This might be a cheap thundershirt alternative.

elsien

Saw this on one of my facebook groups and thought I'd share for any one who has a nervous dog, especially around this firework time of year.
Some one tried a velcro back support they had in the house, and say it did seem to help. That's for a bull terrier sized dog - knee support might do the trick for smaller pooches. It's not a cure all but a few people have commented after the original post that they've tried it and it's made a difference to some.
Worth a try if you've not got the time or money to send off for the real deal.

mellymoo74

Thank you for this am at my wits end with my two and can try this before shelling out £60 for thundershirts for them

topsales

Really good idea - seems to do much the same as a thundershirt and at a much lower cost.

minimad1970

So far for my dog I've tried, not all at once, an Adaptil diffuser, a Thundershirt, Calmex from the Vets, Skullcap and Valerian tablets, a Happy Hoodie and we're finally onto Bach's Rescue remedy. Nothing has worked apart from the Rescue Remedy. I've been putting some in his water each day and a couple of drops straight onto his tongue when needed. He's not completely chilled out but not longer does he seem like he's going to have a heart attack.

Carer

Have you tried firework training?
My last dog was absolutely terrified of them and loud noises so I was determined to make sure pup did not end up with the same issues.

Been doing it for the last fortnight with my pup and she has gone from being terrified, trembling and hiding in her crate to now just looking up from her bone, toy, food etc and then carrying on as if nothing has happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ4KNrOsRLU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uTK5VoDcXQ

Start off with it quiet and over several days increase the volume a bit each time. Don't acknowledge the sound at all, just carry on cleaning or doing something busy. You'll need to use different ones so that the dog doesn't just get used to a certain sequence.

Sagz_2

Only thing that helps my nervous nellie is Zylkene, might be worth a try too minimad.

mellymoo74

Tried zyklene , desensitisation (this year's worse).
It's mainly my girl she's reacted badly to being attacked last year and now needs to kill everything thanks for the rescue remedy tip that and one of these I think.

Feral_Moon

All this fussing about and putting shirts and wotnot on dogs just makes them even more anxious. What I find works for my dogs is not to even react to any fireworks, thunder or loud noises. And if they do appear to be worried or alarmed I just give them a firm command to go to their beds and then they're happy as I've given them an order and they know there's nothing to be anxious about.

chazsucks

minimad1970 wrote: »

So far for my dog I've tried, not all at once, an Adaptil diffuser, a Thundershirt, Calmex from the Vets, Skullcap and Valerian tablets, a Happy Hoodie and we're finally onto Bach's Rescue remedy. Nothing has worked apart from the Rescue Remedy. I've been putting some in his water each day and a couple of drops straight onto his tongue when needed. He's not completely chilled out but not longer does he seem like he's going to have a heart attack.

Have you tried zylkene? Only thing that worked for my moggie x

mellymoo74

Feral_Moon wrote: »

All this fussing about and putting shirts and wotnot on dogs just makes them even more anxious. What I find works for my dogs is not to even react to any fireworks, thunder or loud noises. And if they do appear to be worried or alarmed I just give them a firm command to go to their beds and then they're happy as I've given them an order and they know there's nothing to be anxious about.

Oddly tried that first, strangely following an attack resulting in torn muscle last year she's frightened of everything and he takes his cue from her.

krlyr

Feral_Moon wrote: »

All this fussing about and putting shirts and wotnot on dogs just makes them even more anxious. What I find works for my dogs is not to even react to any fireworks, thunder or loud noises. And if they do appear to be worried or alarmed I just give them a firm command to go to their beds and then they're happy as I've given them an order and they know there's nothing to be anxious about.

There's quite a difference between dogs mildly worried by fireworks but able to settle, vs. dogs with severe storm/firework phobias. If you'd had the latter then you would understand why people "fuss about" trying to find solutions to their dog's distress.

I'm very fortunate now to have two dogs unfussed by fireworks or storms, but previous dogs we've had have been terrified, they certainly wouldn't have been able to manage to settle on a bed no matter how firmly instructed. They didn't know that there was nothing to worry about, like an arachnophobecan't really process that there's nothing to be afraid of with a teeny little spider.