Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm This 4th of July #giveaway

Recently we chatted with ThunderShirt founder Phil Blizzard about anxiety triggers in dogs and what you can do to help. It's perfect timing with upcoming 4th of July fireworks and other summer festivities which may cause your pets to feel stressed.

Check out our interview with Phil, and then read all the way down for more tips AND a chance to win your very own ThunderShirt! Both dogs AND cats can benefit from ThunderShirt and both have the chance to win one!


Help keep your pets safe and calm with these additional tips from Pet Supplies Plus. We've added a few of our own below too!
  • Close windows and doors so that dogs don’t see the flashes of lightning or fireworks; try using earmuffs or canine-safe ear plugs.
  • Pay attention to your pet. Don’t ignore a dog that is scared of fireworks, and try to provide a safe, cozy place during the show. Some dogs like hiding in closets, under beds or in bath tubs.
  • Try a ThunderShirt. They are meant to help dog anxieties caused by thunderstorms, travel, separation and more.
  • Give your dog a treat reserved for fireworks; maybe a meaty bone or a special chew toy or try stuffing peanut butter or cheese into a marrow bone. Anything that will last long enough to divert the dog’s attention from the noise.
  • Studies have found that classical music performed on the piano produce a calming effect on 70% of dogs in shelters and 85% of dogs in homes. 

We also like to either turn up the TV to help drown out loud firework sounds or play calming music from Through a Dog's Ear, classical compositions that are specifically rearranged to help provide a calm, relaxing environment. They may help reduce your own stress too!

Also, consider adding double protection to your pet's identity with both a microchip and a tag. The loud bangs and flashes from 4th of July fireworks can cause pets to panic and flee, resulting in more lost pets than any other time of year. Be sure to keep your pets out of harm's way (best way is inside in a secure place) this 4th of July by taking some of these simple precautions.

Rocco says, "Don't worry, be happy. Wear a ThunderShirt!"
Stop Your Stressing, Win a Thundershirt!

Like Phil says in the video, he created ThunderShirt to help relieve his pup Dosi's anxieties. And since 2009, the gentle calming hug of the ThunderShirt has helped over a million dogs and cats around the world overcome their fears and anxieties.

Thunder and noises were the first fears the folks at ThunderShirt set out to tackle, but along the way, they found that simple pressure helped with a multitude of pet anxieties including separation, travel, vet visits and more. Their proprietary research also uncovered that more than 30 percent of pets suffer from one or more of these anxieties, making anxiety one of the leading issues for today's pet parents.

If you think your dog or cat can benefit from ThunderShirt enter our giveaway via Rafflecopter, below.  Contest open until 12 a.m. ET on July 14. U.S. entries only.

Good luck and have a happy and safe 4th of July!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: ThunderShirt provided the interview and product for this post and giveaway. All opinions expressed herein are entirely our own.

22 comments:

  1. Thunder, and trips to the vet & groomer. Other than that she's very calm and not startled by things other dogs tend to be startled by (like the vacuum).

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  2. My rescue dog is scared of storms. Wish I could win this for my baby Nola!

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  3. The pool sweep, when it surfaces makes a loud sucking noise, which drives my dog nuts!

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  4. My husband's Corgi is terrified of (in severity order): Fireworks; Target-practice weekends down the road; Thunderstorms.

    The fireworks that started last weekend have made night miserable for him.

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  5. I'm scared when Mom leaves, and when my back nails are trimmed!
    Nola

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  6. Kouga is terrified of thunderstorms.

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  7. My poor Thor hears a snap and he's on my lap. At 80lbs the poor guy just quivers.

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  8. Ella is terrified of passing planes, the water hose, and all loud noises.

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  9. Loud noises or big boxes tend to do it. We are huge fans of the Thundershirt! It really helped Penny (and us) when we first brought her home and had to crate train her all over again.

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  10. Those are great tips. Mom blasts the TV. We sure would love to win that shirt for my Lily
    Snorts,
    Benny & Lily

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  11. Honey is scared of riding in her bike cart. But we're working on it still.

    I don't think she needs a Thundershirt but I'd love to win one to donate to my local shelter. They use them a lot.

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  12. I have no fear, but my sister is happy just being in the upstairs bathroom when she is scared. She dislikes wearing anything like clothes so I will leave her in the bathroom but for scared dogs it would be great!

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  13. My dog Shunta is afraid of men's voices and does get spooked over thunder

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  14. My cat is terrified of the garbage trucks (there are three different ones) and this is every Tuesday of every single week. He's under the sofa.

    ~~~~~~~~
    In the contest on the Rafflecopter I am Margot Core

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  15. We have a Thundershirt already. Fortunately, Maya doesn't need it. She is not at all scared of loud noises. Pierson might be frightened at first. But based on experience from last year, he will relax when he sees Maya isn't worried. Both dogs will be safe indoors for just in case. We have classical music lined up as well as delicious bones from Jones Natural Chews too.

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  16. Loud noises like construction makes my little Enzo really nervous, which totally sucks because we live in the heart of Downtown where there`s always tons of construction and other loud noises!!

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  17. Hmmmm... that's a good question. It took me a minute to think of it, but she always got so scared when I took her to work with me! The vet's office so I guess I don't blame her much. Great tips - hope you guys have a nice holiday!

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  18. Thunder and fireworks scares at least two of my doggies.

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  19. Fireworks, and sometimes new big things(such as a pool in the back yard, etc) throw them off for awhile.

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  20. biggest fear is fireworks, next is loud thunder

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  21. Big Noises & falling objects.

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  22. My last dog, I took too the fireworks the first year when he was a puppy. I shoved food down his mouth the entire time. Needless to say, the next time, and any time he heard fireworks, he thought they were great. I continued taking him sometimes, and he always had a good time. We also have lots of people who do illegal stuff, and smaller legal stuff, all summer long, including myself. He always stayed out with us when we did it.

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