Does the "Thundershirt" actually work?

It helps definitely. But as with any thing (shirt, rescue remedy, pills etc) used for canine anxiety you must do a part in training/desensitization also.

ADD - If you want there is a yahoo group called SATZ_Main with professionals there who are excellent at helping anxiety dogs. Worth a shot joining the group if you would like.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SATZ_Main/

I would even put the thundershirt on if you aren't going out at all, maybe 10 mins at a time at random times. And there are many crate games you can play!

Marci.... You do not know best. My dog will go nap in the crate with the door open.

Thundershirts aren't extremely expensive. It's worth a try. My parents dog has extreme separation anxiety because my mom stays at home all day so on days she's gone, she uses that. He's still stressed, but he no longer cries and howls.

A tired dog is a happy dog. Take him for an hour long walk, or longer, before you leave. A really tired dog is going to just sleep while your gone. Pair that with the thunder shirt and hopefully your problem is solved!

Well, if you check names, places, dates, and events metioned in the bible you will find it authentic. Also, there are recently many archeological events, and places that are proving it to be true. The ancient scrolls that have been found also back up much of the bible. One other fact to be considered is that the books of the bible were written many hundreds of years apart. Many of the authors did not know each other. If you think about it communications in those days were slow and handwritten so the chance of mistakes is great, however, when reading the various books you will find they correlate. Some have more facts about a happening than others but the event is the same. Perhaps if you really studied the bible you would understand it better. There are many groups that do this and analyze it verse by verse, chapter by chapter. It is a facinating look into life and what the people of those days learned is still applicable to us today. Human nature changes little, but what you can do to make your life better does not. The One who came to us with these lessons for a better life gave His for us.

I have used this on my very fearful and aggressive Min Pin. It helped, a little...

He used to be both human and dog aggressive. He is now dog aggressive with dogs he does not know. It helped calm him, but he snapped a couple times at a puppy and growled at other dogs while wearing it.

Works on some dogs, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it HELPS, but is not the 100 percent solution... Almost like adding Abilify to an antidepressant.

You can try it, I'll sell mine for a few bucks on eBay if you're interested... it may or may not work, so I wouldn't pay the full 40 bucks for it... just 5-10 bucks at most. You should crate your dog when you're gone.

Add; The company says it is to "feel like a hug" on the dog, so it feels safer...

At the pet store, they said it is used to keep the dog from hyperventilating, since it's a wrap around the dog...

ADD, I think we got size small... It's pretty adjustable, it may fit. I really had to squeeze it on him.

I have heard that Thundershirts work for thunder and loud noises for some dogs, but I have never heard that they work for separation anxiety.

Get a copy of Patricia McConnell's book I'll Be Home Soon. It is THE guide for treating separation anxiety and related issues. You may need to work with a dog behaviorist.

http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/store/I-ll-Be-Hom...

Prolonged crating causes mental and physical illness which may be why the poor dog is so stressed out.

Here are links to the best trainers:

The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors

http://www.nadoi.org/

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers

http://www.apdt.com/

International Association of Canine Professionals

http://canineprofessionals.com/

In my experience, not a cure all but it was definitely worth the money. It stopped the annoying high pitched howl/whine my dog would do and she paced far less. It's a good thing to have on top of training.