With the 4th of July fireworks over we’re unable to test the Thundershirt at least until it starts to storm. So with that, we’re about to order a Thundershirt; and scoured the web for details into what makes this brand a top seller to help calm your dog during a storm, a dog with separation anxiety or fireworks display.
What Makes a Thundershirt a Thundershirt?
A Thundershirt helps to calm a dog by having the cloth fit well enough that it applies gentle pressure (think compression socks) while your dog is wearing it. One of the descriptions on the site is that a Thundershirt is like swaddling a baby, if that helps with a visual description.
How Does Thundershirt Help
By applying gentle pressure to your dog using this type of pressure wrap. There was a study completed on the effect of a Thundershirt on heart rate and behavior in dogs that had been diagnosed with anxiety disorders by Camille King, Laurie Buffington, Thomas J. Smith and Temple Grandin!
The study illustrated that a dog with anxieties had calmed after wearing this pressure wrap.
The research examined a sample of 18 dogs 81 and used owner-reported scores related to use of the Anxiety Wrap® during thunderstorm activity. The 82 mean anxiety scores on the fifth use of the Anxiety Wrap® were 47% lower than the mean anxiety score 83 that was generated before the use of the Anxiety Wrap®
Here is a PDF link to the Thundershirt (pressure wrap) study:
With multiple colours to choose from and a cost of only $44.95, a Thundershirt may just be what you’re looking for to help calm your dog while you’re away from home, during those summer storms; and of course the next holiday where someone is celebrating with fireworks. If you order a Thundershirt for your dog please let us know in the comments section below if it worked and your dog’s level of anxiety.
Please visit Thunderworks, the creators of the Thundershirt (and many other calming pet products) to find out more about them and how well the shirts work at: Thundershirt
