It's no secret that my dogs are my babies. I don't play favorites with my kids, but I'll be the first to admit that I do have a favorite dog, and that's my male boxer, Rocky. Maybe it's because other than Jason, we are a house full of girls (he's my baby boy!) or because he's a mama's boy that I tend to gravitate towards him the most.
When people are meeting him for the first time, they tend to shy away. He's a solid 90 pounds and that makes people put their guard up. Yes, he's a big boy, but once you get to know him, you realize he's the biggest softie in the world. In his mind, he's small enough to be a lap dog, always wants to snuggle, and get will jump for joy (literally JUMP! for joy) when presented with the opportunity to go for a car ride or a run outside. He's got a zest for the good things in life and won't waste a minute expressing his enthusiasm for affection or play. Looks can be deceiving with my boy though. While most days he's very energetic, he does tend to suffer from separation anxiety and is terrified of loud noises.
There was something going around Facebook a few months back that said dogs really hate to be hugged because it stresses them out. I'm calling BS on that story. If I sit on the floor and say "Who wants a hug?" Rocky will immediately come running over, plop down in my lap, and practically beg to be squeezed into a big hug. I'm thinking that dogs with anxiety like mine actually prefer the feeling of being embraced tightly, and since I can't be available to give hugs all day long, I love being able to wrap my dog into his ThunderShirt.
The ThunderShirt helps to sooth my dog's anxiety by its constant gentle pressure. It works much like swaddling an infant. Simply wrap it around your dog, strap it in place, and your dog feels snug and secure.
We're past the fireworks stage, which is always a nightmare for us, but we're heading back into the thunderstorm season which always stresses Rocky out. At the first sound of thunder rumble, he'll hide under my bed and shake so hard until the storm passes, it sometimes feels like his shakes are causing an earthquake to go along with the thunderstorm. But, now that he's got his ThunderShirt, the anxiety has seemed to calm down drastically during the storms.
There are over 32 million houses in the US that have a pet that struggles with some form of anxiety (thunderstorms, fireworks, separation, exposure to new people or animals, etc) and it is estimated that owners have had to replace $710 million dollars worth of damage done to household items due to the destruction pets caused by their anxiety issues. ThunderShirt has become a household name in the wearable pet anxiety category, but now they have new product offerings that include various other drug-free anxiety solutions for both dogs and cats. From diffuser kits to calming sprays, there are several great options to choose from to help your dog feel less stressed and more secure.
It's never too early to start thinking about holiday shopping, and there's no better gift than giving the gift of relaxation to your pets. My Rocky adores his ThunderShirt and rests easier feeling snug and secure when mom can't be around to hold him all day.
Pet owners, be sure to check out the full line of ThunderWorks products to give the gift of relaxation to your pets too.
What are some of the things that make your pet anxious?
