When dogs get anxious - whether it’s when riding a car, or during a thunderstorm - we tend to get nervous with them, and that’s because it’s so agonizing to see our furry friends suffering. The most known solution were thundershirts that helped calm down our pets.

Lately a new thing has being going on:

People have started making a dog half wrap with scarves (or really just a piece of fabric).

Most important of all:

It’s been working! It’s like a homemade thundershirt for dogs, but one that you can DIY at home!

Keep your dog calm and happy with a half wrap pattern!
Keep your dog calm and happy with a half wrap pattern! Image source: Dog Training Nation
“A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won't be too bad.” - Robert Wagner

Why You Should Learn This Trick

Our furry friends deserve the best!
Our furry friends deserve the best! Image source: 8 State Hurricane Kate

When dogs are afraid, their animalistic instinct makes them not think straight by sending their blood to legs and paws. That also explains why they run so incredibly fast during anxiety attacks.

This is where the DIY dog half wrap comes in:

It goes around the dog’s body preventing the blood to overflow to their legs and keeping a balance of blood flowing throughout their whole bodies. That keeps them calm while preventing them from running away.

Dalmations are really aggitaded species, but the dog half wrap helps keep it calm!
Dalmations are a really aggitaded species, but the dog half wrap helps keep it calm! Image source: Xtra Dogs

The most common situations to use a dog anxiety wrap DIY are:

  • During thunderstorms
  • During fireworks
  • For some dogs, during car rides to the vet (or even at the vet)

However, it’s important that you know your dog because the fears can differ from one to another. If you ever had troubles with your dog being aggressive to guests in your home, the half wrap can help with that as well - though you should still consider a professional training for the occasion.

How to Wrap a Dog for Anxiety

A step by step on how to half wrap your dog (it's really simple)!
A step by step on how to half wrap your dog (it's really simple)! Image source: BarkPost Stories

It’s recommended that you do this with an ace bandage, but most people use scarves - and to be honest, any piece of stretchy fabric works just fine for the job!

In addition:

  • Remember to give some treats to your dog before you start working on the wrap
  • Make sure you have someone to help you so neither you nor the dog end up hurt
  • Never ever leave your dog alone after wrapping him or her
Not only dogs get calmer, they also get more friendly!
Not only dogs get calmer, they also get more friendly! Image source: Honest to Paws

Once you have all of that settled, these are the anxiety wrap instructions to help your pet:

  1. Place the bandage in front of the dog’s neck.
  2. Cross both edges over your dog’s shoulders.
  3. Cross both edges under your dog’s chest.
  4. Cross both edges on top of your dog’s waist.

Last thing to keep in mind is that the dog wrap should not be left on the dog for more than 30 minutes since that will start bothering and annoying the dog.

Related:

Hope this helped you to understand how to help you furry friend better! Let a comment down below if you have any questions and find more tips for Pet care on our page!

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