has anyone ever tried the thunder shirt? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BLowry · 04-25-2013, 05:13 PM

My little Bentley is such a nervous little guy...he jumps at the slightest sounds and shakes horribly! we camp and bring all 3 of them with us. (all yorkies) the girls are a bit older than Bentley and LOVE to go for rides. they settle right in and lay down...I thought maybe trying to get him to lay with them the "calming" vibes would rub off on him...NOPE! Spoke with my vet today about the thunder shirt...she thought may work...anyone ever try it? I have seen them but they were so big! Bentley is only 4 lbs...somedays 4 1/2

Yorkiedaze · 04-25-2013, 05:30 PM

Amazon has the xx small ones. They may have even smaller ones. I know Petco carries these but I don't know in what sizes.

I used one on my nervous little gal off and on till she matured and it did work really well.

I also suggest Rescue Remedy before a storm or when expecting loud noises and such.

beasiegirl · 04-25-2013, 05:39 PM

I am considering getting one for my Rosie. She is a rescue and scared of everything. The vet sold me a calming collar - it did not help any!

I hope the thunder shirt works for your little one.

BLowry · 04-25-2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Amazon has the xx small ones. They may have even smaller ones. I know Petco carries these but I don't know in what sizes.

I used one on my nervous little gal off and on till she matured and it did work really well.

I also suggest Rescue Remedy before a storm or when expecting loud noises and such.

Thank you! Bentley was 5 months old when we got him....and always been a nervous little guy. EVERYTHING frightens him....it breaks my heart to see him shake like that! The dishwasher is going right now and he was shaking like a leaf! he runs right to me...once he's in my lap...or should i say up around my neck...within a few minutes he calms right down. I am really hoping this thunder shirt works for him. He has run into furniture trying to get away from the sound. I am going to check out amazon...thank you so much!

BLowry · 04-25-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beasiegirl

I am considering getting one for my Rosie. She is a rescue and scared of everything. The vet sold me a calming collar - it did not help any!

I hope the thunder shirt works for your little one.

Thank you! I hope so too!

Yorkiedaze · 04-25-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLowry

Thank you! Bentley was 5 months old when we got him....and always been a nervous little guy. EVERYTHING frightens him....it breaks my heart to see him shake like that! The dishwasher is going right now and he was shaking like a leaf! he runs right to me...once he's in my lap...or should i say up around my neck...within a few minutes he calms right down. I am really hoping this thunder shirt works for him. He has run into furniture trying to get away from the sound. I am going to check out amazon...thank you so much!

I watched a segment of Cesar training a little dog just like that. Afraid of everything. He would put the little dog down by the dishwasher, toaster, microwave and everything, and give him treats while the noise was going on. The little dog eventually related noises to something good. Might give that a try. Maybe Cesar has that session on his site. Here is a little info. http://www.cesarsway.com/training/do...socialized-Dog

kimp5 · 04-25-2013, 06:10 PM

you know Jess was like that but I found if I just put a shirt on her she calmed down. Wasnt a thunder shirt but just a regular yorkie hoodie.
I think the warmth and slight pressure helped..she hardly shakes at all anymore..unless shes excited..

Patti · 04-25-2013, 07:29 PM

Pixie has been living in her thunder shirt lately. She became terrified of thunder 2 years ago and it has progressed to the sound of rain, planes and motorcycles. We have had terrible rain here and she has been so bad. The thunder shirt worked pretty good for a couple of years but this year she has been really bad. Some days the thunder shirt works but if we are having days of rain and thunder it doesn't seem to work very well. I finally got Xanax from her vet last week as I couldn't get her to calm down after hours of endless shaking, panting and trying to crawl into me. That didn't even work to well. Pixie is 4.4 lbs and the xxs fits her perfectly. I saw them at Bed, Bath and Beyond today too. I even bought some rain songs on my Iphone and put it in the crate. I wanted to try and desensitize her. She just laid there and wasn't even bothered, yet if it's really raining she's a basket case. She woke me during the night shaking so I turned on the TV to the weather station and sure enough it was raining by us. I couldn't here it but she could. I put her TS on and she calmed down. She woke me at 8:15 this morning shaking and the sun was shining and she had her TS on. I don't know if a plane flew over. She did calm down right away though. I feel so bad for them that they are so terrified. I hope you can find something that works for Bentley.

RHSC · 04-27-2013, 05:27 AM

So sorry to hear that! While I can't speak to the exact Thunder Shirt, I would assume that they could work from my prior experience.

Our first Yorkie was 13yo when he died. Towards the last 6-9 months of his life, his health went downhill rapidly. Among many symptoms, he started to freak out over the tiniest things, back himself into corners and not seem to know how to get himself out... it was terribly sad to watch.

It seemed natural to me to start scooping him him when he would get so scared. Ultimately, we figured out that the only thing that seemed to calm him down was to SWADDLE him in his favorite blanket. If swaddling helps to calm down newborns, why not dogs? And it WORKED! In fact, he spent most of those last 6 months wrapped up like a burrito and being held by either myself or my spouse.

Sadly, his death preceded the Thunder Shirt... but it came out right after he died. In fact, we both commented on "there goes our million dollar idea!". Granted, holding a dog all the time may not always practical... as much as we may like to! But with a 20% BB&B coupon, it may be worth it to give it a try!

Good Luck!

ricebarbiee · 04-28-2013, 01:11 PM

I tried the Thunder Shirt on my American Bulldog (because even though she's a giant) she's the big baby and is afraid of everything, we got it for her when we went on vacation and the hotel room scared her. It didn't work. Not for us anyway. Her "little" brothers helped her chew it off while she was hiding under the desk...

04-25-2013, 05:13 PM	#1
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	has anyone ever tried the thunder shirt? My little Bentley is such a nervous little guy...he jumps at the slightest sounds and shakes horribly! we camp and bring all 3 of them with us. (all yorkies) the girls are a bit older than Bentley and LOVE to go for rides. they settle right in and lay down...I thought maybe trying to get him to lay with them the "calming" vibes would rub off on him...NOPE! Spoke with my vet today about the thunder shirt...she thought may work...anyone ever try it? I have seen them but they were so big! Bentley is only 4 lbs...somedays 4 1/2 __________________ Brenda

04-25-2013, 05:30 PM	#2
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Amazon has the xx small ones. They may have even smaller ones. I know Petco carries these but I don't know in what sizes. I used one on my nervous little gal off and on till she matured and it did work really well. I also suggest Rescue Remedy before a storm or when expecting loud noises and such. __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

04-25-2013, 05:39 PM	#3
beasiegirl Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Mansfield, Arkansas Posts: 595	I am considering getting one for my Rosie. She is a rescue and scared of everything. The vet sold me a calming collar - it did not help any! I hope the thunder shirt works for your little one. __________________ BeasieGirl (Mrs. Beasley , Rosie , and momma, Jan)

04-25-2013, 07:29 PM	#8
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	Pixie has been living in her thunder shirt lately. She became terrified of thunder 2 years ago and it has progressed to the sound of rain, planes and motorcycles. We have had terrible rain here and she has been so bad. The thunder shirt worked pretty good for a couple of years but this year she has been really bad. Some days the thunder shirt works but if we are having days of rain and thunder it doesn't seem to work very well. I finally got Xanax from her vet last week as I couldn't get her to calm down after hours of endless shaking, panting and trying to crawl into me. That didn't even work to well. Pixie is 4.4 lbs and the xxs fits her perfectly. I saw them at Bed, Bath and Beyond today too. I even bought some rain songs on my Iphone and put it in the crate. I wanted to try and desensitize her. She just laid there and wasn't even bothered, yet if it's really raining she's a basket case. She woke me during the night shaking so I turned on the TV to the weather station and sure enough it was raining by us. I couldn't here it but she could. I put her TS on and she calmed down. She woke me at 8:15 this morning shaking and the sun was shining and she had her TS on. I don't know if a plane flew over. She did calm down right away though. I feel so bad for them that they are so terrified. I hope you can find something that works for Bentley. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

04-25-2013, 06:10 PM	#7
kimp5 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Boston MA Posts: 890	you know Jess was like that but I found if I just put a shirt on her she calmed down. Wasnt a thunder shirt but just a regular yorkie hoodie. I think the warmth and slight pressure helped..she hardly shakes at all anymore..unless shes excited..

04-27-2013, 05:27 AM	#9
RHSC YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 3	So sorry to hear that! While I can't speak to the exact Thunder Shirt, I would assume that they could work from my prior experience. Our first Yorkie was 13yo when he died. Towards the last 6-9 months of his life, his health went downhill rapidly. Among many symptoms, he started to freak out over the tiniest things, back himself into corners and not seem to know how to get himself out... it was terribly sad to watch. It seemed natural to me to start scooping him him when he would get so scared. Ultimately, we figured out that the only thing that seemed to calm him down was to SWADDLE him in his favorite blanket. If swaddling helps to calm down newborns, why not dogs? And it WORKED! In fact, he spent most of those last 6 months wrapped up like a burrito and being held by either myself or my spouse. Sadly, his death preceded the Thunder Shirt... but it came out right after he died. In fact, we both commented on "there goes our million dollar idea!". Granted, holding a dog all the time may not always practical... as much as we may like to! But with a 20% BB&B coupon, it may be worth it to give it a try! Good Luck!

04-28-2013, 01:11 PM	#10
ricebarbiee Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 23	I tried the Thunder Shirt on my American Bulldog (because even though she's a giant) she's the big baby and is afraid of everything, we got it for her when we went on vacation and the hotel room scared her. It didn't work. Not for us anyway. Her "little" brothers helped her chew it off while she was hiding under the desk...