From the manufacturer
Love ’em like a hug. Love ’em with ThunderShirt
ThunderShirt is vet recommended¹ and may help calm your dog in stressful situations. ThunderShirt applies a gentle, constant pressure to your dog’s torso, like swaddling an infant or a comforting hug to help them feel calmer.
ThunderShirt is safe, easy to use and drug-free. There is no training required to use ThunderShirt, simply put it on your dog.
For many dogs, thunderstorms can be a terrifying experience. Using ThunderShirt can reduce panting, drooling, shaking and other signs of anxiety. If your dog is still nervous during storms try closing the blinds and leaving their crate or kennel open with a blanket to create a dark “safe space.” Some dogs are not just scared of the sounds but also the flashing lightning of a storm.
Due to the fireworks, 4th of July is one of the biggest days for pet stress of the year. ThunderShirt has helped millions of dogs stay calmer during the holiday. Make sure your dog can stay inside during fireworks so they do not get scared and run away and become lost. A collar with updated contact information and a ThunderShirt will help your dog stay safe and calm during fireworks and loud noises anytime of year!
Using ThunderShirt while traveling can make it a more comfortable ride for you and your dog! If your dog’s anxiety with the car comes from them thinking a car ride = a vet visit, taking them on fun, short trips can help them to disassociate the car with negative emotions. If your dog is still stressed, try combining the power of calm with the ThunderEase Spray and ThunderShirt.
Separation anxiety is a bigger concern now more than ever! Even if you wanted to, you can’t be home at all times, so ThunderShirt is a great option to soothe your dog while you are away. Return to office with peace of mind by using ThunderShirt.
- Based on 2022 customer survey covering 1,765 dogs.
- True North, March 2021
- Based on customer surveys and reviews
ThunderShirt is a registered trade mark of ThunderShirt, LLC
Jayme perdott –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fits great
Super easy to put on and the material is really soft. We haven’t needed to use it yet but hopefully it helps! I have a 75lb lab who is on the thinner side and I might have been able to do a large instead of an XL.
Katrina –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works good
My dog is terrified of fireworks and thunder, I was skeptical but it works good! It’s not perfect as she still shakes but she isn’t hiding and losing her mind! I try to put it on early if I know fireworks are happening and she seems more calm when its on.
Jordan F.Jordan F. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Calms my dog down immediately
Not sure if it’s magic or science or both but this absolutely works. My dog is now used to it and gets a little calmer even seeing me get it out of the closet.
Alissa Salvador –
5.0 out of 5 stars
New dog separation anxiety 10/10
I got this to help ease my dogs anxiety! And it’s amazing. She’s overly hyper but that’s okay— however whenever we leave her for more than 30 mins (ie going grocery shopping etc) she’ll tear everything up. Thankfully my other dog doesn’t have those issues— after we got this and tried it on her within about an hour she was KO on the couch or in her bed. This was such a great investment. To give more of an example if you’ve seen lilo and stitch, the scene where lilo put the lei on him and he instantly fell out— that was a real depiction of my dog. 10/10 highly recommend
FL Parton –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thunder Shirt – XL 70lb dog
Bought the XL size thinking would be too large for my 70 lb dog, but I was pleasantly surprised it fit perfectly! And my dog is now calm with Thundershirt! Thank you for making a great product!
D Stephens –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works fantastic!!!
I was really skeptical as our German shepherd mix is extremely anxious during fireworks, shaking for hours even after fireworks have stopped. I put the thunder shirt on him well-before fireworks started and he slept right through them!!!! This shirt is a miracle.
One person found this helpful
Amazon CustomerAmazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great fit
My dog ways 20 lbs. So the chart was perfect to size. She really does like wearing after the first few times.
Rachel BallachinoRachel Ballachino –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Have been buying for years
I’ve always used this product with any dog I’ve had and it’s always worked for me. We got a size L and she is about the size of a standard poodle, 48 lbs. fit almost perfect! She has some growing room and it still does the job! She was a rescue and suffers from separation anxiety that causes her to anxiously chew all her fur off when we have to leave her, she also barks nonstop. Until we got her one of these.She had the original before and it works just as well. She never tries to take it off or mess with it. She actually loves wearing it.
3 people found this helpful
Laurie Davis –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works
My dog calms down considerably with this vest. It is not magic but definitely helpful to my fur baby.
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It works in calming your pup
Although it takes a couple of tries to put it on, once you learn it’s a snap! It calmed my dog. I am impressed. No more barking.
subscriber –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Quality
Good Quality
LYNNLYNN –
4.0 out of 5 stars
The fit and the material
I love this however the Velcro around front of the chest area could have been more to keep from inside of strap to hang , it adjusted perfect to her belly and chest she is relaxed with it !
2 people found this helpful
Connie C. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well made
Really well made! And my German shepherd loves it!
LEA –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great After Surgery
My Stafford had surgery on his shoulder and keeping it bandaged was nearly impossible until I found this. He seems to be so much more comfortable with this holding the padded bandages in place as opposed to the massive amount of tape being wrapped around him that needed to be cut off every four days. As far as the calming effect, it is awesome as he is a cuddler and keeps him content while I am at work from what I see on the doggie cam. It’s very lightweight, excellent adhesion on the Velcro and definitely worth the price.
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cheap construction
Just received my vest and put it on my dog. The first time I strapped the velcro on and pulled it off to reset it, the stitching came undone holding the velcro and left a 5 in loose piece of Velcro flapping I had bought a similar item at aldis for like $15 and I thought this would be even better and nicer but I was wrong. Quality is lacking, The one from aldis was thinner but actually seem to calm the dog just as well guess I’ll have to get out my sewing kit. Other than that it will work okay it seems a little large for a 28 pound dog though
Call of Kthalia –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A small but notable comfort for my shy dog
I rescued my setter-spaniel mix 11 years ago. She is the biggest sweetheart, but she was abused pretty severely and has always been pretty skittish. Sometimes it makes me feel like I didn’t do right by her, because I’ve never known an animal so emotionally touched by abuse, but mostly I know there is only so much one can do and that she is loved now.So Cleo has gotten marginally better over the years, loves some new people, loves walks, loves car-rides… but recently she lost her vision due to troubles regulating her blood-sugar when she first got diabetes. Now that she uses other sense to figure things out it can be rough for her sometimes. An big acorn smacking the roof of a car on a walk is scary! Right? People who you didn’t smell/hear until they were *rightthereomg!* are scary!Cleo isn’t as skittish as she was when she was younger – when she seemed to want to turn inside out and go invisible on walks – but this little jacket provides her with a bit of extra comfort. She still starts at loud/sudden things, but when she wears her little Thundershirt she seems to be more relaxed, and on walks she has a little extra pep in her step. Yes, it is hard to quantify the improvement. That’s how it is with dogs. You can’t say, “How do you feel now?”, “How ’bout now?”… but I can see the subtle positives and negatives of changes in her environment. This is a positive, however slight.Also, now that it’s getting cold out, the Thundershirt is a snuggly layer of warmth. I may put a raincoat or parka on top when it gets REALLY cold or wet, but for now on a brisk evening walk this is great!I was worried about fit. All manufacturers are different, but it always seemed like Cleo fell between sizes in a place where there was a huge variance in dimensions. She seemed to be not Medium by just a skosh, fitting like a sausage in Medium jackets, but clearly not Large either. This is something I see wherever I shop for warm clothes. I bought a Medium Thundershirt due to the dimensions, and it fits perfectly!The quality seems decent. The fabric is thick enough not to seem cheaply flimsy, but not super thick to make it too hot for the dog to be swaddled in it. The plentiful velcro panels help get a secure fit. The color (gray, in this case) looks subtle against my black dog’s fur. And there is a little patch near the front-side of the chest area… it says it is for Thunderspray. I assume this is an aromatherapy thing. I may try that one day, and if so I will review it, too.If your dog has anxiety, this may help a little or a lot. But if you care enough to worry that your dog is panicky, then this is probably worth a shot. Just remember that since we can’t say “Hey, Rufus, does that make you feel better?” you will just have to observe your dog’s behavior with and without the Thundershirt. Also, this won’t be a cure-all, and you will need to take other steps to make a scaredy-dog feel safe and confident. There are some great books out there if you search amazon for “scared dog”. Good luck to you and your dog! 🙂
3 people found this helpful
Michelle Clark –
3.0 out of 5 stars
It works but…
I bought this for my dog and it does work. I instantly saw a difference in his behavior, however, he doesn’t like to move at all ( and yes I have losen the straps) it makes him more like a zombie and I don’t really like that. So I wouldn’t recommend for longtime wear, I have a medium size bread (jack Russell mixed with dashund). So I usually put him in it if we have guest over. Other than that the material is really soft and works for short term use.
One person found this helpful
Meaghan TreilingMeaghan Treiling –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely helps!!!
I don’t know why I haven’t tried this sooner. I’ve had my rescue pup just over 5 years and we’ve worked through a lot of anxieties and fears together, however, loud noises (thunder, fireworks, car door slamming, etc) just sends her shaking and bolting back in the house and under the bed. She’ll pace around and tremble so hard she could just explode. I’ve been medicating her with trazadone and gabapentin from the vet all this time.4th of July was coming up and I saw my friends dog wearing one while we were over on a play date so I ordered it. What an immediate difference! Now, my little Xena definitely is still bothered by the noises, but it’s like she can tolerate it. Instead of hiding under the bed or pacing, she can lay right next to me like in the picture. Still not gonna walk in thunderstorms but she actually tried to! And instead of pulling hard to go back in when thunder struck, she just calmly looked back at the house and started walking that way.Overall, I’m impressed. I don’t have medicate my babygirl to take the edge off and the material is really nice. Definitely feels durable and of quality. I do want to try the pheromone spray.My dog is about 30-35lbs golden mix and we got a medium. We live in florida so we get lots of thunderstorms.
16 people found this helpful
KBKKBK –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Takes the edge off
I followed the instructions for how to put it in properly and to put it on our dog during calm times. During calm times she passes out almost immediately. So far we’ve only used it during one storm. It seemed to take the edge off. She usually paces and tries to climb on my head. It lessened some of these behaviors. If we had gotten it on her sooner I think it would have been more effective.
2 people found this helpful
I hate scammers –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Calms autistic German shepherd dog
Calms my autistic GSD. She’s a spaz all day displays OCD behavior. We have been doing direct 1 on 1s with another certified animal behavioral specialist since 8weeks…because she was doing weird things then. I’ve trained GSDs, Belgian Malinois and various shepherds (and other breeds) for decades ut she swings between fear agression and dominant agression so it’s more complex. It’s calming to her to be gently straddled so I figured a Thundershirt would be ideal. She dropped her obsessions by 40% instantly. We wear it more often than not until we can wean her off it. If that’s possible. She enjoys it now and comes over when it’s bubble time to get suited up. She’s a quirky critter for sure but this truly calms her and lessons the severity, duration and frequency of nervous reactivity she displays. Ultimately giving her more quality of life. She runs and walks 5miles a day, has jobs, does nose / brain activity work for 12 hours and loves it. She was not able to do these things she loves before training and the help of this shirt. She looks like a racing greyhound a bit. Doesn’t get too itch either and she’s hyper sensitive to that. I make sure the Velcro is flattened comfortably as you would want it if it were on your body. She can pee/poo with it on, she can go in the water, but I wouldn’t recommend that. It washes easily enough with her dog bedding and toys in the washer. Great product. She was on the cusp of 65 lbs and I got the large. I should have gotten the medium because she’s slight at 8mos. Her anxiety and exercises keep her at the lower percentile. So take build into consideration if you’re on the cusp of weight / sizes. Buy it. It’s like wizardry !
10 people found this helpful
WillowWillow –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I have purchased ThunderShirts for three dogs in the past four years
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.
101 people found this helpful
Carlyle Macedo, Jr. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
i was doubtful but it works!
I have a large dog who gets very stressed with fireworks, lightning and thunder. Somebody told me about this anxiety jacket and, after reading reviews, I was skeptical (too good to be true!) but for the possible cost/benefit, I decided to try it.It is not the final, definitive solution, my dog still has problems but it DEFINITELY reduces his anxiety level; I rarely now have to keep him on a leash when there is some thunder. The jacket fits well (bought a large for a 70 pound dog) and allows him to get through most of the thunderstorm season without trying to find a place to hide (very bad deal when it was through the closet doors).Like I said, excellent cost/benefit.
S TS T –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well made!
My dog is 9 years old and has never had and issue with thunder or fireworks in his life… until recently. Maybe it’s old age, maybe he just pays more attention now, I’m honestly not sure. When the thunder hits he shakes and pants to the point I feel like he’s going to have a heart attack. It’s very scary!Introducing the ThunderShirt! I have seen these for years and finally purchased one. Here are my honest thoughts:Pros:- It’s a very secure fit and “hugs” my dog. The sizes are pretty forgiving due to the amount of Velcro on the shirt. I have a 30lb Beagle and chose the Medium. It fits perfect and could go larger or smaller depending on the dog.- The material is very stretchy and it appears to be made really well. We will see how it holds up over time.- Your puppy will look SO CUTE wearing it.- I feel like it does have some sort of calming effect, but see my comments below.Cons:- I’m just not sure if it really works for my dog. We’ve used it 4 times now and while I do see a slight reduction in his terrified behavior, it’s not a magical cure. I guess in my mind, I thought I’d put this on him and he’d be instantly calm. (A girl can dream I suppose.)- It’s snug, as it’s supposed to be, but I do have to loosen it up for my dog to lay comfortably with it on.- It took me over 15 minutes to learn how to put it on. There is a lot of Velcro and it doesn’t look like a traditional dog jacket or sweater. It’s complex, but in a good way.- The loud sound of the Velcro scared my dog at first. It really is loud. They should get used to it if you give them treats while taking it on and off. Make it a positive experience for them.Just some FYI’s– I was told you need to put it on your dog at random times, not always during a storm or just when he’s anxious. You don’t want them to associate the shirt as a negative thing. It’s supposed to give them a swaddling effect.- They include a little patch sewn on the shirt for applying essential calming oils. I have not tried this yet and it may make a huge difference in the shirts performance.Overall, I think this shirt has potential. If I could rate it a 3.5 star I would. It appears to be very well made, my dog looks simply adorable wearing it, and I do think it has an effect on him. The more I use it, the more calming it may be for him. It’s worth a try!
8 people found this helpful
Brandon Cummings –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works great for my pup
My pup is 3 years old. Past couple years the fireworks botherd her. She would shake and stay in the bathroom. Tried this not expecting much. What a difference it made. The fireworks didn’t even bother her. She was calm the whole night. Definitely would recommend to try.
Rah –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Order much smaller size than you think!
We’ve purchased two of these over the years. A small for a 40 pound English Setter, a medium for a 70 pound lanky golden retriever. Recently, we have been making 200 mile trips with a 65 pound golden doodle, and after 5 years of road trips, she developed a fear of riding in the car. Dont ask me why she traveled fine for 5 years and now gets anxious, it’s beyond me and my vet! We thought it might be car sickness, so the vet prescribed Dramamine and it made no difference. She doesn’t seem sick, so the vet is assuming anxiety. I bought an XL because of her weight and she’s a stocky girl. It was WAY too big. Too long and could almost wrap around her twice. We had the same sizing issues when we bought the first two shirts, as it took two tries on each to get it right. After days of rooting around in the closets, we found the medium that we had purchased years ago for the golden retriever. Lo and behold it fits, so we gave the XL to a friend to try on their Bernese Mountain Dog who is afraid of storms. The sizing charts are way off, so good luck! Id recommend taking your furry family member to a pet store and trying it on. As far as efficacy, it helps my little setter calm a little during thunderstorms, but does not completely eliminate the symptoms. It did little for the skinny Golden Retriever. I’ll update as soon as I see what difference, if any it makes in the doodle while traveling.
LisaBoBisa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This shirt is my dog’s best friend during storms or fireworks!
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.
374 people found this helpful
peasantgirlpeasantgirl –
5.0 out of 5 stars
When it works, it WORKS!
I’m not one for writing reviews. But this product worked so well for my dog (and so fast!) that I had to share it.My little black Lab/beagle mix is a naturally nervous dog (my vet says it’s the beagle in her?), plus she was abused the first four months of her life, so that makes it even worse. Add in thunderstorms or even just the wind blowing hard, and she’s a wreck.So I ordered this on Wednesday, got it on Friday afternoon just in time for a thunderstorm to roll through. I put it on her before the storm even started, and it was like she transformed right in front of me. After about two minutes of lying with it on and then walking around the room for a minute, she jumped on the bed and came right up to me demanding pets. She was visibly relaxed and her breathing was slower and deeper.After I petted her for about ten minutes (she even let me pet her feet!), she turned around and laid down and went right to sleep. When the thunder came through she slept right through it. I’m so happy to be able to give her some peace.I have read that this doesn’t work on every dog, but when it does work , it really WORKS! So glad to be one of the lucky ones! This has helped her so much already.I am immediately buying a Large for my other dog as he’s usually okay, but he is terrified of thunder and wind and gunshots. Let’s hope it works on him too!I don’t know if it would overheat a dog outside in the summertime; it’s a thin-ish fabric but it does overlap and the tighter the better. My dogs are 99% indoor dogs so it’s not an issue for me, but it might be something for others to consider.I’ll also be trying this Medium and the Large on my son’s dogs to see if they fit and if so, I’ll be buying him a couple shirts. I can’t recommend this enough!Edit 5/30/21: My Lab is ~40lbs for reference. Also, tried this on my long and super lean Black and Tan coonhound (also ~40lbs) Assumed the fit wouldn’t be good due to her long body but it was great and also had the same calming effect. She’s not so much nervous as HYPER. Still waiting for the Large to arrive so I can try it on my son’s dog. Will update again.Update 6/3/21: So the large fits my 50lb dog just fine, but it seemed to make him uncomfortable. He didn’t like having it on. I think he was confused. I’ll try it on him again and see if he gets used to it.I’ll also try it on my son’s 60lb Tennessee Walker hound dog tho I suspect she might need an XL. Will update.Update 6/16/21: The Large fit my son’s 60lb Walker Hound just fine. I wasn’t there the first time he tried it on her, but he said it calmed her during a storm.So that’s 3 out of 4 dogs that definitely benefitted from this. And the 4th dog I think just needs to get used to it. Definitely worth the money (and I’m a cheapskate!), definitely recommend!
38 people found this helpful
Lily –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well made and helps with anxiety
We live near a space force base and the rocket launches are no joke for our pup. He’s a 35lb cattle dog mix who is beefy and muscular in the chest area. A size medium fit him perfectly and helps with his anxiety around loud noises. There’s room for adjustment so just do your best guess about sizing.I wouldn’t say it eliminates his anxiety 100% but it helps him feel more confident and not hide under the bed in terror.
Jan Phelps –
4.0 out of 5 stars
No measure is perfect on these
We do not know if it work well or not, it is for a greyhound which has an odd shape body. We finally got it to fit snug enough and he is comfortable wearing it but no storms (thank goodness) to check it out as of yet. May just try for separation anxiety first.
Rachel J. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This works!
I think this is the first review that I’ve taken the time to write on Amazon and I’ve ordered a bazillion products! This product has been life changing for our family. We have an Australian Shepherd with anxiety around new people. He barks almost aggressively when people come over. We’ve tried multiple things and nothing has worked. With the holidays coming I knew things were going to get busy with people. Enter the Thundershirt. Wow! Our dog calms almost instantly when we put it on him. I understand this doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s definitely helped our pup!
One person found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice product but order down on size
If your dog is at the lower end of the weight chart order the size down.
Amy –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Only made me feel better
My dog has severe separation anxiety so we purchased this in hopes that it would help when we leave him. We tried having him wear it some while we were around in hopes he would not anticipate us leaving each time we put it on him. He did not seem to mind it and would just lounge on the couch. I do think it helps calm him in some aspect, but he was still crying/barking profusely when we would leave him with it on. I cannot speak to those who use it for thunder or loud noises as that is not his issue.
One person found this helpful
angie –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
Adopted a dog in June only to find out she freaks out at the slightest sound of fireworks. Immediately ordered this Thunder Shirt and was thrilled that it arrived the next day. Fits perfectly. I purchased a medium even though she is over 40 lbs because she is a wippet mix. I would not recommend ordering a size up. The velcro strips used to close the sides are nice and long so sizing can be adjusted. I still use this shirt occasionally when a sound spooks her. Works wonders.
2 people found this helpful
Lec B –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Lifesaver
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I have a four month old, toy poodle, and he is so playful and need so much attention. I was so worried about bringing him on a plane for the first time, but this thunder jacket worked like a charm. He was so calm, the whole flight to and from our destination, the flight attendant was so surprised she even asked if he was sedated. I highly recommend for an overactive dog. I don’t know what this thing is made out of but it must to be gold. Helpful?
Mary –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bit Pricy but Works
My wuns are terrified of lightning and thunder (oy vey, hurricane season), so I decided to test out a thunder/anxiety shirt on my most scared girl. When I say scared, I mean she buries herself behind me or under me and hyperventilates even when we cover with a blanket. I get so worried that she will end up with a heart attack. This little vest has been such a comfort to her during the last three mild storms. A couple minutes after I put it on, she settles in a corner and curls up, at which point a place a blanket over her and she doses off. I am not sure how effective it will be for those crazy lightning and thunder strikes that make the ground shake…(crossing fingers) The material is pretty basic and I wish it was held with something more securely than basic velcro which is easy to pick up lint/dirt and which isn’t to strong hold wise. Honestly, I do find this one a bit pricy considering the materials it is made, and it seems to run a bit on the smaller side, however, anything that will help my babies feel safe during a storm deserves a few stars.
14 people found this helpful
H2OHED –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worked pretty good
I dont think it did much for my dogs anxiety, but she like it when going outside in the winter.
One person found this helpful
Jodie H. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog loves it
Durable and dog loves it. My dog is medium— 37 pounds. He just had surgery so the shirt gives warmth & comfort in Dec. he is inside on his bed but at night close to floor can be cool.
reviewer_desertlivingreviewer_desertliving –
4.0 out of 5 stars
seems to be a miracle…too good to be true
This review MIGHT change, but my dog had his first successful walk with his dog walker today – from start to finish – and I am SO HAPPY.My dog is a rescue. He’s been with me for about 4 months, and I recently started a new job that takes me away from home for very long hours after having been largely remote. My dog was suffering. He’s done well, overall, considering he was in a shelter not too long ago, but he has struggled to overcome his gate/door guarding.I didn’t know what to do, so I’ve been trying everything, including professional training. His background is, sadly, one of abuse. He is an anxious dog, and his vet has had him on a high dose of Trazodone. It doesn’t seem to make a punch, and I don’t like him on such a high, extended dose. Plus, his behavior is stellar 90% of the time; it’s just this one “big” thing we need to resolve. I recently started adding CBD oil and calming chews to the mix, and he has been making (very) slow progress – with a great and ever-so-patient dog walker – but he is still very reactive to entryways (the front door to the house and the gate at doggie daycare).I just got this vest. The dog walker reported no extreme reactions today! My dog seems comfortable in it, albeit slightly confused (I know he looks sad in the photo, but he’s just very sensitive!). I do think it’s a little too big. He’s 56 lbs but slim. I got the large, and I feel like I adjust it a lot. I also have to be careful that it doesn’t get too tight around his neck because, although he doesn’t react negatively to anyone touching him, he has severe scarring from previous physical abuse. That said…he seems okay with it, although it digs into his neck area a little more than I’d like.Today might be an anomaly, but, overall, it seems like the best miracle to come along in ages, combined with other calming methods and lots of patience. I couple it with a few spurts of the calming spray.I’ll update my review if anything changes. I worry he might just be distracted by its mystery right now, and, once he gets over its newness, he might digress. Nonetheless – shout out to all the dogs this vest has helped!
13 people found this helpful
Melissa Thomas –
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW
Our boxer/lab mix continuously barked as loud as she could at us and the neighbor. Put this vest on her, the barking stopped! If she does bark, it’s only a couple of times and not nearly as loud. She likes to snuggle and receive pets much more often now as well. Highly recommend!
One person found this helpful
Loretta –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well
I really don’t want to give a bad review, but it does calm him a little but not much
LourdesChaidez/David ZermenoLourdesChaidez/David Zermeno –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Dog
My lil coco loves her thunder shirt!!Will not take it off 😁
Karen –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best money I’ve ever spend on my dog.
I have two dogs, and I bought one of these for each of them. The older one, Zoe, is extremely scared of loud noises like fireworks and she hates riding in the car. She spends the whole time curled up on a seat and frantically panting and drooling. Gambit, the younger one, isn’t too scared of noises but is absolutely terrified of car rides. He’s never been able to ride more than a couple of miles without throwing up in the car. To get him from my house to the vet, he’ll throw up at least three times, guaranteed. And that’s not round trip. (Thank god for car seat covers.)Our dogs really are like our family members, and so it absolutely tears me up to see them so stressed out. I’ve tried everything to help reassure them – multiple different supplements that are supposed to help calm them, the calming collars (smell great, but no change), even the expensive DAP spray. Even giving them benadryl did no good. (I thought they might not be scared if they were drowsy.) When I saw how fantastic the reviews on this product were, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try.When the two shirts came in, I followed the instructions and put them on the ground so the dogs could inspect them and get used to them. I put a couple of treats on each, so they’d associate them with good things. They both seemed to accept them easily, and didn’t freak out at all when I put them on.The difference was amazing. I saw an immediate reaction with the oldest, Zoe. After a few minutes she laid down on the carpet, extremely chill, and started dozing. I thought perhaps she was just sleepy and it was coincidence, but every time I put it on her, she does the same thing. (At first I put them on for 10-15 minutes every few days, just so that they would get used to it. I was afraid that if I only used them before we went somewhere, they’d start to associate it with car rides and be scared.) Some of our neighbors started shooting off fireworks a few weeks ago, and she started panting and whining, and trying to burrow into my side in fear, and she’s not normally a cuddler. I put the thundershirt on, and it was really great to watch. She obviously wasn’t happy about the fireworks, but she really calmed down and just laid next to my desk. She still wanted to be in the same room with me, but she wasn’t so frantic that she had to be on my lap anymore.With the younger one, Gambit, the effect wasn’t obvious when I put it on him the first time. He still ran around, playing with a lot of energy. (He’s only 9 months old, so the puppy-ness may be part of that.) When I put him in the car to go to the dog park however, it was definitely effective. He sat on the seat and stayed in one place. He was still panting a bit, but he wasn’t drooling or whining, and we made it all the way there and back without him throwing up even once.I know it seems like a lot of money to pay for a shirt for your dog, but I spent many times this on products that didn’t work, trying to find something that did. And it is worth every penny, I think. I no longer have to see my dogs freaking out and terrified, and feel so bad about how stressed they are. (It’s also nice not to have to steam clean my car or seat cover after every trip.)I can’t recommend this product enough.
6 people found this helpful
Diana –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really helps her anxiety
The ThunderShirt really keeps my Yorkie Pomeranian calm when she’s feeling anxious. She tends to bark at every sound, but is much better when wearing her ThunderShirt.
Kindle Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I figured it wouldn’t work…
I am so amazed at how well this works for my anxious senior dog. I really didn’t expect much, but she was getting worse, especially at night: unable to settle, barking at nothing, lunging at the cats. That last bit was what broke me. One of our cats is a cardiac kitty, on blood thinners and during the daytime they are the best of friends, but at night it’s like Cookie couldn’t recognize him and I was just holding my breath waiting for a disaster.So I gave the ThunderShirt a try, expecting it would be a waste of money and a disappointment. When it arrived, I took it out of the package and was not all that impressed — it seemed like such an insubstantial thing that I was pinning my hopes on. But having bought in this far, I read the instructions and put it on my Cookie. It was a bit of a rodeo the first time, but we managed. And once it was on the look on her face was one of pure wonder. She just looked at me and then walked calmly over to her bed and slept like she hadn’t slept in months. I figured it was a fluke, or my imagination, or wishful thinking, but no. She slept through the night and has slept well every night since we started putting it on her. She doesn’t wear it during the day, but when night time comes she looks forward to getting her “happy jacket” put on her. She’s even gone and gotten it once.It’s not that there are zero outbursts, she’s a dog and dogs will bark and get excited, but she doesn’t get out of control the way she did before: frantic and unreachable. She also sleeps like a relaxed dog all stretched out instead of curled in a tight, tense ball of anxiety.Cookie is a deaf dog, and we’ve done a lot of training with her. She has even passed her Canine Good Citizen test. I say this because I don’t think the ThunderShirt is a substitute for adequate training and reinforcement of good behavior. They don’t claim that it is, but I don’t want to give the impression that it can turn an untrained pup into a model of good behavior. That said, it sure put a damper on Cookie’s anxiety so that she was able to focus and “listen” to us instead of giving in to her anxiety.Every time we put it on it’s like a blanket of calm descends on her and she is just a happier, more relaxed dog. We are very grateful.
4 people found this helpful
Julie –
4.0 out of 5 stars
True to size
My small dog is terrified of storms and fireworks. She just shakes. We tried the thunder shirt and I do feel it helped some. She seemed to calm down faster with it on.
CLHCLH –
5.0 out of 5 stars
SEEMS TO WORK!
Seems to give my pup a calming effect. She has issues with separation anxiety. I’ll find out later when we leave for a few hours how it effects her. I’ll watch by camera. She’s a 12lb Yorkiepoo. I ordered a x-small.
4 people found this helpful
Amazon CustomerAmazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It worked for us!
My rescue has always been so afraid of thunder. We’ve had this thunder jacket since April and it’s helped sooo much. He’s still anxious at times when the weather is bad but I’m actually able to sleep and go about my normal routine when he’s wearing it.
karen rissolo –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thunder shirt
I bought the thunder shirt for my whippet. He’s about 30 some odd pounds it does not fit that type of dog. I was in hopes that it would for he has anxieties, and I felt it would work for him.
Derek Leamon –
5.0 out of 5 stars
awsome thunder shirt
I love this thunder shirt sport. it is nice and made very good
Franklin E. Baquero A. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I was gladly surprised
I didn’t expect how well this worked for the first days of my dog being home. We brought my dog from abroad, he was anxious with so many changes. When we started using this product, he tended to relax, and overall took the process of living in a new place much better.
One person found this helpful
Lisa Baird –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for frenchie
We bought an open box and the velcro was a little bent where it straps around front of neck. Other than that, the product is excellent for our frenchie. We bought another for our little yorkie.
ERIN ESPINOZA ERIN ESPINOZA –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It works!
Peanut is deathly afraid of fireworks. She would curl in a ball in the corner and shiver. I put this on her and not that I was expecting her to become Superwoman or anything, but she didn’t shiver like she normally does. She just laid on the bed and took what looked like the best nap of her life.And when I take it off she’s fine also. She doesn’t have issues with me putting it on or taking it off. It was worth the money!
LivLiv –
5.0 out of 5 stars
LESS ANXIOUS within MINUTES!!!
soo Anelli (shar pei/lab mix) is about 83lbs of a hot mess. she’s not like most dogs with fear of thunderstorm or fireworks. she has severe separation anxiety and needs constant affection/attention. to be quite frank, I love her so much but it’s quite suffocating and I can’t do things around the house. I put the thundershirt on and within minutes she’s sound asleep. I really think it’s helping her feel safer and content that she doesn’t need my undivided attention.we got an XL and there is still room to stretch. thank you thundershirt!
One person found this helpful
Mantracker –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never let your dog experience thunder without it!
We purchased this Thundershirt for our Shetland Sheep Dog in 2021. We weren’t sure how well it was going to work, so we didn’t do a review. However after using it for over two years, everyone needs to know how well these work. If you have a dog who is upset, stressed or even a little nervous about thunder or fireworks or guns, you MUST BUY A THUNDERSHIRT! Our boy completely calms down immediately after we put the Shirt on him. Don’t hesitate!!! Buy a Thundershirt for you fur baby today!!!!!!!!!
Robert C Davis –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This does actually work.
It was a little pricey until I noticed my pitbull is more at ease. Also, she did not try to eat it as she has done to t shirts in the past.
eych2oh –
4.0 out of 5 stars
The jury is out
I’m not sure if this makes my dog less anxious, but she doesn’t seem to mind it when I put it on her. She actually approaches me when I pick it up. I would think that if she hated it, she’d run away.The material is soft and it has large enough Velcro portions that it can fit snugly on your pet.I have two gripes about it. This material, though soft, pills like crazy! Not only that but the Velcro part is hair city! I literally sit there for an hour with tweezers and pluck all the hair out and cut the pilling before I put it on her after every wash.
Outdoor girl –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It helps!
We have a 75lbs furball who has massive panic attacks when ever a thunderstorm rolls. Having a 75lb baby who will either climb between the hubby and I or try to lay at our heads and pant profusely and drool on the hubby’s head. If we’re lucky enough for the thunderstorm to roll through during the awake hours he just tries to sit in my lap.While our furball is still scared of thunderstorms he now can lay at my feet while I’m working or even better at the foot of the bed without drooling on our heads while we try to sleep.
One person found this helpful
Erin Schier –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Durable product, but dog is still scared of storms wearing it
The vest is made well with durable materials. No issues with anything tearing up or unthreading. The vest can be difficult to remember how to place on the dog. I’m not sure that I am putting it on my dog, Kawbo, correctly or snug enough in a way that makes him feel comforted, but I try my best. Therefore, each use so far, he still shakes during the storms while wearing. It could just be that Kawbo has severe storm anxiety though 🤷♀️ I do think it helps comfort him a little bit.The vest has a certain smell to it, which must be offgassing from the materials? I have not tried washing it and I’m not sure if that’s an option, but I will check. I would recommend that on the packaging or on the actual vest itself that there would be a scan code/link to a YouTube video, showing how to place on the dog. I’m not sure if they had that on the packaging or not as I purchased the vest 6 months ago.
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not much help
Nicely made but doesn’t help much.
TheHonestReviewerTheHonestReviewer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shockingly Impressed (100% Honest Review)
Our dog Jazzy is a 5-year-old Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Terrier, Poodle mix.She is very smart and obedient, but she does lack in the bravery department, scared of dark car rides/ her shadow, the color blue, sudden movements, other shadows.. , she comes to work with me and my boyfriend on a daily basis so we are in the car going to work and going home. When it is darker outside she does cry and whine in the back seat, she will pant until she is slobbering everywhere, she will walk back and forth in her seat, she will shake uncontrollably, sometimes she even screams at us, and you would think she would be used to this drive since we take the same route every day and she has been doing this every day for her entire 5 years of life, but she cannot. I will even pet her, hold her, talk to her, everything I can think of to soothe her on our 15-minute drive home but she still shakes, slobbers, cries, screams, etc. and when it rains or thunders? It’s about 10x worse… We just gave up on comforting her because we literally couldn’t do anything to help but just focus on getting home. She isn’t a huge fan of other dogs, a few she has spent time with she tolerates and she has even befriended one (sort of haha) but she has anxiety and just doesn’t want to play. Sometimes if we have to run into the store for 10 mins to grab a few things for dinner before heading home she will usually start to shake and pant and whine.Another big reason why I decided to try this product is that she also has skin allergies, she will sit and chew and pull her fur out, she will have patches of fur missing, we do put her on apoquel during the summer and spring and sometimes through fall because of the pollen in the air. So we thought “yep solved the problem!”… come to find out if she doesn’t get enough attention .. she will go and hide and bite and chew and pull out her hair.. not because of allergies, but because she is a spoiled brat! So like I said, we take her to work, so we work with customers, work on paperwork, and if she doesn’t get attention every hour (or sometimes 15 minutes) she will go and pull her fur out…So we are pulling our hair out because we cannot please this dog!So I got this “thunder shirt”I was like.. maybe it will work, trying to put it on was a learning curve at first, but we got it on, we followed the instructions exactly, and low and behold, it actually works.. my first test on her was going to the store after work, we park and I go in and boyfriend stays in the car, I come back out 15ish minutes later, and she isn’t shaking or panting or showing any signs of distress, she is just, chill.. and she was completely somber all the way home AND it was getting dark! …I couldn’t believe it!!Another test was going home later than normal so it was pitch black outside (we live in the midwest so there really is no street lights or anything out in the sticks haha) and she was just laying there like a cute furry potato! Like “yeahh this doesn’t bother me one bit” she just laid in her seat and was calm!At work she doesn’t chew her fur, she doesn’t “muffle” at the customers (she sometimes will do a little “muffle” at the customers just to let them know she is there), she is totally changed!!I will say that after I take it off of her she is back to her old ways after about an hour or 2, its honestly become her everyday attire!
12 people found this helpful