With their sensitive hearing, it’s not uncommon for dogs to get scared at small storms, fireworks, loud construction, or other loud events. You can plan for fireworks and some storms, but what happens when you’re out on a walk or a sudden severe thunderstorm strikes?
Fortunately, the Thundershirt is a helpful calming device that keeps your dog feeling safe and comfortable during anxious situations. Similar to swaddling an infant, Thundershirts apply gentle, constant pressure to your dog’s torso to release a calming hormone.
If you’re in a bind and need a Thundershirt in a hurry, or you prefer to make one yourself, there are plenty of tutorials. Check out these helpful and creative DIY dog Thundershirts.
The 5 DIY Dog Thundershirts
1. DIY Thunder Shirt by My Old Country House
| Materials: | Old tee shirt |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you’re really in a bind with an impending storm or fireworks, you can wipe up a DIY Thundershirt in no time with this simple tutorial. You just grab an old tee shirt that’s about the size of your dog (child’s sizes for toy and small breeds), put it on your dog like a normal shirt, and tie it snugly in a knot in the back. It is really that simple! If you don’t have enough fabric to tie it with the shirt itself, you can make a knot with a hairband or rubber band to hold it in place.
2. DIY Dog Anxiety Wrap by Petwell Supply
| Materials: | Long bandage, old shirt cut in strips |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Like the name says, this anxiety wrap is perfect in a pinch. If you don’t have access to a Thundershirt locally, you can make one quickly with a long bandage or an old stretch shirt cut into strips. This tutorial is super simple to follow with its video format, too. It can be easy to tie the strips too tight, however, so be careful that you make the shirt snug and soothing without hurting your dog.
3. DIY Thundershirt Knock-Off by daniKATE Designs
| Materials: | Fabric, old tee shirt, Velcro |
| Tools: | Sewing kit |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This Thundershirt Knock-Off requires an existing pattern, which may be challenging to come by. But if you can get a hold of someone’s official Thundershirt or an old one to use as a pattern, you’re good to go! After creating the simple pattern, it is just a matter of some sewing magic to make your own. If you have some sewing and patterning experience, you may be able to create your own pattern.
4. DIY Thundershirt by sarahsuricat
| Materials: | Ace bandage |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This DIY Thundershirt is more of a swaddle, but it couldn’t be easier to do yourself. This is based on the TTouch Wrap method developed by Sarah Hauser. There’s a video and an illustration to follow to make sure you get it right. Ace bandages can be tied very tight, however, so be careful that it is only snug and not restrictive to your dog.
5. Bandage Dog Anxiety Wrap by PetDIYs
| Materials: | Elastic bandage |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
The Bandage Dog Anxiety Wrap is another simple and straightforward tutorial that uses a bandage to wrap your dog. You can also use old fabric strips if they have stretch. All you have to do is fold the bandage wrap in half and wrap it around your dog’s chest, shoulders, and belly, then tie it off in the back.
Conclusion
Thundershirts are a revolution for dogs with anxiety, especially with thunderstorms or fireworks. They can be pricey, however, so if you want to get all the benefits at an affordable price, put in the work and create your own Thundershirts with these helpful tutorials.
Featured Image Credit: Gladskikh Tatiana, Shutterstock
