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

My 13 year old dog was never afraid of thunderstorms until we moved into our new house and the neighbors surrounding us like to frequently shoot off fireworks. Not just during the 4th of July. ALL year. My dog had never encountered fireworks before and thought we were under attack. And then with the loud noise and the flash of the fireworks, she learned to associate thunderstorms - with those loud noises and flashes of lightning -- with absolute terror. Thanks, Neighbors!!!To give you an idea of how my dog reacts to storms, here's what happens in our household during every single thunderstorm (and fireworks): When she hears the first bang or rumble, my dog immediately wants to sit in my lap (no matter what I'm trying to do) and she pushes herself right up against me so tightly that it's uncomfortable to breathe - for both of us. It's like she's trying to push herself under your skin for protection. She shakes so badly that her teeth chatter loudly. She pants loudly, her breathing becomes very rapid and she is very restless - sometimes running into the bathroom (the only room in the house without windows) and hides between the tub and the toilet - only to run back out after a minute to find me to push up against again. My dog becomes so filled with terror that I'm afraid she will have a heart attack. She is 13 years old and that's always at the back of my mind. I feel so bad for her. If the thunderstorm hits while we're sleeping at night, then I have to get up and try to sleep on the couch (so the dog doesn't wake my husband when she's shaking the bed & panting so loudly). No one sleeps in our house during the entire storm's duration.I had to find some other way to try and help her. I came across this product while searching for some type of solution. The skeptic in me said "There might be a very slim chance this will help my dog's storm anxiety" and I'm probably wasting money buying this but there were so many positive reviews. So, I bit the bullet and bought the shirt. I didn't even tell my husband that I had spent the money on this because I'm sure he would have thought it was a waste of money as well. It's just some fabric, right? I was desperate to help her.The day after it arrived in the mail, we got a daytime storm. I thought, well here goes, let's give it a try. My dog is not the type of dog who likes having any type of clothes on -- she immediately would rip off any kind of sweater or jacket that I had tried putting on her in the past. She didn't fight me putting it on her - it went on very easily. I made it a snug fit by adjusting the velcro around her belly. Then I went and sat down in my recliner - where she would normally jump up on and get into my lap and start the whole pushing into me thing. She stayed down on the floor. That intrigued me. Her breathing wasn't rapid. Hmmmm....interesting. She stayed a few feet away from my recliner but continued to stay on the floor, standing. Within a few minutes, she sat down, looked at me a few times like she was a little confused. Like, hey it's storming but I'm OK. I just smiled at her. Then she LAID DOWN. And stayed there! Even through the thunder claps, she stayed there on the floor lying down. Meanwhile, my husband had come into the room and noticed that I had bought some sort of shirt for her and she was wearing it. I said in a low voice, look who's not freaking out over the storm and nodded at my dog. He looked confused - just like the dog! Then he smiled and said "Huh?!! That thing must work." We just couldn't believe it. It was like she was an entirely different dog and that made me smile. She was at peace and felt comforted. I want to hug whoever invented this product. Absolutely life-changing.This Thundershirt was worth way more than I paid for it - it truly is absolutely priceless. It has brought my dog peace of mind and peace to our entire household during Thunderstorms - or fireworks. I no longer have to sleep on the couch - I can stay in bed! And everyone, including my dog is now relaxed during storms and getting rest. If there's a thunderstorm in the weather forecast during the night, before I go to bed, I just put the Thundershirt on my dog before she goes to sleep. The Thundershirt really is like a big hug to her, making her feel protected. Thank you so much, Thundershirt!! You made a little 13 year old dog (and her parents) very happy and have brought a better quality of life to her and our household.

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.