ThunderShirt for Dogs, Medium, Heather Gray Classic - Dog Anxiety Relief Calming Vest

I am so happy with this product. I have an American bully and he can get rambunctious, especially at night time. I put the shirt on him and he was like a different dog. It immediately calmed him down and he went right to sleep. . Now when he gets rambunctious at night I tell him all right I’m putting the shirt on you. He looks at me and then walks to the couch and goes to sleep. He did this twice already, hilarious, but it really does calm my dog down. This is an unbelievable product!

I bought this for my older dog who lost his hearing (due to age) and would freak out with storms. The size was a little big on him but better than small. The material was great. Not to hot for him but worked great to hug him and help alleviate a large amount of anxiety with storms. It worked great for him and was a good purchase. (He is now deceased and it has been about a year when I bought this for him. Again, it was a good investment for his anxiety).

OK - currently I'm rating this 4 stars, but I may come back and change this depending on how things continue to go. For some background - I have a chihuahua mix who is deeply attached to me. He has issues with separation anxiety and a hyper-aggressiveness toward other dogs, particularly large dogs. If he so much as sees a dog or anything else that may be threatening (a person walking by or a noise downstairs) he will start barking as ferociously as a chihuahua can bark. It's problematic for me because he is an agility dog and I have to constantly be aware that he may try to attack the dogs near me at any moment he feels like they're encroaching on his territory (namely, me). I've done obedience training with him since he was 10 weeks old and he's a SUPER well behaved dog aside from these issues. After researching online, I came to realize that he may be suffering from some form of anxiety, which is causing him to act out because he feels threatened. Thus, I came upon the Thundershirt. I'm really not the type of person to purchase items that seem gimmicky, and admittedly, this shirt screams gimmick. However, with nearly 600 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 star rating, I had to try it. Anything is worth trying if it will remedy a big issue in my dog's life. I don't want him to feel like he has to protect me all the time as that causes undue stress. So, after receiving the shirt, I opened the box and was greeted with a very cute plastic packaging for the shirt. Almost like a manilla envelope except see-through. The shirt was very well made and soft to the touch..but I was more concerned with testing it out rather than inspecting the intricacies of how it was made. I put it on my dog after taking a moment to think about the logic behind the velcro straps and it fit him nice and snug. I ordered an extra small - my dog is about 8 lbs but very lanky and it fit him perfectly. I opted to go with the sizing on the Thundershirt website vs. the Amazon website as I've been burned by Amazon having improper sizing info in the past. I was debating on an XXS vs. a XS. For example - on Amazon an XXS states: Size XXS for dogs less that 12 pounds and with a chese size of 9" - 13.5" Whereas the Thundershirt website states: Size Chest Size Weight XXS 9"-13.5" < 7 lbs. That's a HUGE difference. So I highly recommend using Thundershirt sizing to decide on which is best for your dog. ----------------------------------- Here is the complete chart: Size Chest Size Weight XXS 9"-13.5" < 7 lbs. XS 13"-18" 8-14 lbs. S 16"-23" 15-25 lbs. M 18"-26" 26-40 lbs. L 24"-32" 41-64 lbs. XL 31"-40" 65-110 lbs. XXL 38"-50" > 110 lbs. ----------------------------------- OK so regarding the efficiency of this shirt. I tested it outdoors with my dog on our front driveway just absorbing the sounds and sights of a normal neighborhood. My dog laid out in the sun and didn't seem reactive to much, whereas he normally would be. A neighbor walked their dog relatively near us, and my dog barked a little but he didn't run after the dog despite not being on a leash. Usually he won't leave my side but it can be unpredictable when it comes to dogs. The next day I took him out again and this time I forgot to put the shirt on. He was more on edge, and when a neighbor brought out their little dog, my dog went crazy and went running up to their dog barking. I grabbed him and took him straight inside. The next day, I tried it with the shirt again. This time children came running by, other dogs, etc. and he didn't move.. he actually just lay on his side and didn't react much. He might give a little bark here and there, but no where near his normal level of intensity. I tried his shirt during his advanced obedience training. He's in a class with all large dogs and the first day (without the shirt)he was shaking and just terrified. He would bark everytime the other dogs seemed to be a safe enough distance away, and wouldn't perform anything in front of the class since he was so scared. (sometimes I think my dog is bipolar). The second day of class (with the shirt) he was way more calm and less scared of the other dogs. We walked by 3 large dogs and he didn't make a peep. He performed in front of the class and was just more mellow overall, although he is still shakey and seems scared. I gave it 4 stars because I DO see improvement in my dog and it has only been about a week or so. However, I feel that although it takes the edge off him, I don't feel like the videos they post showing miraculous changes just by putting on the shirt are accurate. Perhaps there are dogs that this effect will happen, but I would consider it a rarity rather than the norm. I would have preferred more accurate marketing that really stresses the need to do behavioral modification in addition to the shirt. They do mention this, but its very brief compared to the marketing showing it as a miracle shirt. And after reading so many reviews, it seems I'm not alone in this shirt being part of a process rather than a fix. Overall, I recommend it and I'm going to try it with my friend's dog who is VERY hyper and see if it solves any issues with him. EDIT: The shirt worked miraculously on my friend's dog. The dog is high strung, paces, jumps up on people and overall just "starving" for attention. Won't let you pet any other dogs and has to be the center of attention constantly, which wears my friend out. We put the shirt on him and he just calmed down completely to normal dog levels. He lay down, relaxed.. yet, when the other dogs wanted to play, he still had energy to play. I played fetch with my dog in front of him and he just lay down and watched and didn't have the urge to go get the ball himself, which he normally would do. We took the shirt off him to see if maybe he was just in a mellow mood and he immediately got hyper and started pacing everywhere again. She's going to be buying one of these shirts because it made such a big difference in how he behaved.

Great for anxious dogs. I have a 8 year old Chipoo (Prince) and a 2 year old Chiweenie (Leia) who are both very anxious in their own ways. Prince has bad separation anxiety and Leia is scared of loud noises like fireworks/thunder. They both seem to be more calm after I put on their vests. When we leave them alone I watch them through a doggie cam and Leia just sleeps and Prince lays down and watches out the window. Prince would howl and lick the window before and that has stopped now (with the vest). It also helped Leila tremendously with christmas/new years fireworks. I did also combine these vests with the Thunderease diffuser so I definitely recommend both products. Quality is good, Prince is 10.8 lbs and i got him the XS and Leia is 8.8lbs and she got the XXS. Both fit great. Prince also got the sport version so it’s different material and less stretchy than the original. The jump from XXS to XS is also a bit drastic as you can see in the photos, the sport version seems to be made for bigger breed puppies so I would say stick to the original for smaller breed dogs. I put them on pretty tight and they are still able to move/run like they normally would.

My dog occasionally gets anxiety and will start to tremble when she's upset. I haven't quite figured out the trigger, but it's clear she's distressed. I bought the ThunderShirt hoping to give her some relief. She wears winter jackets, so she had no problem when I tried to put this on her. She's a little over 60 lbs and the large fit her fine. There are two sets of velcro - one to close the shirt and one to tighten it for the snug feeling. I found it awkward to get both sets of velcro attached effectively while getting the shirt on straight and tight. Unfortunately, the ThunderShirt did absolutely nothing to calm my dog. She continued to be distressed and shake the whole time she wore it. We had to return it.

One of our dogs was a war rescue Malinois. She became a Master Class Therapy Dog with PAWSforPeople.org working in our Autism School, an AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished and my 3 task/medical alert Service Dog. However, from her past, every loud bang sent her into full panic mode. We trained her when she is afraid, safe spaces are a dark room with windows to a porch, a small room no windows and she could come to us. We got her a Thundershirt. We knew when fireworks were going to set off and with the ThunderShirt she was better handling the panic. Eventually she could sense a storm an hour before it arrived and come to us for her ThunderShirt. Then she'd go into the room with no windows, shut the door and wait it out. This July, we adopted a 1 yo puppy that is deaf and blind, and very little training. When he smells someone he doesn't know he bursts into a spinning weather vane. We got him a Thundershirt. He still gets excited but calms down quickly. We paid a little more for quality, fit, easy on and off, and ThunderShirts really work!

This is the third ThunderShirt I have purchased over the last four years. None of the dogs I purchased the shirts for was afraid of thunder, but I have found these shirts to have a calming effect for other anxieties. The first ThunderShirt I ever purchased was a size XL for an elderly 84-pound labrador retriever to help her deal with the anxiety she experienced following a stroke. It also seemed to give some relief from the itching caused by her meds. She really liked wearing it, and would have gladly worn it 24/7, but I didn't think that was a good idea. I was concerned she would get chafing or circulation problems from overuse, so she only got to wear it for a few hours a day. Still, I think it was an important part of the various things we did to increase her comfort until she was ready to leave this world. After she crossed over, the shirt was donated to help rescued dogs in foster care, and it was much appreciated by the foster "mom". The second shirt was a size XS that was purchased for a rescued 11-pound rat terrier who has no issues other than sibling rivalry. He wanted to wear a ThunderShirt because his "sister" was wearing one. It also helps give him a little extra warmth in cool weather, which he really appreciates because he chills easily. And he looks really, really handsome wearing it. The third ThunderShirt was a size XXS purchased a month ago for a 5-pound chihuahua puppy I adopted two months ago. She was found abandoned in a storage container with three other dogs. She was rescued by the county animal control department and given veterinary care until she recovered enough to be adopted. She has issues. Many, many issues. She hadn't been socialized at all and was absolutely terrified of people. She hadn't been potty trained. She was not much more than skin and bones -- you could easily see the outline of every rib. She obviously had been badly abused and she has a leg injury that may never heal completely. She didn't know how to walk on a leash and was terrified to try. She shook with fright for fifteen minutes when shelter staff placed her in my arms. She screamed and screamed and screamed in absolute terror when a very gentle friend of mine tried to pet her. After a month of training and socialization, and lots and lots of love, my chihuahua had gained a whole pound, was starting to get the idea about where to go potty and where not to , and had learned how to use a doggie door! But she was still exhibiting a lot of fear and anxiety, so I got her the ThunderShirt. I forgot to go through the recommended training process to introduce her to the ThunderShirt, but thankfully it turned out to be one of the few things that didn't frighten her. She loves it! It doesn't make all her issues go away, but it definitely seems to reduce her anxiety. She doesn't have very thick fur, so she appreciates wearing any shirt, but this is the only one that helps to calm her. She, too, would love to wear it 24/7, but I won't let her. With lots of love and positive reinforcement and her new Thundershirt, she is getting a little braver. She can't tolerate a leash attached to her collar, but she loves to walk in familiar places with her Bright Mesh Heart Printed Dog Cat Pet Vest Harness and Matching Leash Set in Blue for Dogs Cats (Large) . She will cuddle with me for hours, but she cowers if I move suddenly or use a stern voice. She is afraid of anyone new, except delivery people. They might be bringing Dogswell Nutrisca Dog Food, Salmon and Chickpea, 15-Pound Package or GREENIES Dental Dog Treats, Teenie, Original Flavor, 130 Treats, 36 oz. from Amazon! :-) I wouldn't call the ThunderShirt a miracle, but I would call it an excellent tool for helping dogs with anxiety issues. It is effective, and it is well-made with quality materials. The latest version has three new features that were not on my original two ThunderShirts: a patch for using a calming spray, snaps for attaching a jacket, and some reflective trim to make your dog more visible at night. Unfortunately, I can't use the calming spray because I am sensitive to one of the ingredients. I would love to get the snap-on ThunderShirt Outerwear Raincoat, X-Small , but so far have not been able to locate one in size XXS. I do appreciate the reflective trim because it glows in the beam of my flashlight when I take my puppy out after dark. I will continue to use the ThunderShirt to help reduce my puppy's fear and anxiety. I will be using it when I introduce her to new situations, and I will update this review to report on how that goes. The first photo below shows what the ThunderShirts look like from the front, where they can be adjusted with the velcro that is under the front tab. Of course, the photo also showcases how adorable my dogs look in their (almost) matching ThunderShirts! The second photo clearly shows two of the new features on the chihuahua's ThunderShirt, the patch and the reflective trim at the neck. The rat terrier is wearing the older version of the shirt, which he has had for four years now. He even has his name embroidered on it. The third photo was taken with a flash to show the reflective trim doing its job.

**Skip to the end for our fool proof way to solve separation anxiety (hint: it's not this shirt)** I have a dog with separation anxiety. When she was a puppy, she would poop, destroy things, and bark. Luckily, the first two have stopped, but she still barks and howls the whole time we're gone. We have tried it all--kongs with frozen treats, chew toys, hiding treats everywhere for her to find, exercising her for hours before we leave, leaving the tv on, confining her to her crate or small rooms, ignoring her 30 mins before we leave and upon return, etc. Friends kept telling us to try the thundershirt. I was skeptical, but figured we might as well try. We also bought a webcam and hooked it up to skype so we could watch her (and talk to her! but she never listened to our "quiet" command or soothing voices). The positive: it fit her well. She's a 45 lb beagle/rhodesian ridgeback mix and the large fits her nicely. Easy to put on and off once you get the hang of it. Nice and snug. The negative: it did nothing. She barked her head off with the same intensity with and without it on. She did not calm down. Theories: We have spent a lot of time on research and talking with experts, so I figure I'll share what I've learned if anyone is coming to this review hoping to find a solution for their dog with separation anxiety. Our dog was not abused as a puppy, and most experts suspect she just has very low self-confidence. This leads to her fear of being left alone, among other things (she is also afraid of strangers and objects she has not seen before). Through leaving and gradually increasing the length of time she is alone, we have trained her to a point where she is just fine sleeping in her crate, doesnt mind sleeping in the living room alone overnight, and couldnt care less if we are in the bathroom and she cant get in. BUT - as soon as we exit our actual home, she will start barking. Right now we are practicing leaving and walking outside a window where she can see us and for a few seconds not see us--completely ignoring her. We hope this will relax her and "teach" her that when we leave the house, we are just "right outside"-- even if she cant see us. She still gets way too excited when she sees us though. She has started going to dog socials where 30 people bring their dogs and run around while all the humans walk in a circle and ignore them. It is mainly teaching dogs how to socialize with each other, but we hope our dog "monkey see's and monkey do's" that other dogs are not afraid of strangers so she should not be either--building her confidence. Friends who have dogs are watching her for a few hours while we go out to eat, see a movie, shop, etc. This solves the barking issue and builds her confidence. At first she was very nervous and paced around, but after 5-6 visits, she is now able to enjoy spending time with them, playing with the other dog, cuddling with our friends, and generally forgetting about us being gone. After trying so many different things, we hope confidence-building is the key. Treats and stuffed kongs never worked before we started building her confidence--we could have left a raw steak on the floor and she wouldnt touch it until the moment we returned. Now, she is starting to get the food out of the kong, but stops just a few minutes after we leave. Now, our 100% fool proof solution to fixing separation anxiety (in our case): get another dog! I know this wont apply to everyone, and we actually dont own another dog, but whenever we have babysat another dog and we've left them alone together, our dog becomes a Buddhist monk of peaceful tranquility. The other dog can even be in a crate in the other room and she is totally fine.