All Things Dog Blog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Thunderstorms have continued here in central Florida beyond their normal Summer schedule. Oliver is snoozing peacefully at my feet while a storm powers through with all the noise of a Wizard of Oz twister. Thankfully Oliver has learned to associate his Thundershirt with calm. As soon as he hears the first sign of thunder he gives me eye contact that speaks volumes: "Mom, it's time for my Thundershirt!"

Recently at a pet industry conference I met with one of the representatives for Thundershirt who offered to send Oliver one of the newest designs, complete with his name embroidered on it. Wow! Is this ever cool!

As I prepare this review I'm thinking of the Halloween hoopla that is just around the corner. Trick or Treating kids, fire crackers, and scary faces are just some of the many reasons that your pup may be frightened during Halloween evening. A Thundershirt could very well be your best solution to help your pup calm his nerves.

How does it work? Here's my layman's terms version: With a fit much like a wetsuit, the overlapping Velcro flaps allow the Thundershirt to fit very snugly around your pup's ribcage area, gently encouraging him to slow his breathing. This has the effect of calming your pup, as slower breathing allows for relaxation. I liken it to swaddling a baby. In time, your dog will associate wearing the Thundershirt with that same relaxation response, and he'll more quickly calm himself during anxiety.

Thundershirt initially introduced a classic heather gray version which is the standard for their 'look'. But now, with more and more people using the Thundershirt for social anxiety and car anxiety, for example, dogs are wearing their Thundershirts outside of the house. Thundershirt has responded with more fashionable designs to suit your pup on the go.

Oliver's new polo Thundershirt is an adorable blue and with his name embroidered in a contrasting orange on the side. You can have this too when you order from their website at this link. The polo comes in blue for boys and pink for girls, but go ahead and be risky; why not embrace your favorite?!

You can learn more about Thundershirt and how it works at their website, Facebook page and on Twitter. The uses for this product seem to be growing each day. Join the club and let us know what new solution you find with yours.