12/31/2025
Reposted:
PREPARING FOR FIREWORKS 😐
A DIY "THUNDERSHIRT" CONCEPT - HELPING ANXIOUS DOGS ❤️
This is useful information as we prepare for the reality of FIREWORKS on New Years Eve. Whether we like it or not, we need to do homework and take the steps needed to protect animals at this time of year. We copy and paste this extract:
"Fireworks will soon be upon us. We need to be proactive, and manage the environment to help dogs in our care.
😱Whether your dog expels nervous energy through barking, destruction, or shivering, anxiety in pups is no fun for everyone involved. Many dogs get nervous and can be especially scared around loud, sudden noises like fireworks. Sometimes, the "acoustic violence" these noises produce can cause long-term trauma for pups. Remember, dogs hear sound on a range of frequencies much larger than what humans detect, and their sensitive hearing picks up sound from far away. That means those pinprick popping fireworks are actually booming. There are many products out there that can help your pup feel more relaxed, but you might already have a simple fix in your home right this second: A SCARF
🤔How does that work?
ℹ️Ever hear of a ThunderShirt? This product is legendary among dog lovers, and is one of those things where you shouldn't knock until you try it. The snug fit of the ThunderShirt has a calming effect on dogs, similar to the effect of swaddling a baby. To help your dog feel calmer during these stressful situations, you can actually use a bit of fabric to create a "swaddle" of sorts to help your pup with their anxiety. Wrap your pup before you most expect them to experience anxiety (like a thunderstorm or car ride), and the hug-like effect of the shirt soothes the dog, decreasing anxiety. We suggest using a scarf (length depending on the size of the dog), but really any stretchy piece of fabric will do.
🐕Simply place the center of the scarf across the dog's chest and cross the ends over the shoulders. Next, cross those ends beneath the chest and bring back up, tying in a secure knot away from the spine.
🧣The scarf should be snug, but not constricting. Much like how a ThunderShirt works, the slight pressure around the body (like a constant hug!) is supposed to deliver a calming effect, or at least take the nervous edge off. This DIY option is on hand in a pinch, and could very possibly save your pup from unnecessary discomfort.
🙌We hope this post will help support you and your pup through this tough time next week"
Source: Short Bark and Sides, Tayport.
