The effect of pressure vest on noise phobic dogs in a double-blinded experiment

Fear of loud noises is a very common welfare problem in pet dogs, and the severity of fearful reaction varies from mild anxiety to severe phobia. Commercial pressure vests have been tested on dogs to relief noise phobia and peripheral oxytocin has been suggested to be one of the stress-relieving mediators. However the effect of vests has not been tested in a controlled situation.
We test whether pressure vests calm severely noise phobic dogs in a double-blinded experiment, and if the possible effect differs between deep and light pressure vests. We also study if the deep pressure vest increases oxytocin secreted in urine.