Archived Posts » 59,757,950
Dag owners...Thundershirt?
3/16/2012 7:46:11 PM
Question for all you dag owners out there..
Otis here is deathly afraid of thunderstorms...like TEOTWAKI, DEFCON 1 status. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I live in Western NC where we get thunderstorms when the winds change.
Have any of you guys tried the thundershirt? If so, does it work as advertised?
I'm not to worried because it only costs $35, and if it does work he would be much more comfortable.
What say the hive?
Otis here is deathly afraid of thunderstorms...like TEOTWAKI, DEFCON 1 status. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I live in Western NC where we get thunderstorms when the winds change.
Have any of you guys tried the thundershirt? If so, does it work as advertised?
I'm not to worried because it only costs $35, and if it does work he would be much more comfortable.
What say the hive?
3/16/2012 8:13:34 PM
I know someone who tried one on their rescue Greyhound. Same issue, thunderstoms/fireworks = hiding in bathtub. It did not work for them.
My solution to this problem is to throw them in the deep end and act like absolutely nothing special is going on. No coddling, petting, soothing words. Just plain old dog at your feet. Food and walks as required and the occasional kind word and caress (just like normal). Not so far that they go deaf, of course! it takes a whole day or two (8 or 16 hours) but eventually the dog realizes that noisy things do not equate with imminent doom.
For instance, my current dog, when she was about 6 months I started taking her to the racetrack (motorcycle racing) because that was what I was into at the time. The first few hours were spent trying to escape, the next few hiding, the next few realizing that people and treats are fun even at the noisy place and the last few totally normal. No problems after that. Then I took her to the range (not so close that it would hurt her ears). It took about 15 minutes for her to stop caring, so the track obviously had some effect. The only downside to this is now she's not afraid of almost any noise, which is not necessarily a good thing when I'm using the tractor, etc.
A lawn chair, good book, leash, water bowl and cooler and a day at the range (in the parking lot or some other respectable distance) would likely go a long way to fixing this. Lots of friendly strangers also helps a lot (noise = friendly strangers =
)
My solution to this problem is to throw them in the deep end and act like absolutely nothing special is going on. No coddling, petting, soothing words. Just plain old dog at your feet. Food and walks as required and the occasional kind word and caress (just like normal). Not so far that they go deaf, of course! it takes a whole day or two (8 or 16 hours) but eventually the dog realizes that noisy things do not equate with imminent doom.
For instance, my current dog, when she was about 6 months I started taking her to the racetrack (motorcycle racing) because that was what I was into at the time. The first few hours were spent trying to escape, the next few hiding, the next few realizing that people and treats are fun even at the noisy place and the last few totally normal. No problems after that. Then I took her to the range (not so close that it would hurt her ears). It took about 15 minutes for her to stop caring, so the track obviously had some effect. The only downside to this is now she's not afraid of almost any noise, which is not necessarily a good thing when I'm using the tractor, etc.
A lawn chair, good book, leash, water bowl and cooler and a day at the range (in the parking lot or some other respectable distance) would likely go a long way to fixing this. Lots of friendly strangers also helps a lot (noise = friendly strangers =
)
3/16/2012 8:48:57 PM
True, these do sound like some good tips.
I feel like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage because I got a rescue dog, so god only knows what kind of associations he's formed from the past.
I think I'll just have to take him out back, sit on the patio and shoot off about 150 bottle rockets
I feel like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage because I got a rescue dog, so god only knows what kind of associations he's formed from the past.
I think I'll just have to take him out back, sit on the patio and shoot off about 150 bottle rockets
3/17/2012 2:52:06 PM
We use sugar free ginger snap cookies for our kelpie who is afraid of thunder. Ginger has a calming affect to it. It does work sometimes but even when it does not work it helps to calm her some. We try to give it to her before the lightening and thunder starts.
We have thought about the thunder suit, but we have not tried it.
We have thought about the thunder suit, but we have not tried it.
3/18/2012 8:47:06 AM
What a joke. My stepmom was trying to tell me about those things and I had to laugh at her.
3/19/2012 9:37:11 AM
I have a friend who uses one on his Lhasa and it works for him. The girl in the office next to mine has show dogs and says it works on dogs who are used to being held as a comfort measure as this "coat" feels like swaddling would to a baby.
For hers, they are all crated so sometimes putting them in the crate and covering it with a towel will work.
For hers, they are all crated so sometimes putting them in the crate and covering it with a towel will work.
3/19/2012 9:53:28 AM
My boss swears by it for her dog who is like your dog with thunderstorms. Reduces the anxiety down to 2-3 from a 10. Not a complete cure, but much better than always being at a 10 during the storms.
