Thundershirt Review: Part II (Videos)

My mommy bought a Thundershirt^TM for Nala to wear during scary times, like during a thunderstorm, during fireworks, and other scary situations that send her into panic mode. This post is continued from yesterday’s, where Nala is wearing the Thundershirt for the very first time during a thunderstorm. How did she do?

Mommy says that Nala’s been terrified of thunderstorms for as long as she can remember. As soon as Nala sees that first flash of lightning, or that first clap of thunder… or even the first flash of fireworks, she goes into panic mode. Even if she hears something that remotely sounds like one of these things… there’s just no stopping her shaking and hyperventilating.

Mommy’s heard so many different ideas about trying to calm nervous doggies. She’s tried almost all of them. She’s tried comforting Nala during a panic attack, but then she heard that she shouldn’t do that because it may reinforce negative behavior. So she tried ignoring her and went on with regular activities, but that didn’t work either. She tried distraction, such as giving her treats. That’s what started the thunder cookies This seemed to work, but as soon as the treats stopped, panic mode picked right back up again.

Then mommy heard about wrapping your doggie to calm them. She thought that sounded like a good idea, ’cause she wrapped Taylor when she was a baby, and Taylor seemed to like that. If wrapping worked for calming babies, maybe it would work for Nala. That’s what started the thunder towel.

Mommy’s been using the thunder towel for a few years now, on and off. We’re not always home when thunderstorms happen, and the thunder towel isn’t secure enough to be left on Nala when no one was home. So, this technique didn’t work.

Then mommy heard of Thundershirt^TM. Finally, someone made something for doggies that would calm them during storms. I didn’t know that so many other doggies were scared of thunderstorms!

But did mommy go right out and buy a Thundershirt^TM? Nope! She waited. And waited… until the very last minute where she actually thought, “I think I’m going to finally buy Nala a Thundershirt^TM to see if it works. With a big stormy season upon us, and the upcoming July 4th holiday, she thought this was the perfect time to finally get one. The only problem was, was that she waited too long to have it shipped! She was even willing to pay for overnight shipping, but it just wasn’t going to happen.

So, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, one of the nice ladies from the Thundershirt^TM company told mommy the nearest place she could get one. Mommy had no idea you could buy a Thundershirt^TM anywhere but online! In fact, many veterinarians carry Thundershirt^TM in their practices. TIP for the Thundershirt^TM company: you must add this important information to your website! So mommy made the drive to a nearby veterinary clinic with Nala and brought one home (and she saved more than $20 in shipping!).

According to the Thundershirt^TM website, “Thundershirt is an excellent treatment for most types of dog anxiety and fear issues. For many anxieties, we recommend just putting on a Thundershirt and observing the results (No training!). You very well may see significant improvement for noise, crate, travel, barking and others with absolutely no training.”

Thundershirt^TM is very easy to put on. When mommy took it off Nala after she got home, she kept the front flap attached. So when the sky started to grow dark, all she had to do was put the front over Nala’s head and wrap the rest around her body.

I’ve included 2 videos after the photos. The first video shows Nala before wearing the Thundershirt^TM, but wrapped in mommy’s towel. The second video shows her after wearing the Thundershirt^TM.

Look below for the Good Stuff vs. the Not-So-Good Stuff…

Sometimes when Nala’s nervous, she’ll stick close to mommy & Taylor.
Many times she’ll hide underneath their desks…

or cower under a towel near mommy’s feet.

Often she’ll pace the floor throughout the house,
with her ears on constant alert for the next scary sound.

The other day, mommy put a towel around Nala, but that didn’t work much.

As the storm got worse, Nala started breathing really fast
and started shaking. I felt really sad for her.

Mommy took out the Thundershirt^TM.

Here’s Nala wearing the Thundershirt^TM for the first time,
as she hides underneath Taylor’s desk.

OOh, Nala came out from under the desk…

and went to sit in the kitchen. So mommy and I joined her there.

She was still shaking a lot and breathing really fast.
I went over to her to make sure she was OK.

I tried to distract her by playing with mommy’s sneakers, but it didn’t help.

Poor Nala… she was still scared by the end of the thunderstorm,
but at least she didn’t feel the need to pace all over the house.

Now for the videos…

There’s no music in either of the following videos, but there is some background noise. You don’t need to put your sound on if you don’t want to.

Video before Thundershirt^TM:

Video after Thundershirt^TM: (Last frame with Nala sitting alone near kitchen drawers, has the sound of the dishwasher running.)

The Good Stuff:

• Soft fabric.
• Easy to put on and readjust with Velcro^®.
• Stylish. Comes in a variety of colors/designs.
• Doesn’t attract a lot of fur.
• Machine-washable.
• Stopped a lot of Nala’s pacing back and forth.
• Costs $36, but there’s a money-back-guarantee. If you feel the shirt isn’t working for your doggie, you can return it.

The Not-So-Good Stuff:

• Didn’t stop Nala’s shaking.
• Didn’t slow her breathing.
• Costs $36. The price was one reason mommy waited so long to buy one.
• Need more time to evaluate.

My conclusion?

Since all doggies and their levels of panic differ greatly, each will react differently to wearing the Thundershirt^TM. This was Nala’s first experience with it. According to the company’s website, “For more complicated anxiety cases, we recommend using Thundershirt as part of a behavior modification program.” Since Nala’s panic attacks have been going on for years, I think she just might qualify as a more complicated anxiety case.

I won’t say for sure yet if I think the Thundershirt^TM is helping Nala. She’s only worn it once, and even though other people have seen an immediate change in their doggies after wearing one for the first time, I’m just gonna say that I did notice a slight change, but it’s very slight. Nala didn’t pace the floor, or walk back and forth from the bedroom to the living room, to the kitchen. She sat with us in one spot for the most part. So I guess this is a step in the right direction.

Oh! Another thing… Mommy also held Nala in her arms. Why? ‘Cause she jumped up and wanted her to hold her! I couldn’t believe it — Nala doesn’t like to be held at all. But while wearing the Thundershirt^TM, she obviously felt comfortable while mommy held her.

So, like I said… there IS some sort of change in Nala while wearing the Thundershirt^TM. Mommy may have to do some behavioral training with Nala while she’s wearing the shirt, but at least we have somewhere positive we can start. Nala would never even sit still before! And now with the Thundershirt^TM, she can. 🙂

You can click here to purchase your own Thundershirt^TM. Each purchase through this link helps to support my website. 🙂

Click here for more Thundershirt^TM reviews.

I’m taking part in the Saturday Blog Hop — check out the sites below! 🙂

Countdown:

Days until we blast off into space: 6 days, on July 8!

Happy Saturday woofs & hugs!

~Bailey (Yep, I’m a girl)
P.S… If you’re a human who blogs about your furry, or a furry who blogs about your human… or even a furry who blogs about your life… I invite you to follow me via Google Friend Connect (see box in the right-hand column –>), and join me on Facebook. Please let me know you’ve visited — I love reading other blogs and making new friends. <3

*Extra Woofies*

For the word verification below: If you are on a computer (desktop or laptop), all you have to do is drag the image that it tells you to, from the left to the right image. If you are using anything other than a computer (like an iPad, iPhone, or other mobile device), you just need to click on the correct matching image on the left (it will tell you). The image will then automatically appear over the image on the right. Don’t forget I have to personally approve your comment, so it won’t show up right away. 🙂

I have no association with the company mentioned in the above review, but I am an affiliate. Mommy purchased this product with her own money, and Nala and I are giving our honest doggie opinions.

 

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