ThunderShirt for Dogs Calming Anxiety Vest, Medium, Heather Gray | Skin-Friendly Dog Anxiety Shirt, Helps Reduce Stress from Thunder, Fireworks & Travel

I know there's a lot of thunder vests out there and a lot to choose from. When I purchased this, I looked a good solid quality over price. When I got it and put the shirt on my cackapoo, I was really surprised at how it holds true to its name. It works for: thumder storms, fireworks, seperation anxiety, travel, and vet visits. Although my cackapoo still gets scared a bit when fireworks go off and wears the thunder shirt. So I'd honestly say the shirt works 85% of the time. Still quality material though. Sizing and fit for my small cackapoo is really good and doesn;t giver her aan uncomfortable feeling. The velcro is easy to attached to any dog and it holds to their body keeping them safe from danger. For the long term quality, I'd really give this a go and try it for your dog.

***UPDATE:After using ThunderShirt for a year now, I am still just as happy with it as I was when I first wrote this review. We have now used it through countless thunderstorms, as well as both the Fourth of July and New Year’s fireworks. It is the first thing I reach for anytime I know loud noises are coming. My dog accepted wearing it right away and still happily lets me put it on. He seems to associate it with feeling calmer and does not avoid wearing it. It still fits him well. The Velcro and fabric are still in good condition after being used and washed multiple times. It also still reduces his shaking and frantic pacing. He is still aware of storms and fireworks, but instead of panicking, he settles much more quickly and is able to relax. I would absolutely buy this again without hesitation. It has been one of the best purchases I have made for managing my dog’s storm anxiety.***ORIGINALI have tried so many things for my dog's storm anxiety, even vet-prescribed medications, but nothing has worked as well as this ThunderShirt. He is a 30lb terrier mix and the moment it starts storming he shakes like a washing machine and pants like he just ran a marathon. Fireworks are just as bad, and it broke my heart to see him so stressed.I was skeptical at first. But wow, after using it through several storms and fireworks now, he is so much calmer. He does not instantly transform, but in about 10–15 minutes he starts to relax.The Velcro straps make it easy to put on. The medium fits him snugly without feeling restrictive. It is well made. He can still walk, jump on the couch, and move around comfortably. The fabric is lightweight, and he does not overheat. It is also machine washable.Do make sure to measure your dog carefully. The snugness really is what makes this work, and if it is too loose, you will not see the same calming effect.Is he still scared of thunderstorms? Yes. It is not a miracle. It does not erase anxiety altogether. But the constant shaking and frantic behavior is gone. That makes it worth every penny to me. I honestly have 0 negatives to say about it.

OK - currently I'm rating this 4 stars, but I may come back and change this depending on how things continue to go.For some background - I have a chihuahua mix who is deeply attached to me. He has issues with separation anxiety and a hyper-aggressiveness toward other dogs, particularly large dogs. If he so much as sees a dog or anything else that may be threatening (a person walking by or a noise downstairs) he will start barking as ferociously as a chihuahua can bark. It's problematic for me because he is an agility dog and I have to constantly be aware that he may try to attack the dogs near me at any moment he feels like they're encroaching on his territory (namely, me). I've done obedience training with him since he was 10 weeks old and he's a SUPER well behaved dog aside from these issues.After researching online, I came to realize that he may be suffering from some form of anxiety, which is causing him to act out because he feels threatened. Thus, I came upon the Thundershirt.I'm really not the type of person to purchase items that seem gimmicky, and admittedly, this shirt screams gimmick. However, with nearly 600 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 star rating, I had to try it. Anything is worth trying if it will remedy a big issue in my dog's life. I don't want him to feel like he has to protect me all the time as that causes undue stress.So, after receiving the shirt, I opened the box and was greeted with a very cute plastic packaging for the shirt. Almost like a manilla envelope except see-through. The shirt was very well made and soft to the touch..but I was more concerned with testing it out rather than inspecting the intricacies of how it was made.I put it on my dog after taking a moment to think about the logic behind the velcro straps and it fit him nice and snug. I ordered an extra small - my dog is about 8 lbs but very lanky and it fit him perfectly. I opted to go with the sizing on the Thundershirt website vs. the Amazon website as I've been burned by Amazon having improper sizing info in the past.I was debating on an XXS vs. a XS.For example - on Amazon an XXS states:Size XXS for dogs less that 12 pounds and with a chese size of 9" - 13.5"Whereas the Thundershirt website states:Size Chest Size WeightXXS 9"-13.5" < 7 lbs.That's a HUGE difference. So I highly recommend using Thundershirt sizing to decide on which is best for your dog.-----------------------------------Here is the complete chart:Size Chest Size WeightXXS 9"-13.5" < 7 lbs.XS 13"-18" 8-14 lbs.S 16"-23" 15-25 lbs.M 18"-26" 26-40 lbs.L 24"-32" 41-64 lbs.XL 31"-40" 65-110 lbs.XXL 38"-50" > 110 lbs.-----------------------------------OK so regarding the efficiency of this shirt.I tested it outdoors with my dog on our front driveway just absorbing the sounds and sights of a normal neighborhood.My dog laid out in the sun and didn't seem reactive to much, whereas he normally would be. A neighbor walked their dog relatively near us, and my dog barked a little but he didn't run after the dog despite not being on a leash. Usually he won't leave my side but it can be unpredictable when it comes to dogs.The next day I took him out again and this time I forgot to put the shirt on. He was more on edge, and when a neighbor brought out their little dog, my dog went crazy and went running up to their dog barking. I grabbed him and took him straight inside.The next day, I tried it with the shirt again. This time children came running by, other dogs, etc. and he didn't move.. he actually just lay on his side and didn't react much. He might give a little bark here and there, but no where near his normal level of intensity.I tried his shirt during his advanced obedience training. He's in a class with all large dogs and the first day (without the shirt)he was shaking and just terrified. He would bark everytime the other dogs seemed to be a safe enough distance away, and wouldn't perform anything in front of the class since he was so scared. (sometimes I think my dog is bipolar). The second day of class (with the shirt) he was way more calm and less scared of the other dogs. We walked by 3 large dogs and he didn't make a peep. He performed in front of the class and was just more mellow overall, although he is still shakey and seems scared.I gave it 4 stars because I DO see improvement in my dog and it has only been about a week or so. However, I feel that although it takes the edge off him, I don't feel like the videos they post showing miraculous changes just by putting on the shirt are accurate. Perhaps there are dogs that this effect will happen, but I would consider it a rarity rather than the norm. I would have preferred more accurate marketing that really stresses the need to do behavioral modification in addition to the shirt. They do mention this, but its very brief compared to the marketing showing it as a miracle shirt.And after reading so many reviews, it seems I'm not alone in this shirt being part of a process rather than a fix.Overall, I recommend it and I'm going to try it with my friend's dog who is VERY hyper and see if it solves any issues with him.EDIT: The shirt worked miraculously on my friend's dog. The dog is high strung, paces, jumps up on people and overall just "starving" for attention. Won't let you pet any other dogs and has to be the center of attention constantly, which wears my friend out.We put the shirt on him and he just calmed down completely to normal dog levels. He lay down, relaxed.. yet, when the other dogs wanted to play, he still had energy to play. I played fetch with my dog in front of him and he just lay down and watched and didn't have the urge to go get the ball himself, which he normally would do.We took the shirt off him to see if maybe he was just in a mellow mood and he immediately got hyper and started pacing everywhere again. She's going to be buying one of these shirts because it made such a big difference in how he behaved.

I love this calming shirt, this thunder shirt I ordered a size I thought would fit him per their suggestion and then I ordered the smaller size that was really snug on them, but I just thought it was gonna be too snug, but it wasn’t and he feels very secure in it very great product cause I’ve tried other ones no good so I’d recommend this with five stars. He’s very comfortable in it.

Well. I did order a used one that was listed as in mint condition. However it was obviously used. Very used. Came covered with white dog fur. The box it came in should have made Amazon to list it as very used. Looks like a dog opened it at one time. I only saved a couple of bucks on the used version. First time I ever bought a used item. Won’t do it ever again. The vest itself does help my dog be a bit calmer on car rides and walks.

This is the third ThunderShirt I have purchased over the last four years. None of the dogs I purchased the shirts for was afraid of thunder, but I have found these shirts to have a calming effect for other anxieties.The first ThunderShirt I ever purchased was a size XL for an elderly 84-pound labrador retriever to help her deal with the anxiety she experienced following a stroke. It also seemed to give some relief from the itching caused by her meds. She really liked wearing it, and would have gladly worn it 24/7, but I didn't think that was a good idea. I was concerned she would get chafing or circulation problems from overuse, so she only got to wear it for a few hours a day. Still, I think it was an important part of the various things we did to increase her comfort until she was ready to leave this world. After she crossed over, the shirt was donated to help rescued dogs in foster care, and it was much appreciated by the foster "mom".The second shirt was a size XS that was purchased for a rescued 11-pound rat terrier who has no issues other than sibling rivalry. He wanted to wear a ThunderShirt because his "sister" was wearing one. It also helps give him a little extra warmth in cool weather, which he really appreciates because he chills easily. And he looks really, really handsome wearing it.The third ThunderShirt was a size XXS purchased a month ago for a 5-pound chihuahua puppy I adopted two months ago. She was found abandoned in a storage container with three other dogs. She was rescued by the county animal control department and given veterinary care until she recovered enough to be adopted. She has issues. Many, many issues. She hadn't been socialized at all and was absolutely terrified of people. She hadn't been potty trained. She was not much more than skin and bones -- you could easily see the outline of every rib. She obviously had been badly abused and she has a leg injury that may never heal completely. She didn't know how to walk on a leash and was terrified to try. She shook with fright for fifteen minutes when shelter staff placed her in my arms. She screamed and screamed and screamed in absolute terror when a very gentle friend of mine tried to pet her.After a month of training and socialization, and lots and lots of love, my chihuahua had gained a whole pound, was starting to get the idea about where to go potty and where not to , and had learned how to use a doggie door! But she was still exhibiting a lot of fear and anxiety, so I got her the ThunderShirt. I forgot to go through the recommended training process to introduce her to the ThunderShirt, but thankfully it turned out to be one of the few things that didn't frighten her. She loves it! It doesn't make all her issues go away, but it definitely seems to reduce her anxiety. She doesn't have very thick fur, so she appreciates wearing any shirt, but this is the only one that helps to calm her. She, too, would love to wear it 24/7, but I won't let her. With lots of love and positive reinforcement and her new Thundershirt, she is getting a little braver. She can't tolerate a leash attached to her collar, but she loves to walk in familiar places with her Bright Mesh Heart Printed Dog Cat Pet Vest Harness and Matching Leash Set in Blue for Dogs Cats (Large) . She will cuddle with me for hours, but she cowers if I move suddenly or use a stern voice. She is afraid of anyone new, except delivery people. They might be bringing Dogswell Nutrisca Dog Food, Salmon and Chickpea, 15-Pound Package or GREENIES Dental Dog Treats, Teenie, Original Flavor, 130 Treats, 36 oz. from Amazon! :-)I wouldn't call the ThunderShirt a miracle, but I would call it an excellent tool for helping dogs with anxiety issues. It is effective, and it is well-made with quality materials. The latest version has three new features that were not on my original two ThunderShirts: a patch for using a calming spray, snaps for attaching a jacket, and some reflective trim to make your dog more visible at night. Unfortunately, I can't use the calming spray because I am sensitive to one of the ingredients. I would love to get the snap-on ThunderShirt Outerwear Raincoat, X-Small, but so far have not been able to locate one in size XXS. I do appreciate the reflective trim because it glows in the beam of my flashlight when I take my puppy out after dark.I will continue to use the ThunderShirt to help reduce my puppy's fear and anxiety. I will be using it when I introduce her to new situations, and I will update this review to report on how that goes.The first photo below shows what the ThunderShirts look like from the front, where they can be adjusted with the velcro that is under the front tab. Of course, the photo also showcases how adorable my dogs look in their (almost) matching ThunderShirts!The second photo clearly shows two of the new features on the chihuahua's ThunderShirt, the patch and the reflective trim at the neck. The rat terrier is wearing the older version of the shirt, which he has had for four years now. He even has his name embroidered on it.The third photo was taken with a flash to show the reflective trim doing its job.

My 13 year old dog was never afraid of thunderstorms until we moved into our new house and the neighbors surrounding us like to frequently shoot off fireworks. Not just during the 4th of July. ALL year. My dog had never encountered fireworks before and thought we were under attack. And then with the loud noise and the flash of the fireworks, she learned to associate thunderstorms - with those loud noises and flashes of lightning -- with absolute terror. Thanks, Neighbors!!!To give you an idea of how my dog reacts to storms, here's what happens in our household during every single thunderstorm (and fireworks): When she hears the first bang or rumble, my dog immediately wants to sit in my lap (no matter what I'm trying to do) and she pushes herself right up against me so tightly that it's uncomfortable to breathe - for both of us. It's like she's trying to push herself under your skin for protection. She shakes so badly that her teeth chatter loudly. She pants loudly, her breathing becomes very rapid and she is very restless - sometimes running into the bathroom (the only room in the house without windows) and hides between the tub and the toilet - only to run back out after a minute to find me to push up against again. My dog becomes so filled with terror that I'm afraid she will have a heart attack. She is 13 years old and that's always at the back of my mind. I feel so bad for her. If the thunderstorm hits while we're sleeping at night, then I have to get up and try to sleep on the couch (so the dog doesn't wake my husband when she's shaking the bed & panting so loudly). No one sleeps in our house during the entire storm's duration.I had to find some other way to try and help her. I came across this product while searching for some type of solution. The skeptic in me said "There might be a very slim chance this will help my dog's storm anxiety" and I'm probably wasting money buying this but there were so many positive reviews. So, I bit the bullet and bought the shirt. I didn't even tell my husband that I had spent the money on this because I'm sure he would have thought it was a waste of money as well. It's just some fabric, right? I was desperate to help her.The day after it arrived in the mail, we got a daytime storm. I thought, well here goes, let's give it a try. My dog is not the type of dog who likes having any type of clothes on -- she immediately would rip off any kind of sweater or jacket that I had tried putting on her in the past. She didn't fight me putting it on her - it went on very easily. I made it a snug fit by adjusting the velcro around her belly. Then I went and sat down in my recliner - where she would normally jump up on and get into my lap and start the whole pushing into me thing. She stayed down on the floor. That intrigued me. Her breathing wasn't rapid. Hmmmm....interesting. She stayed a few feet away from my recliner but continued to stay on the floor, standing. Within a few minutes, she sat down, looked at me a few times like she was a little confused. Like, hey it's storming but I'm OK. I just smiled at her. Then she LAID DOWN. And stayed there! Even through the thunder claps, she stayed there on the floor lying down. Meanwhile, my husband had come into the room and noticed that I had bought some sort of shirt for her and she was wearing it. I said in a low voice, look who's not freaking out over the storm and nodded at my dog. He looked confused - just like the dog! Then he smiled and said "Huh?!! That thing must work." We just couldn't believe it. It was like she was an entirely different dog and that made me smile. She was at peace and felt comforted. I want to hug whoever invented this product. Absolutely life-changing.This Thundershirt was worth way more than I paid for it - it truly is absolutely priceless. It has brought my dog peace of mind and peace to our entire household during Thunderstorms - or fireworks. I no longer have to sleep on the couch - I can stay in bed! And everyone, including my dog is now relaxed during storms and getting rest. If there's a thunderstorm in the weather forecast during the night, before I go to bed, I just put the Thundershirt on my dog before she goes to sleep. The Thundershirt really is like a big hug to her, making her feel protected. Thank you so much, Thundershirt!! You made a little 13 year old dog (and her parents) very happy and have brought a better quality of life to her and our household.

This works for our dog. He's never going to be not scared of thunderstorms, but the trazadone alone hasn't been enough. Last week, with the thunder shirt and the medication, he dozed during a thunderstorm! He's usually sitting on top of me shaking, or has squished himself between me and the back of the couch while I attempt to sleep.I read reviews and, based on feedback about size, ordered a medium even though I thought he needed a large. It just barely fits. I'm returning it and ordered a large. If he gains any weight at all, the medium won't fit. There is a lot of adjustability for size, so the large should work.I also, based on reviews, put this on him a few times before we actually had a thunderstorm. I also plan on periodically putting it on him unrelated to any stressful events so he doesn't associate it only with bad things. I should add, he's a fairly laid back dog and doesn't mind wearing bandanas and other types of clothing.I'm going to put this on him for his vet visit next week and see if it helps his anxiety with that.

Al menos mitiga al sujetar un poco y envolver al perro con el temor al ruido de los fuegos artificiales. No es magico pero si ayuda.

My dog is about 9 lbs. It fit her very well. It was easy to put on her and is well made.

I was sceptical about the claims of this product, but after trying diffusers and CD's without any results, and watching our dog getting stressed every 5th Nov and Hogmany for 8 years I decided to give the Thundershirt a try. We first put it on him on Saturday afternoon, a couple of hours later the first fireworks started. We waited on his usual signs of stress, panting, pacing, shaking, but they never came. He barely lifted his head, it was amazing! It was the same on Bonfire night, he hardly reacted. The next test will be gunshot. A local hotel has clay pigeon shooting which can be heard from the park. If our walk coincides with the shoot we have to turn back, as he becomes too distressed. I plan to try it for this scenario too. NB: My dog has a long body, but is slim, I purchased the XS, based on his weight and chest measurement. However when I put it on him it looks short, it doesn't go as far down his back as it does in the picture, so I wondered if it would be less effective, but as you can see from my review it needn't have worried. Our young dog has just started showing signs of stress on long car journeys, so I plan to purchase one for her.

So happy with the delivery time. Ordered in the afternoon and it was delivered to rural Victoria the next day. Quality is very good. Will order from this company again. Couldn't be happier

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