Review: Thundershirt

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Earlier this month, Prince Harry came to visit. He didn’t actually stop by our house, rather he rocked up to Sydney for a whirlwind trip as part of a Naval Celebration.

So what does Sydney do when we’re welcoming royalty? We put on a fireworks display that’s what. Which, while great news for Prince Harry, up  until a few months ago it wouldn’t have been so fun for our household.

You see, just like many dogs, Soda does not enjoy fireworks. She thinks they’re flashy and over the top. She also gets very, very scared.

But this time? Soda was as cool as a Corgi. Her secret? A little something called a Thundershirt.

THE THUNDERSHIRT: HOW IT WORKS

Thundershirt is all about pressure therapy.

The design of the coat applies constant, gentle pressure to a dog’s torso which has a calming effect. Just like swaddling a baby, the soft pressure provides a soothing effect despite a dog’s external surroundings.

So before trialling the actual Thundershirt, I trialled the theory.

In occasions where Soda started to exhibit anxious behaviour – for her it was heavy panting and shaking – I used my palms to apply gentle but firm pressure to each side of her torso. While this didn’t stop her symptoms entirely, she certainly seemed more relieved.

With that I knew the theory of pressure therapy worked, however there was no way I could keep pressure applied constantly to Soda every time she needed it. It was time for the Thundershirt!

FITTING YOUR DOG

The great thing about the Thundershirt is that it comes with short, but detailed, instructions that are very easy to follow.

The first step involves introducing the Thundershirt to your dog through associating it with treats and non-anxious situations.

Fitting the Thundershirt to your dog is easy. You simply place it on your dog’s back, use the velcro fastners to wrap around the middle, and then secure the chest straps around the front.

The fit is snug – in fact when Soda had her Thundershirt on she looked much slimmer without all that fluffed up fur!

The soft material makes for a comfy fit – it’s not restrictive in any way, most dogs wouldn’t even notice it was on.

Case in point – Soda hates wearing any kind of clothes, but was completely comfortable in her Thundershirt.

PERFECT FOR THUNDER, FIREWORKS & GENERAL ANXIETY

The Thundershirt is recommended for a number of issues including:

• Fear of Thunder & Storms
• Barking Problems
• Separation Anxiety
• Travel Anxiety
• Fearfulness
• Noise Anxiety
• Fear of Public Speaking*

Soda and I trialled her Thundershirt over a few months. Now, living in Sydney – the fireworks capital of Australia – we got a number of opportunities to test this baby out. Add in a couple of thunderstorms and one car ride to the vet, and this Thundershirt really got a thorough test period in our household.

The results? Brilliant.

Where once Soda was jumping on furniture at any hint of a storm, she now lay quietly at our feet.

Where she would skittershly pace the house during a fireworks show, she now barely raised an eyebrow. (Sorry Prince Harry.)

The car trip to the vet? Once filled with shaking and uncontrollable panting, she simply looked out the window. (To be completely honest, she didn’t seem overjoyed at the prospect of going to the vet – but it was the first time in years this car trip didn’t involve stress.)

* Not so much.

SAFE, EFFECTIVE & DRUG FREE

Possibly the biggest selling point of the Thundershirt is that it’s 100% drug free.

While Soda has never loved the vet, the reactions to thunderstorms and fireworks were only issues that surfaced in her senior years. We had tried everything in the training book prior to the Thundershirt – treats, games, psychology, dryer sheets (look it up kids), diversion therapy…but nothing even came a close second in terms of results.

While we never had to go down the road of considering drugs, the fact that this shirt offers a safe, natural and very simple option to dog anxiety, is a huge plus. While I’m not saying it’s a fix for every situation, it’s definitely an option that should be explored early on in the game.

Nowadays, if I know a storm is coming, a fireworks show is planned or someone needs a check up, out comes the Thundershirt. It truly is a relief knowing it will keep Soda safe, calm and settled for years to come.

WHAT WE LOVED:

• Proven to reduce anxiety in dogs.
• Easy to fit and use – can be used straight out of the box.
• Drug free.
• Made of soft, durable material. Comfortable fit with no restrictions.
• Machine washable.
• Sizing for all dogs available – ranges from XXS (<7lbs) to XXL (>100lbs)
• Comes in a number of colours with optional custom embroidery.
• Affordable and comes with a money back guarantee.
• ThunderShirt Company currently donates ThunderShirts to adoption organisations to help anxiety in shelter dogs.

BEST FOR:

• Dogs of all ages and sizes that show signs of anxiety.
• Barking, excitable, overstimulated dogs.
• Fearful and anxious dogs.
• Dogs affected by Thunderstorms, Fireworks and noises.
• Dogs suffering from separation anxiety.
• Owners that want their dog to feel safe and secure.

CLICK TO BUY

To purchase and see the full range visit Thundershirt.

For testimonials and more information visit Thunderworks.