Pros & Cons of the Thundershirt: A Pretty Awesome Product, But Nothing Is Perfect for All Situations
As with any product, the Thundershirt has its ups and downs. These vary from minor things that may be no big deal to potential deal-breakers. We’ve wrangled them up into one place for you.
The Thundershirt is undeniably a hit with many pup parents, with the top marks being:
Drug-free relief: Not every dog needs medication, and having a chemical-free solution like the constant pressure the Thundershirt provides is a major win with many fur families.
Machine washable: It’s hard to beat the ease of tossing the garment in the wash for cleaning. This is especially handy if your pup is mess-prone, like puppies or seniors.
Convenience: Rather than waiting for calming medications or supplements to kick in, the garment provides near-instant relief in many cases. This is a huge bonus during those unexpected pop-up summer storms or when dealing with a neighbor’s fireworks.
Ease of wear: Putting on a Thundershirt is a breeze compared to over-the-head garments, which are tricky to navigate with a wiggly, stressed dog. The shirt is especially handy for older dogs who may find leg lifting or manipulation uncomfortable.
Effectiveness: The company reports calming in more than 80 percent of cases, which is good news for those of us with worried woofers at home.
Suitable for extended periods: Medications and management solutions aren’t always appropriate or realistic over the long term, but you could conceivably rely on a Thundershirt for your pet’s entire life.
While Thundershirts work well for many dogs, there are some definite downsides you should consider, including:
Tricky fitting: Owners report these run small. For dogs with thicker chests like bulldogs or pitties, err on the large side when selecting a size and always refer to the product’s sizing chart to nab the perfect fit.
Durability: Some owners found that the Thundershirt didn’t stand up to repeat washing and frequent use over time. Day-to-day wear and maintenance are certainly at play here, with other pup parents reporting zero qualms in this area.
Not enough for severe anxiety: For dogs with severe cases of anxiety, a Thundershirt alone may not be enough to offer complete relief. In these cases, a Thundershirt may need to be combined with additional strategies.
What works for one dog may not work for another, so it’s important to assess your dog’s fear triggers and overall demeanor to ensure you get a product that works for him.
If a Thundershirt isn’t effective for treating your dog’s anxiety on its own, you may want to incorporate some additional solutions, such as:
Dark and secure crate covers often can help your dog’s crate feel even safer (simply providing dogs with a safe space can often work wonders), which may help alleviate anxiety.
Canine calming supplements help soothe a lot of dogs with frazzled nerves.
You can speak to your veterinarian about administering anxiety medication to your dog.
In some cases, anxiety-alleviating dog toys may help calm your canine.
Are there any downsides to using a ThunderShirt?
Generally, no, there are no side effects seen with using a ThunderShirt. It is not advised to use them in particularly warm weather for obvious reasons. Care ought to be taken when using them for elderly pets or those with certain health conditions. But otherwise, there is unlikely to be any downside to trying one out.
What is a ThunderShirt?
A ThunderShirt is a durable but lightweight fabric wrap which is worn by dogs like a harness, with straps under and around the front of the chest which are adjustable with velcro. It should be applied around the dog fairly firmly so it is snug but not restrictive.