Posted on 05/30/2015 4:27:41 PM PDT by ken5050
I'm curious if any Freepers have any thoughts on so called dog "calming coats"/anxiety jackets/"Thundercoats" or whatever they're called. I'd never even heard of the things until a few weeks ago, when I mentioned to a friend that my 18 month old chorkie that I rescued (I named her "Reagan") is absolutely petrified of thunder and lightning. She suggested I try one. Reagan's trembling is such that if I could harness the energy, it would likely power my apartment.
A friend of mined has gotten good results on a Great Pirenese. (Sp?)
Thanks!
Yes, they make a Thunder Shirt in Great Dane-size so she bought one about a week ago. She reported that it barely helped, but she is still looking into medication to help further. Her vet is recommending Benedryl to knock him out.
“Chorkie” would indicate to me the pup’s Chihuahua/Yorkie mix. Good luck keeping that one calm. You’ll need it.
Chihuahua’s are terrible tremblers. Very high strung as a rule. NOT necessarily all of them of course, but the vast majority.
I don’t think there’s much you can do for your pup other than provide all the comfort, and love you can.
Forget the coat, let her do what my cat does which is scoot into the bedroom and hide under the bed or head for the basement........
I could never stand chihuahuas, and this is the first small dog I've ever owned..I had Dobies and Vizlas...but she's perfect, and after 45 years with a house and a yard...she's perfect size for my apartment.
Many thanks for the comments and advice. I’m inclined to try the Thundershirt..since they say it comes with an absolute money back guarantee..Has anyone every bought one and returned it? Do they give you any hassle.
Yes, the work quite well on my 160 pound Great Dane who is afraid of thunder.
Lol! I first read that as “Anyone have any experience with dog calming goats?” I thought perhaps a goat as a companion for a nervous dog. :)
I have used a ThunderShirt on my little worrywart dog for a couple years; best 40 bucks I have ever spent.
Now when he hears thunder or fireworks he comes to me and asks for his Thundershirt. I put it on him and he lays down next to me and doesn’t fret during the most violent thunderstorms.
Without it he circles the room, pukes, whines. I would not have believed that a stretchy “hug” vest would settle his nerves if I didnt see it with my own eyes.
Ear plugs would be better or to somehow cover the ears with earmuffs designed to muffle sound.
Many thanks..I’m gonna try it...especially since I can return it if it doesn’t work. One question for ya.....looking at their website..they have two models...the regular, or a “tube” type over the head..which I assume would be more effective as it fits snugger...which did you get..? Thanks
It may have SLIGHTLY helped our dogs, but they are not very good examples of typical dogs, because they are older and basically crazy.
One dog of ours NEVER had a serious problem with thunder, and now he has absolutely no problem at all, because he can’t hear anymore!
I have a fleece lined leather coat but I don’t think I would want a dog coat.
I have a Silky Terrier who was okay with thunder and lightning, until one evening we were standing in the open garage door watching it rain, when lightning hit a neighbor’s tree, and now she is really nervous in a storm. I simply hold her real tight, and she is much better. Of course, when she is home alone, she’s on her own, but, she retreats to her rug in our closet, where she feels safe.
I tried one. It was a very tight fit. I didn’t feel calmer.
I got the one with the velcro. It’s kind of confusing at first, so many flaps to stick together, but I think being able to adjust the fit is important, especially with my little buddy. Sometimes he has a fluffy coat, and sometimes he looks like a drowned rat after he gets a haircut, LOL.
Oh, and when I take it off him, I fold the velcro flaps in so they don’t snag on the connecting velcro or anything else. You know how velcro wears out after repeated use; that’s why I try to save it from wear.
Good luck. I think you and pup will be glad you got it.
Our German shepherd rescue has several dogs with anxiety issues and the Thundershirts seem to work on most.
I do the same thing when reclined back, I throw the blanket over the leg rest and the cat uses it like a mortar bunker during the lightening.
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