thundershirts

Now I know some of you lovely people and doggies have one of these.. can you please tell me all about them.. your success stories.. I have just ordered one for Jethro...some nights he wakes up and is quite restless ( around 3 am most times ) and I wondered if he would be able to wear it at night to help with his anxiousness... or would it be too uncomfortable for him to wear it all night?? I know you can give me some great advice out there in computer land... thankyou XX ( and I cant wait to try it out during a storm !! )

just found a thundershirt face book page.. sounds promising. Can't wait to get it !!
hurry Mr Postman !!

yeah I will for sure... give me an excuse to take a photo of him wearing it!!

he has been restless at night lately.. hoping that will help. Plus he gets scared when there are thunderstorms at night or when he hears gun shots.

really.. he is just a big sook!!! ( and people get scared of him! haha.... if only they knew!! )

Okay everyone wish me luck. Thundershirt came today and as I speak ( type! ) Jethro is snoring in his basket next to our bed. The big test will be whether or not he wakes around 2am as he has been and starts pacing and puffing and waking us both up. I NEED my beauty sleep!! Fingers crossed. Will let you know......

well.. lets just say the miracle I was hoping for didn't happen quite as well as I hoped.
Yes he has woken up the past 2 nights... ( hey where you all at 2am?? haha ) but I have to admit he has settled down quickly and gone back to bed quicker than he had been. ( the ultimate goal for me is for him to sleep all night ! )
On the packet it says : Many dogs exhibit reduced or eliminated symptoms with the very first usage of Thundershirt. ( ie reduced shaking, panting etc.. ) But some dogs require three or four usages before they begin to show improvement ( Obviously Jethro falls into this category!! )
Thundershirt's patent pending design applies constant, gentle pressure on a dog's torso and this pressure has an amazing calming effect for most dogs.
When an anxiety trigger is likely or already present ( eg thunderstorm approaching..) slip the thundershirt on your dog. Observe the results. Many dogs need no further treatment for many anxiety types.
Use thundershirt for: fear of thunder, separation anxiety, barking problems, any noise anxiety, car or travel anxiety, crate anxiety, reactivity, general fearfullness, excitability...
( There are a few You tube clips showing dogs with various problems being helped using the thundershirt as well )
I must admit when I put the shirt on Jethro and he went to bed he was fast asleep with seconds.. and snoring! So it did have a calming effect on him at that point. Maybe he is so used to waking up.. the next few nights will tell ........
Will keep you all posted......

..thanks for all the positive thoughts you are sending our way !!! XX

News flash ! Jethro slept all night..and so did we!! Woo hoo!!
(He never used to wake up but I think it has alot to do with his age, the vet said as they get older they have trouble sleeping through the night sometimes.)
Thanks for all the positive vibes! See what tonight brings..........

thanks !
yes it is an amazing concept how it actually works.
the facebook page is full of satisfied users!

There is a radio vet here in Western Australia and he has even mentioned about thundershirts ( but not using the exact name ) He often talks about snug coats you can get for anxious dogs.

If you are on facebook, type in thundershirt.. they have a page and people from all over the world post comments and photos. Most of them have success. Have a look if you get the chance.

I just wish I had known about them years ago when Jethro was scared of everything that moved... and loud noises.. and just about everything else in between!

well like a twit I didn't really measure him properly .. I got him a large as he takes large in everything else, but he has lost weight and is down to 19 and a bit kilos ( he was nearly 23 at one stage! ) so it is big on him ..it fits him okay but luckily there is heaps of velcro to pull it tighter. I should have got the next size down at the time. So yes if I was you I would go with medium.
Also just wondering have you tried a DAP diffuser as well with Tilly? They plug into the wall..before I got my thundershirt Jethro was having terrible trouble waking at 2am ( he sleeps right next to our bed in his basket ) and he was pacing and puffing..waking us all up. I got one of these and would turn it on and it helped settle him back down, and you can't smell it, but obviously he can!
Honestly these people who are scared of staffys and think they are vicious should have to meet Jethro. Over the years he has caused us so much grief and heartache with all his anxiety..at one stage he was scared of his own shadow! Luckily we love him more than life itself!

cant wait for photos and to see if it helps her. ..when I ordered Jethro's only the grey was available..pink would have suited him.. he is a big sissy!!