Adopting a Dog on National Dog Day
It comes as no surprise to most of my friends that I did end up adopting the wonderful 3-year-old Labradoodle I fostered over the weekend. I’ve renamed him Dusty in honor of his older “siblings” the venerable Duffy (Giant Schnauzer), Buster Brown (chocolate Lab), and Dixie Belle (black Lab-Chow mix).
Dusty the Labradoodle - curly
We had a great weekend, in spite of the severe weather in our Tampa, Florida area due to the outskirts of hurricane Irene raging up the east coast. On Sunday, in a brief window of sunshine, we trekked over to the Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg and met some new dog friends at the dog park. He was on-leash the entire time, and he was a little skittish with some of the dogs, but it was fun. He seems to have a particular dislike for Golden Retrievers. I think he is still anxious and fearful from some kind of previous abuse. We walked by the downtown shops and cafes and found a yogurt shop that has frozen “yogurt” for dogs. He’s allowed inside. It was great fun!
As we sat at our table outside to eat our treats, lots of people passed by and commented on him. “Cute clip” one lady remarked at his recent grooming. He did look sharp. “What kind of a dog IS that?” asked several people unfamiliar with the Lab-Poodle mix. “May I pet your dog?” asked one sweet little girl. Regretably, I felt I should decline and explained that he was a rescue dog still in training. Her dad pulled her away and tried to explain a bit more about what that meant.
I think I have a new Sunday afternoon ritual of walking along Beach Drive and getting a frozen yogurt with Dusty.
But I realized if we are going to get out and be social, it would be helpful to have some sort of bandanna or vest for Dusty to let people know he’s not a bad dog, he’s just learning to be less fearful and to give him space. So far, I haven’t found the perfect one, but I did run across the Thundershirt which may help with his anxieties and also give an indication that he’s a little fearful. We’re going to try it on our walks this week. It was highly recommended at the pet store and I even saw ads for it outside several of the vet clinics in my area.
Look…they even show it on a Labradoodle! 
I think it’s interesting how it works (from the product description):
How it Works
The Thundershirt works by applying constant, gentle pressure to the animal’s torso which has a significant calming effect for most dogs.
What it Treats
Anxiety, fear, stress and over-excitement are surprisingly common problems for millions of dogs in the United States. The Thundershirt anti-anxiety wrap has helped tens of thousands of dogs around the country reduce their suffering from these issues.
How it Works
The Thundershirt works by applying constant, gentle pressure to the animal’s torso which has a significant calming effect for most dogs.
What it Treats
The anti-anxiety wrap is designed to address common problems including fear of thunder and fireworks, separation anxiety and generalized anxiety, problem barking and jumping, travel stress, and more.
High Success Rate
The wrap offers a success rate of more than 80% – dramatically reducing stress and anxiety for most dogs.
Vet and Trainer Recommended
Thundershirts are embraced by professionals; thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers recommend Thundershirt to their clients.
Create Stronger Bonds
Dog anxiety can bring a pet owner’s relationship with their dog to the breaking point – some owners may think the only option is to forfeit their pet to a shelter. Thundershirt offers a better solution. By putting dogs at ease, Thundershirt provides the opportunity for dog owners to strengthen their bond with their pets.
Easy to Use
The Thundershirt is simple to put on and take off and is fully adjustable to fit dogs of most shapes and sizes. It’s easy to create a snug, comfortable fit which is the key to treating stress and anxiety.
I think this treatment could change the lives of many dogs and owners of anxious dogs. I also gave him one of my own favorite treatments for anxiety: Bach Rescue Remedy. That seemed to calm him down too. Isn’t it curious how I now have an anxious dog who will help me to become more of a calm, assertive pack leader, as Cesar Millano the Dog Whisperer would say? I love how things work out.
Have you or someone you know used the Thundershirt for dogs? What was your experience? I’d like to hear from you.
