Thundershirt for anxiety
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My niece and her husband adopted a "Katrina" dog who absolutely goes crazy when there is a thunderstorm, so bad they had to finally put him outside in a covered pen because he could not hold his bowels and just destroyed anything he could reach. Keeping him on the screened porch resulted in all the screens being wrecked and Charlie running away twice. Fortunately, after the storms people found him and since my niece's number was on his collar, she got him back. They bought a thundershirt, and although it has not solved all the problems, i.e., one of them still has to hold onto him on the porch when there's a storm, it did help. Charlie's problem is extreme; I think the Thundershirt might very well work on a dog with less anxiety. Plus, Charlie is a lab/hound mix, around 60 pounds, nothing like our basenjis, so he's harder to handle in the best of times.
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A bit off the Thundershirt topic, but my neighbour had a Rottie/Doberman cross who was terrified of thunderstorms. She was away one weekend, we had a storm overnight, and when I went over next morning to let the dogs out, only the Aussie was to be found. I searched the whole house, calling the Rottie, nothing! How did he escape? Another thorough search turned him up, back in the furthest corner, under her bed, not making a sound. I had to lift the bed a bit for him to get out…...he must really have forced himself under there. I wonder if a Thundershirt would have helped him? (he was a wonderful dog, has since gone to the Rainbow Bridge)
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I thought the thing sounds unbelievably stupid. I rolled my eyes. I thought "one born every minute" about buyers. And yet, I know a good half dozen people who had used drugs and everything who swear it worked as good or better. So my response is it won't hurt and may help a lot.
Btw, for some reason, something about the reduction of static in the air?, putting your dog in the bathtub, preferably in a crate, helps with thunder phobia too. Probably helps reduce the noise also.
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There is a desensitisation Cd tto condition dogs to noises. Check out www.crosskeysbooks.com
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My wife was telling me about a lady with autism (she saw a movie about her life) that discovered that pressure on her body had a calming effect for her. She applied the same technique to cattle before they are slaughtered. That & other things she created revolutionized the cattle industry, she became a professor at an agricultural University.
The Thundershirt is based on her discovery, its supposed to really work.
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My wife was telling me about a lady with autism (she saw a movie about her life) that discovered that pressure on her body had a calming effect for her. She applied the same technique to cattle before they are slaughtered. That & other things she created revolutionized the cattle industry, she became a professor at an agricultural University.
The Thundershirt is based on her discovery, its supposed to really work.
That is Dr Temple Grandin and teaches up in Fort Collins, CO. She has written quite a few books which are worth reading. I don't always agree with what she says about dogs, but her writings ALWAYS make me think and clarify what I believe.
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Well we would be using it as an aid to relieve some of her separation anxiety…we purchased one, as we've pretty much tried everything else and will do whatever it takes to help her feel confident when left alone. So far we've only tried it on her a few random times (so she doesn't associate it with us leaving), but as soon as it is on she lies down and falls asleep shortly after. Will be interesting to see if it is as effective when she's alone.
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One of our dogs has issues with thunderstorms and fireworks. Bought a Thundershirt and it is like a switch is flipped. One minute she is freaking out trying to climb up on you at all costs, no matter what you are doing. Put the shirt on and bam, she is laying down sleeping. Sometimes when it is obvious weather is rolling in and we get up to put the shirt on her, she runs over to where it is ahead of us. Pretty much the only way we can get any sleep at night when its windy or storming is due to the Thundershirt.
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Okay this is funny… my daughter and I are rewatching all of Grey's Anatomy, and the pediatric surgeon played by Mary McDonnell has a panic attack and has 2 doctors hold her and explains how the wrapping effect lowers heart, metabolic and muscle tone. Thundershirts seem to do the same thing.
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Well, Butu always calmed down as a pup when I cuddled him tight, so I understood how Thudershirt could work…and to a certain extent it did...well worth a try, I feel.
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Temple Grandin, in her bio, talks about creating a "squeeze chute" to comfort her.
If you haven't read any books by Dr Grandin, they are well-worth your time. She's autistic and talks about how that helps her relate to animals. Fascinating woman with a brilliant mind. I don't always agree with everything she says about dogs, but when I don't I feel compelled to examine what I think and why.
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When Lela was a pup, at the end of the day she could work herself into a real frenzy, running around the house, not able to stop. A real B500 and then some.
Nothing worked to stop or quiet her. Then, one time, I intuitively picked her up, and squeezed her tight in my arms against my body: she instantly went limp, offer a few movements with her paws and jaws and then would collaps into a fine, long coma. I have done it many times, and it worked like a charm.
So, pressure seems to help - that's what a thunder shirt would do, I guess.
