Caring for a dog with anxiety can be very difficult. Symptoms range from shaking and barking, through to aggressive behavior and even making themselves ill. No owner wants to see their dog go through this and may try many ways to prevent anxiety in their pet pooch. One of the best methods is using an anxiety vest.
However, with so diverse types available, how do you know which is the best? Our panel of dog lovers and animal experts have compiled a list of the 5 best dog anxiety vests to help answer this question.
The ThunderShirt Classic is perfect for large dogs who need a little extra support during loud or stressful situations. The jacket is adjustable and specifically designed to apply just the right amount of pressure to calm your dog. The jacket provides an alternative to using drugs to calm a nervous dog or one exhibiting separation anxiety. It is durable and machine washable, as well as being comfortable for your dog to wear.
Read our in-depth ThunderShirt Review.
Suitable for dogs weighing 65 – 110lbs and with a chest size of 30” – 37”
Product dimensions 0.9” X 9.4” X 13”
Easy to fit to your dog with adjustable straps
Made from durable fabric that resists collecting hair
Machine washable
- Brand: Thundershirt
- Model: HGXL-T01
- Weight: 11.8 ounces
Drug free and requires no training
Suitable for a wide range of situations from vet visits to thunder
Material is durable, but soft, breathable and machine washable
May take a few attempts to get the level of pressure right
Whether your dog suffers from crate anxiety, car anxiety, or just hates loud and unexpected noises the Anti Anxiety and Stress Relief Calming coat from the AKC can help. Designed to fit comfortably around your dog and to apply pressure in much the same way as swaddling does with an infant. The coat is fully adjustable to meet your dog’s specific needs and shape.
Suitable for dogs weighing 20 – 50lbs and with chest size 19” – 24”
Product dimensions 7.6” X 10.4” X 0.4”
Easy to fit to your dog with adjustable straps
Machine washable
- Brand: American Kennel Club
- Model: 1001-CC-M
- Weight: 6.7 ounces
Versions available to fit dogs from 10lbs up to 70lbs
Drug free and requires no training
Suitable for a wide range of indoor and outdoor uses
Material is machine washable
In shorter bodied male dogs, the coat may interfere with toileting, care needs to be taken to avoid this when fitting
The Dog Anxiety Calming Wrap by Mellow Shirt provides comfort and style, while also offering a drug free way of calming your dog in stressful situations. The wrap around style is easy to fit to your dog and does not require any difficult maneuvers, there are no slits or head holes to worry about. The wrap stays in place with the help of hook and loop fasteners and can be adjusted to meet your dog’s needs.
Suitable for dogs weighing 41 – 64lbs and with chest size 25” – 30”
Product dimensions 9.5” X 0.2” X 7.5”
Wraps around for comfort and fastens with hook and loop system
Made from lightweight and breathable material that is machine washable
- Brand: Mellow Shirt
- Model: M-L
- Weight: 6.4 ounces
No awkward slits or head holes to attempt
Versions available to fit dogs from 7lbs up to 11lbs
Available in a variety of colors
Sports style means no loose piece of fabric and limited fabric on underbelly
Suitable for a wide range of uses indoor and outside
Is not the heaviest product on the market, so may not be suitable for dogs with extreme anxieties who need more pressure to feel the benefit of wearing a vest
Fastenings can be tricky on long hair dogs
The ThunderShirt Polo Dog Anxiety Jacket has the additional benefit of the ThunderSpray Patch. Here you can add an essential oil spray especially designed to help calm very nervous dogs. The scents in the spray work with the pressure provided by the jacket to relax and calm your dog. The wrap round design is easy to fit to even the most energetic of dogs and the jacket can be adjusted to provide just the right amount of pressure for your pooch.
Suitable for dogs weighing 41 – 64lbs and with chest size 25” – 30”
Product dimensions 10.5” X 7.5” X 0.5”
Wrap around style for easy fitting and adjustment
Suitable for use indoors or outdoors
- Brand: Thundershirt
- Model: HPLT01
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
Made from breathable, durable, soft material that won’t cause discomfort to your dog
Machine washable
Available in a range of colors
Sizes available to fit dogs from under 7lbs up to 110lbs
Fully adjustable to meet your dog’s specific needs
Works in tangent with the ThunderSpray for greater effect
There is a risk that the hair of long haired dogs may get caught in the Velcro style fastening straps
Available in no fewer than 14 sizes and in six bright colors, the unique design of the Surgi~Snuggly dog anxiety vest makes it an ideal choice for dogs recovering from injury or surgery. It is made from breathable and stretchable fabric that has a calming effect on your pooch and has flat seams that will not cause irritation. The vest controls germs and odors and provides easy access to view wounds. There is a useful built-in pocket at the back for poop bags and other essentials.
Wide range of sizes and colors
Comfortable material deters germs
Prevents licking of wounds
Pocket for poop bags
Flat seams
- Brand: Surgi~Snuggly
- Model: Original EC
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
Best Dog Anxiety Vest Buying Guide
When looking for the best anxiety vest for your four-legged friend, it can help to know more about how the vests work and what you need to consider when looking for such a vest. Here we look to answer these and other questions to help you make the right decision for your dog so that they can enjoy a less stressful and anxious life.
How Does a Dog Anxiety Vest Work?
Dogs, just like most humans need comfort and closeness when they are feeling scared. As their pack leader, it is your job to keep the pack safe. Your dog feels safest when close to you. This is one of the reasons why they cuddle into you or look for you in unfamiliar situations and when things happen that they are unsure of.
However, as much as you may want to, you cannot always be there to cuddles and unfortunately, there are also many aspects of the environment that you cannot control. This includes loud noises outside the home, thunder, and other extreme weathers. You also need to sometimes leave the house without your dog. There are also stressful situations that you as pack leader must put your dog into, whether you want to or not, including visits to the veterinarians.
In these and other circumstances, a dog anxiety vest acts as a substitute to a cuddle from you, the pack leader. Anxiety vests wrap around the core of your dog providing a sense of closeness and comfort. They are usually made from a slightly weighted material that provides consistent pressure across your dog’s body so that they feel as if they are being held. The vest works in much the same way as swaddling an infant does. The pressure they feel has the same physiological effect as being held, and this, in turn, calms the dog’s anxieties. Several surveys have been conducted into anxiety vests on dogs and cats and all show around an 80% success rate in relieving anxiety.
When to Use a Dog Anxiety Vest?
The short answer is anytime your dog displays behaviors that indicate they are stressed, anxious, overly nervous, or scared. This could be anything from a trip to the vets to a thunderstorm. Other situations where a vest may be useful include:
- Fireworks
- Heavy rain
- Windstorms
- Long car journeys
- Flights
The vests have also been shown to be effective for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. Providing a vest for such a dog means that you are less likely to come home to noise complaints from the neighbors and destroyed furniture. The vests are not designed to be worn all the time, but as long as you regularly check your dog’s comfort and the health of the vest, there is no specific time limit to how long it can be worn at any one time.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Dog Anxiety Vest
There are numerous anxiety vests on the market and they differ in everything from how they need to be fitted to your dog, to the type of material they are made from. It is essential to take these and other points into consideration when looking for the right vest for your dog.
- Size
It is crucial that the vest you buy fits your dog perfectly, otherwise, it will not be effective. While most vests are adjustable, there are limits to how big or small you can make them. Before you buy a dog anxiety vest, check your dog’s weight and their chest measurement and choose a vest that suits these measurements. Also, take note of the length of the vest, especially if you have a short bodied male dog. You don’t want the vest interfering with their ability to go to the toilet.
- Fittings
Some vests are designed to wrap around your dog, meaning that there are no slits or holes that you need to get parts of your dog into. These vests tend to be better for dogs who are unused to clothes or who don’t like being handled (opposed to held) when anxious.
Take a look at our articles on Tactical Dog Vests and Dog Hunting Vest.
- Fastenings
Most vests use Velcro style fastening strips as these make the vests flexible and adjustable. Others use hook and loop systems, either independently or in addition to Velcro style strips. Hook and loop systems can be tricky to do up, especially if your dog is not very good at staying still and practice may be needed to get the fastenings done up correctly. The main problem with anything like Velcro is that your dog’s hair can become trapped in it, this is especially true with long-haired dogs. If you choose this type of fastening, be sure to check for caught hair as soon as you have fitted the vest.
- Materials
While you want your dog to be comforted and comfortable in their vest, you do not want them to overheat. For this reason, it is preferable to look for a vest that uses breathable materials. It is also beneficial if the vest is machine washable as this helps to reduce mess and smells, especially if your dog is going to wear the vest outside.
Check out our ultimate guide on the Best Dog Cooling Vests.
- Scents and sprays
While the anxiety vest works perfectly well on its own for most dogs, others may require additional support. Some vests accommodate the needs of very anxious dogs by adding a spray patch where you can add natural sprays and scents that help to calm your canine companion. If you are going down this route it is important to only use sprays that are designed for dogs.
You may also like our guide on Anxiety Supplements for Dogs.
How to Calm an Anxious Dog
Calming an anxious dog can take time, even with an anxiety vest. Firstly, you need to identify the source of anxiety and determine whether this is something that you can train your dog to overcome. For example, if your dog is anxious around new people, then using the vest in combination with socialization training produces the best long-term results.
You need to introduce your dog to the vest slowly so that they do not see it as a threat or a punishment. This may involve giving them time to sniff and roll on it before you first try to put it on. When you do put it on for the first time, it should be in a situation where your dog is comfortable and not anxious (where possible).
Make this a fun activity, involving lots of praise and dog treats as they allow you to fit the vest correctly. Be guided by your dog through their response and behavior as to whether the vest is comfortable and fitted correctly.
Some owners notice an immediate change in their dog’s behavior, but for others, it may take a little time. It is crucial that you stay with your dog the first time they wear the vest in a situation that causes anxiety so that you can gauge whether it is properly fitted and working. If it is separation anxiety that causes the issues, then only leave the house for a short time, and if possible stay close so you can listen for any barking or howling.
Praise your dog after the situation has past and remove the vest when you are confident that your dog is ready for you to do so.
If you follow these tips you should see a noticeable and positive change in your dog’s behavior and overall wellbeing. In turn, this should make your life less stressful and mean that you can focus on spending quality time with your pet pooch, rather than worrying about constantly replacing the furniture.
Sources:
- Wailani Sung, PhD, DVM, Extreme Fear and Anxiety in Dogs, PetMD
- Flannigan GM, Risk Factors and Behaviors Associated with Separation Anxiety in Dogs, PubMed
