Heather Watts says
I am guessing that it works in the same manner as Temple Grandin used her squeeze machine. Yes, they even make inflatable vests for people !!
Shari says
My sister has one for her Boston Terrier and they both love it!
Diana G says
Our dog goes and gets her thundershirt when she is feeling anxious (and no I didn’t teach her that), she just knows. Its amazing how it calms them down ,especially her. People are just amazed at what they see when it happens. Now if only we could get her to get a job !LOL
Cheryl says
We had one for our chocolate lab that had a severe case of separation anxiety and it really helped her. I also think they should make a “bridgeshirt” just for you!!!
Linda Steller says
Do you know if they work during fireworks too, Judy? We rarely get thunderstorms here – maybe twice a year. Ozzie does get a bit freaked out, but it’s during the 4th of July he gets frantic with the fireworks. He doesn’t seem affected by the tranquilizers.
Diane K. says
Totally works for my Cavalier King Charles spaniel. She doesn’t like the process of putting it on, but calms right down once it’s done. We use it for thunderstorms (and here in FL we get a lot of them!), 4th of July, New Year’s Eve….I love it!!
Linda Smith says
I purchased a Thundershirt for my cockapoo from Amazon. It works like a charm! He also relaxes and goes to sleep. After wearing it during several thunderstorms, he doesn’t get as anxious as he did previously. He also knows where I keep his Thundershirt and goes to the cabinet it is in when it begins to thunder. It is worth every penny!
Dar in MO says
That is a precious picture of Rita in her thundershirt. I cracked up when I read your comment about the bridge shirt for you. It’s worth a try and I would also recommend those blinders that they put on horses that block the vision on the side of your eyes — then you can’t tell you are on a bridge at all! lol