Anxiety Under Pressure

Photo from Thundershirt.com

Anxiety is a funny thing with dogs. You don't expect a dog to be anxious about anything. Their life is pretty simple. Yet, certain events like thunderstorms, fireworks or separation will make a dog behave in an odd way. They may be panting uncontrollably, pacing erratically or just make a mess in the house.

Photo From Anxiety Wrap

A New Type Of Treatment

The other day I was reading an article which talked about these shirts that help control anxiety. They are very similar to helping dogs stay calm the way swaddling benefits a baby. The shirts are lightweight yet give enough pressure to sooth a dog's anxiety. There are two shirt companies that stand out. One is called Thundershirt and the other is called Anxiety Wrap.

Comparing The Two Websites

Both of these companies are highly endorsed by veterinarians. Also, they both have received the 2010 Best Pet Products Award from Fido Friendly, a major dog publication. They both are also guaranteed or your money back. Upon looking at their sites I noticed these differences:

• I like the name Thundershirt better than Anxiety Wrap.
• Anxiety wrap has a page to let you know what the shipping will be. Thundershirt does not.
• Thundershirts.com sells only this product. Anxiety wraps carries their main product as well as dog treats, accessories and toys.
• Their sizes vary. A small at Anxiety Wrap is the same size as medium at Thundershirts. It's really important to get an accurate measurement of your dog's girth.
• Thundershirt gives a sketch on how to put the garment on and fasten it. It seems Anxiety Wrap is just a pullover.
  
• Anxiety Wraps has a special retailer for their items in Australia.

When you take into account that many dogs get stressed from certain noises this can be a huge help. Before, a vet would offer to sedate a dog to deal with their anxieties, now, this shirt can calm them without the use of drugs or injections. If you're looking for an alternate method to deal with anxiety, this is a small price to pay for some peace of mind.

Here are the links to the websites:
Thundershirt
Anxiety Wrap
You can also find Anxiety Wrap and Thundershirt at Amazon.com.

Let's Discuss!

Does your dog suffer from anxiety? what are some ways you deal with your dog's anxiety?

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I remember when I was in high school and I had to wake my brother John up for school. John was a natural night owl and getting him up before 7 o'clock in the morning, was like trying to wake a vampire. Every morning without fail, Casey would jump on the bed and bark at me, because he thought I was hurting John. As soon as I stopped, Casey would be fine, but lay a hand on John and again he would give me a piece of his mind. I suppose that Casey was responding to the urgency in my voice, which probably made him feel that my brother was at risk. Therefore, he was needed to protect him.

Earlier this week, I was reacting to a stressful situation that I was trying to work out by talking out loud. As I got more worked up, the more Cookie and Gigi sat there and fixated on what I was saying. They had that look which said they were perplexed yet interested in what I had to say. It was as if I was a schoolteacher and they were my students trying to understand what I was teaching. After it sunk in what was happening, I started laughing. My dogs turned into major stress relievers without having to say anything.

Heightened Effects

Although dogs can't talk, they can sense when we're feeling scared, angry, upset or anxious. It has been said that when humans get emotional, humans emit a scent into the air that dogs will pick up on. If a dog has a particularly strong sense of smell such as a beagle, they will pick up on it and possibly have an even stronger reaction.

It's mysterious and we may never fully understand how they are able to sense when things are awry. It seems like something that's just natural from within them.

Read More About It!

Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals
How Dogs Think by Stanley Coren

Let's Discuss!

Has your dog has an unusual reaction similar to the ones above? Is there anything extraordinary your dog has done in a similar situation?