Janine
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| Posted 07/05/12 at 11:01 PM | Reply with quote #1 |
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Has anyone had any experience with these coat/shirts. They are supposed to be great for any anxiety problems. I am thinking of getting one for one of my boys. Safe, effective, easy, drug free way to help manage dog anxiety! If your dog suffers from any of the following then the Thundershirt is perfect:
- Fear of thunder/fireworks
- Travel anxiety
- Problem barking
- Leash pulling
| - Separation anxiety
- Crate training anxiety
- Hyperactivity
- General fearfulness
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Thundershirt applies a gentle, constant pressure which has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs if they are anxious, fearful or over-excited. Based on surveys completed by over two thousand customers, over 80% of dogs show significant improvement in symptoms when using Thundershirt. Thundershirt is already helping tens of thousands of dogs around the world, and is recommended by thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers.
One of mine has terrible separation anxiety and both are pullers on the lead.
Ezy Walk harnesses do work and are what I use but I can only just manage and I am not getting any younger.
Janine.
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Dixie
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 04:48 AM | Reply with quote #2 |
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I don't have one. But I have heard feedback that they really work! The wrap
even comes big enough for most mastiffs.
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Janine
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 07:15 AM | Reply with quote #3 |
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Thanks for the feedback Dixie, I will try anything and if they do as they advertise I will be able to recommend them.
Janine. |
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 09:15 AM | Reply with quote #4 |
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I tried it on one dog, no noticeable changes. I know another dog, was totally freaked (not mastiff) couldn't work in public, fearful of dogs and reactive, wouldn't let people touch her, total mess. Came to training one day in a thundershirt - COMPLETELY different dog. The one you posted is the one that helped the dog in class - the one I tried was another type, more like a tee-shirt - I absolutley would try the one like you posted - you may need to speak with manufacturer as the xlarge does not appear to be that big. Good luck, and PLEASE if you use it post results !!!!
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mscris
Registered: 03/31/11
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 09:46 AM | Reply with quote #5 |
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| I have friends that swear by them. The dogs have come out of the closet and hang out with the family during bad storms and holiday fireworks. |
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annagmay
Registered: 10/07/07
Posts: 443
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 05:48 PM | Reply with quote #6 |
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I have also heard WONDERFUL success stories with thunderskirts.
http://www.thundershirt.com/
The XXL size will fit some Mastiffs, but you may have to alter it a little to fit big Mastiffs. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had a dog with anxiety, phobias or any fear issues... Anything safe for the dog is worth a try when they are dealing with fear, panic...
Tufts University is doing research to scientifically record the product's affects on canine anxiety!
http://cgi.vet.tufts.edu/clinical_trials/projects/the_use_of_the_thundershirt_to_alleviate_anxiety_in_hospitalized_canine_patients
Interesting information:
http://www.thundershirt.com/AnxietyResearch.aspx
How it works..
http://www.thundershirt.com/HowItWorks/
FAQ
http://www.thundershirt.com/HowItWorks/FAQs.aspx
Good Luck!
Anna
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Jeanine
Registered: 06/09/12
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 06:15 PM | Reply with quote #7 |
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Janine - in principal, these shirts should work for dogs as well as they do for children/individuals with autism and other neurologic issues. They provide positive pressure all over the body (except legs and tail) which reinforces the feeling of being protected. This, in turn, stimulates the brain to release more "happy hormones" such as beta-endorphins and serotonin which make the dog feel calm. Please let us know how it works for the dog. As a behaviorist I am extremely interested.
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Janine
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 06:35 PM | Reply with quote #8 |
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Thankyou very much everyone, I will be sure to let you know how I get on when the shirt arrives. Sounds good so fingers crossed.
Janine. |
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zeus10
Registered: 08/23/08
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 09:12 PM | Reply with quote #9 |
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| We have found this tool to be very helpful. Our girl has some serious stress issues with loud noises and new scenarios. The thundershirt has eased her stress level in a lot of situation. She actually walked up and licked a running vacuum cleaner in a new house with this on...it helps with thunderstorms --- not a cure all -- but eases the stress. She wears it when we are training with her reactivity to other dogs...it makes a difference --- not a "miracle" -- but an aid --- highly recommended...but don't only use it in stress..that's the key --- let them wear it when nothing is "wrong" -- so it doesn't act as a signal that something stressful is about to happen. But overall highly recommended |
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michelleparlier
Registered: 01/29/07
Posts: 111
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| Posted 07/06/12 at 11:43 PM | Reply with quote #10 |
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Have a Thundershirt for one of my crew, who has major thunderstorm anxiety. I will say that it helps him a little, but nothing to write home about.
Slowed his incessant pacing for hours on end, major panting, whining, excessive need to seek "safety" on the second floor of the house (and pawing through the carpet and pad down to the sub-floor in order to try to get there) by just a wee bit. I wouldn't call it a "cure-all," but I think it's beneficial to some.
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American Mastiff, Murphy, Flying W Farms (B: 1.23.05) CGC, Certified Therapy Dog, TDI, Inc.
English Mastiff, Maggie (B: 10.17.05) ~ Adopted 12.06 GLMR
Epileptic & Deaf American Mastiff, Brody, Orion Farms (B: 9.11.09) ~ Adopted 4.2.10
Chihuahua mix, Daisy (B: 2003?) ~ Adopted 11.23.09
Epileptic German Shepherd mix, Annie (B: 10.4.04) ~ Adopted 5.06 AHF ~ RIP 5.17.08
English Mastiff, Frankie (B: 11.11.01) ~ Adopted 10.07 GLMR ~ RIP 10.28.09 |
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dirtpoor
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| Posted 07/07/12 at 05:16 PM | Reply with quote #11 |
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I have been looking for an XXL for Grace FOREVER! She has full blown panic attacks during storms but none of the pet supply places carry them that big, so I finally broke down and ordered one for her. I hear for the most part they work wonders but like everything else in the world, it can't cure or help every dog that tries it.
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Proud mom of Daisy and Gunnar who live in Heaven with God and my daddy, Grace my silly clown who makes me laugh when I cry and every opportunity she thinks she can, Oliver who beat the odds and survived the impossible, Chigger, he's an a$$ but he's my little A$$....
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Prodogtrainer
Registered: 07/10/12
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| Posted 07/11/12 at 03:57 AM | Reply with quote #12 |
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Yes! However, you should know that the Thundershirt probably isn't large enough for mastiffs. It only comes in 7 sizes, whereas the Anxiety Wrap, the original pressure wrap and only patented pressure wrap comes in 11 different sizes and can be custom-sized for dogs over 90 pounds if necessary.
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Dixie
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| Posted 07/11/12 at 05:52 AM | Reply with quote #13 |
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that's good information for us...everything has to be mastiff sized!
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Janine
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| Posted 07/11/12 at 09:29 PM | Reply with quote #14 |
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Thundershirts arrived yesterday. Put them on this morning, will leave them for about an hour, just to start them getting used to them. I will do this daily for a while until they totally accept them as normal.
Must say, they are both resting comfortably with them on.
The main reason I want them is not for noise, both are fine with any loud noise, thunder, firecrackers etc. I want them for walking, they are supposed to help with dogs who pull on the lead. I have been using the ezy-walk harness, but with both of them having elbow dysplasia I find the harness makes them a bit sore when it pulls across the shoulders, it must put extra pressure on the elbows. Also for separation anxiety with one of them, the sable shepherd, Blade, hates being separated from his brother Jett, I have actually had him go through a window. Used to get my husband walk one and I the other and go in different directions but he screams to a point of embarrassment, (something only a shepherd can do I think).
Fingers crossed, I just want to be able to walk them comfortably for all of us and hopefully be able to separate them if the time comes and it is necessary.
Janine.
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Prodogtrainer
Registered: 07/10/12
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 01:54 AM | Reply with quote #15 |
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Just to clarify, the Anxiety Wrap is the original (2001) and only patented pressure wrap, the only one that uses both maintained pressure and acupressure and it is the only one that has been evaluated to date in a clinical research study.
Recently veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Dodman completed a research study at the Cummings Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine which found that the Anxiety Wrap was effective in 89% of the dogs in the study and the researchers concluded that the Anxiety Wrap is a "safe and effective treatment for thunderstorm phobia."
In my own practice, both as a registered nurse and professional dog trainer who sees fearful, anxious and aggressive dogs on a regular basis I am very familiar with the therapeutic effects of pressure. I have seen remarkable and consistently effective results with the Anxiety Wrap in a wide of conditions, including severe separation anxiety and thunderstorm phobia.
I first tried the Anxiety Wrap on my own dog several years ago and was so impressed that I have been recommending to my clients with anxious and fearful dogs since! I have had several clients who have purchased the Thundershirt by mistake and we saw no effect whatsoever.
Susan Sharpe, the inventor of the original Anxiety Wrap is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and T-Touch Practitioner. She used her knowledge of T-Touch and consulted with Dr. Temple Grandin in the development of this product.
Dr. Grandin is an animal science professor at Colorado State University who has autism and developed a "squeeze machine" for herself to help calm her own symptoms of anxiety when she was a college student. She got the idea from observing how cattle were held in a chute to help calm them for inoculations on her aunt's farm when she was a young girl.
Susan Sharpe and the Anxiety Wrap are mentioned in Dr. Grandin's book, "Animals Make Us Human," page 54.
For more information, see the Anxiety Wrap website, and this article for a comparison of the various anxiety-reducing garments on the market today.
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SteveOifer
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 02:35 AM | Reply with quote #16 |
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Newt trying out less expensive alternative!
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For the betterment of the breed!
"Above all, a uniform type should be aimed at by breeders and uniformity of type can only exist in a proportionate ratio in the purity and distinctiveness in any breed"!.........M. Moore
"If breeds did not adhere to a specific shape, form, and colour range, or if breeders disregarded this blueprint, the breed would degenerate to the point that it would hardly resemble the breed at all. Selective breeding does not just create breeds- it preserves them as well. Breeding purebred dogs inherently means accepting limitations on your freedom to just breed anything"...Catherine McMillan
" A reinforced consolidation of the American and British standards could be the basis for restoring our breed to the gladiatorial glory of its ancient past, in capability if not in usage".....Norman Howard Carp-Gordon
"I can live with doubt, or not knowing, rather than to have answers that might be wrong"...Richard Feynman
TEST YOUR DOGS! |
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Janine
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Registered: 07/23/07
Posts: 1,235
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 08:20 AM | Reply with quote #17 |
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I appreciate the information on the Anxiety Wrap Cindy, I will try the shirts and see how they go, if I am not happy I will certainly be looking into these. Do you know if they are any good for dogs pulling on leads? The Thundershirt is advertised as helping with this problem. This is my main problem.
Thanks for the input.
Steve, as usual you have an alternative point of view, but I cant see this one being less expensive, unless of course it actually swallowed the dogs.
Janine. |
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SteveOifer
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 09:10 AM | Reply with quote #18 |
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Less expensive because one size fits all, no detergent needed to clean, can be hung dry, and lasts many years without replacement.
Sales in certain countries may be constricted!
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For the betterment of the breed!
"Above all, a uniform type should be aimed at by breeders and uniformity of type can only exist in a proportionate ratio in the purity and distinctiveness in any breed"!.........M. Moore
"If breeds did not adhere to a specific shape, form, and colour range, or if breeders disregarded this blueprint, the breed would degenerate to the point that it would hardly resemble the breed at all. Selective breeding does not just create breeds- it preserves them as well. Breeding purebred dogs inherently means accepting limitations on your freedom to just breed anything"...Catherine McMillan
" A reinforced consolidation of the American and British standards could be the basis for restoring our breed to the gladiatorial glory of its ancient past, in capability if not in usage".....Norman Howard Carp-Gordon
"I can live with doubt, or not knowing, rather than to have answers that might be wrong"...Richard Feynman
TEST YOUR DOGS! |
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
Posts: 1,462
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 10:22 AM | Reply with quote #19 |
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My understanding of swaddling or contact /pressure on dogs is not that it works for any given behavior, but that it allows the dog to relax enough to be receptive to teaching . If you dog is pulling because of anxiety about environment or separation from familiar home/dogs/people then reducing that anxiety should allow you some space to help your dog walk on a leash without pulling. No device - not a harness or a pressure wrap - is going to teach the dog, they are simply aids that can give you and the dog an opportunity to learn behaviors and opportunity to get rewarded for that good behavior. Reward based training can run into difficulties when dogs are too anxious or reactive to respond to treats, so anything that opens up some space and allows enough relaxation to get them to start taking rewards is a HUGE help.
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Janine
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| Posted 07/12/12 at 09:00 PM | Reply with quote #20 |
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Hi Erika,
When I talk about my two shepherds I suppose I feel somewhat ashamed of how they have turned out in some respects. They are bombproof when it comes to other people, children, dogs, extremely friendly and gentle souls who make me proud of their temperaments. Off lead they are also wonderful, good on recall, stay close and we can walk for enough distance to keep them happy and not hurt their legs. I was walking them one day when I was attacked from behind by a small maltese missile who latched onto the back of my ankle, I gave a yell as I got a fright more than anything, both the boys spun around and I only had to say "leave it" and they stopped in their tracks. Noise does not bother them, they travel well in the car, excellent in the house etc. So they are good dogs in lots of ways.
Ashamed because of the separation part, I should have taken them away from each other more as babies, I have had them since they were one day old, bottle raised and have never been apart. Blade, as I said went through a window when I tried to take Jett out, Jett has put his head through a window when I have tried to do it in reverse. Walking on lead was a nightmare as I had trouble holding them, they had to walk out in front and each had to have his nose ahead of the other, hence, a race to see who could be lead dog. I contacted V who put me on to the ezy-walk harness which were great, I could walk them and come home with my arms the same length as I had started the walk. The harnesses seemed to be the answer, but now I find they are irritating the elbows. They are 5.5 years old now. I took them to puppy school as babies, had them out and about as much as possible to socialise them and it paid off with their temperaments, they sit, drop, stay etc OFF LEAD. I do love the off lead area I take them but it is not always possible to take them there, and I would never leave them off lead for walks in the streets around here as there is just too much traffic and I never walk them off lead in the suburbs.
When my husband would take one and I the other and we went in opposite directions the screaming was awful, from both dogs, but we ignored it and persisted for weeks and weeks. But my husband threw in the towel and I am left to cope with both and grasping at straws at the moment.
Each responds very well to reward based treats, but when those harnesses come out they are oblivious to all and sundry, I do make them sit and wait at the door to try and get them a bit calmer, but once the door is open I am made to run until we get to the gate, then it is speed walking.
I am at my wits end and will try anything now just to be able to walk them comfortably for all.
Have attached a couple of photos, one off lead and close, one is partners in crime as babies and my destroyed pot plant, the other is them on my bed, cant get much closer.
Janine.Attached Images:
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
Posts: 1,462
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| Posted 07/14/12 at 10:10 AM | Reply with quote #21 |
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Janine - you absolutely should not be ashamed - you raised sane, healthy, happy pups that are bonded. Not a thing to be ashamed of. If this is where you are:
Quote: once the door is open I am made to run until we get to the gate, then it is speed walking.
I am at my wits end and will try anything now just to be able to walk them comfortably for all.
then I would suggest you try head collars for the pups? Have you used these ? There are a bunch of different types. Some are more expensive than others, all need a little bit of aclimation with your dog but I have seen dogs work well in them minutes after they have been put on - head collars are the power-steering of dog equipment. I have used the snoot loop, and the gentle leader - there are some neat new types out that hold from the rear. I would start with two of the less expensive ones, gentle leader for example. I would try it on one dog first, in case while you are walking they object to it or paw the nose loop off. Once you have worked both dogs in the collar alone, and they are each accepting it well, then use it one while you are walking. Then when one is ok with it, I would do both at the same time. If it works for you then you might want to invest in one of the more expensive types that also may offer sightly different control, like the new trix or the comfort trainer.
Please let us know how this works. I am getting older, and I have no intention of giving up big dogs as I age, and I know when I am a 70 year old woman I wont be able to hold a mastiff youth on a buckle collar so I am all for mechanical aids that will allow me to continue to enjoy my big dogs as I get older. I also have seen people with arthritis, and hand and wrist problems that have benefited from head collars - many people use them for times when the dog is really challenged - coming and going from training center, or when guests arrive until the dog settles down, or when walking in busy areas.
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
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| Posted 07/14/12 at 10:13 AM | Reply with quote #22 |
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p.s. you shepards are lovely ! The picture of innocence with the flower pots LOL!
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
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| Posted 07/14/12 at 10:16 AM | Reply with quote #23 |
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tons of videos on utube about head colalr/gentle leader -
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Janine
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| Posted 07/15/12 at 03:01 AM | Reply with quote #24 |
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Hi Erika,
Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I used the Gentle Leader prior to the harnesses. Also the halti, both did work for a while, but they worked out how to still pull my arms out by keeping their heads down a bit, sounds stupid but they outsmarted me on the head collars. That was why I contacted V, I had had it, did not know what to try next. I am interested in the head collar that works from behind though, I have not see them.
I will look into that.
As far as the thundershirt, I have not walked them in them as yet, they dont mind wearing them and seem quite content, I dont see how a pressure shirt can make them walk on a lead with manners, I can understand it with anxiety but I have my doubts they will work with bloody mindedness.
Thanks for you nice words about them too, I love them dearly, I just want to walk them comfortably.
Janine. |
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Dixie
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| Posted 07/15/12 at 06:03 AM | Reply with quote #25 |
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Janine,
I had problems with pulling. I tried everything. My boy eventually outgrew the biggest (size 5) head collars I could find. I also do the sensation harness. It helps but doesn't entirely do the trick. Walking two dogs must be hell. 
Storm simply wants to get where he's going in the quickest way possible. Anyway, I think you could try using the prong collars in the house during the
day. I have found that it helps "remind" my boy whats expected of him. I am
still careful using that type of collar...but, he knows when it's on and behaves better...both in and outside of the house. I think it simply helps as a reminder to listen to you better. Worth a try.
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erikam
Registered: 01/21/12
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| Posted 07/15/12 at 07:03 AM | Reply with quote #26 |
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Hi Janine
The head collars that work from behind -
New Trix
http://www.newtrix.ca/index.cfm?page=ourProducts
Canny collar
http://www.thedogoutdoors.com/canny-collar-no-pull-dog-head-harness.html?gclid=CI_rzrW2m7ECFUFV4AodmWWheg
If you try either would love to hear the results - still hoping the thundershirt helps - waiting to hear.
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