Has anyone used a thundershirt and are they any good as I tried the plug in and spray last year for fireworks, which incidentally have already started, didn't have any effect at all.

I found it helpful with mine, not a massive amount but it seems to help her settle faster.
I also use zilkyne as well which helps too.

I used one last year - have only managed to use it once for thunder but I am not sure it made any difference.  My dog hates the sound of the velcro - if I don't get it fitted correctly first time I can't adjust it.     Last year I got her used to wearing it well in advance and had to put it on every evening before there was a risk of fireworks so she didn't make any associations -  and take it off first thing in the morning for the whole of the firework period and New Year.   Plug ins didn't make any difference to my dog - she wouldn't stay near them anyway.  As soon as she hears a loud bang or a rumble of thunder she comes looking for one of us - how she would be if we were not in the house I have no idea, but I expect the thundershirt would not make that much difference if she was by herself.  I have to have a dog sitter if we go out.   

Thanks for you help. We did find putting him in his crate helped but was looking for something else as last year he nearly wedged himself between the sofa and the wall and being very strong I had a job getting him out.

I have just bought one for my firework/thunder phobic dog and have used it once but anticipate it being in regular use over the coming months. My dog is so terrified that he has been prescribed sedatives by my vet which do help but I am hoping the thundershirt will mean less use of the diazepam. During a very loud thunderstorm he was still very distressed but he did settle noticeably quicker between claps of thunder. Previously there was no let up for him and he would be in a state of permanent distress for several hours even after the storm had passed overhead and into the distance.

The thundershirt seems to help him to settle much quicker inbetween episodes and it kept him from reaching total panic level for longer than normal. With Guy Fawkes night fast approaching I am hoping the TS will mean less use of the sedatives although if needed I will still use them. 

The decision to use sedatives was not taken lightly but he has become a danger to himself when in panic mode. Not only does he dig, pant, drool and run but he also tries to climb and having jumped the fire guard and tried to climb on top of the wood burner - which was alight - drastic measures had to be taken for his own safety. His reaction is all down to one specific incident whereas prior to that he was bombproof with thunder and fireworks - one inconsiderate neighbour on a summer evening put paid to all that :-(

I use a tight fitting kids t-shirt for my collie, used one for her daughter too. They do help but I've had great results with zylkene. I've already started it and she'll get one a day till mid November and it takes her from a terrified wreck trying to hide, to one who lies at my feet looking slightly concerned.

One was tried on Phoebe in her last home.  Did help a little bit until it was taken off - the velcro freaked her out and now she won't tolerate any clothing or wraps of any kind.

What really helps her is melatonin - reduces stress but does not sedate, and very effective (roughly an 80% success rate in dogs).  Huge range of dosing with extremely low risk of side effects - all I've heard of so far is bad gas at high doses, or two dogs weeing a bit more, again at a very high dose.  Phoebe has it at a high dose every day for chronic stress then more on top for fireworks, with alprazolam (xanax) for the really bad nights but since starting her on the melatonin, I've hardly needed that at all.

I tried melatonin on my foster before he went but I didnt notice any difference in him. i was giving him 3mg 3x day. was that enough. Mybe I should have tried more/. He weighed as a very rough estimate 30-35kg

I would have.  The threshold given around the web for going up to the next dose level (6mg 3x daily) is 35kg, but I'd have gone straight to it - Phoebe gets twice the dose he had and she's only 16kg.  It does take quite a bit more with some dogs than others (my little 8kg daycare dog needs 9mg before it'll touch her if she gets spooked!).  Someone I know online has litter brothers and I think one needs twice as much as the other before she sees an effect when fireworks or storms are happening.

Nikita - to take off the thundershirt I have good treats in my one hand and whip the velcro undone as quickly as I can with the other.  It is putting it on that is an art.  It has to go over the head - but trying to keep the velcro from not touching is difficult - as I said it is so difficult to adjust with a dog who is spooked by the noise.   I did plenty of preparation first before I even tried to put it on her - however my friend had tried her dog's thundershirt on Meg at a show - for size and she had already been alerted to the velcro sound before we started at home.