My Viz is always shivering!

[GSPVIZ]

Let me preface by saying that my viz is a cuddle bunny and she loves to be under the covers on the couch all the time (like most viz's i think).

Yesterday I got home from work and it was 60 deg in the house. Pretty chilly. I let her out and it was around 45 deg and windy. She came in within 1 minute and was shivering like crazy. She was in the house for a good 10 minutes and still shivering.

I know she has a really short/thin coat but is this normal? Last winter she did this when it snowed but 45 deg isn't that cold.

[sjohnny]

I live in Texas and mine often wears a flannel shirt in the winter :roll: He's a big wimp.

John

[GSPVIZ]

I washed the blanket that she always gets under while on the couch so she was out of commission for a day. I brought it back up from the basement, she pulled it out of my hands with her mouth, drug it to the couch, got under it and snuggled up.

In the morning when we come downstairs she wont even budge off of the couch since she is so comfy and warm under her blanket. :roll:

[Ayres]

They definitely seek the warmth, but I've not had a problem when out playing in the snow and cold weather. It's more of a mental thing I think.

I know Justus shivvered as a pup much more than he does now, and I'm pretty sure it's because my wife would give him extra attention to see that he was warm rather than his actually being cold.

[GSPVIZ]

She is fine in the snow as long as she is running around. If it is just to go out in the back yard to use the bathroom, she wants nothing to do with it (before you know it she is scratching at the sliding door wanting to come back in).

What a character :roll:

[ezzy333]

I've had problems with the Vizsla's handling the cold. One small female just couldn't and had to keep her in a heated area or she would have died. But I am sure it is a breed problem and not unique to your dog.

Ezzy

[Greg Jennings]

My V shivers if he is not active and the temp is under 70. He's fine as long as he's active. He's very small framed and is skinny. No insulation and no mass to retain the heat.

[sjohnny]

My V shivers if he is not active and the temp is under 70. He's fine as long as he's active. He's very small framed and is skinny. No insulation and no mass to retain the heat.

My case exactly.

[EddieF]

You need more hair on your Vizsla!!!

[GSPVIZ]

Another great pic Eddie.

She sure is a cutie. How do you get her to pose like that?

What camera are you using?

[EddieF]

Another great pic Eddie.

She sure is a cutie. How do you get her to pose like that?

What camera are you using?

By the way, I am looking forward to hopefully a more cold weather tolerant dog than my GSP was. She was always cold, and I like fall and winter walks.

Anyway, thanks. This photo, one of my very favorites, was taken with my little waterproof Olympus, it's a pocket camera I take fishing in case I drop it but it takes nice enough pictures. 720 is the model number, I recommend it.

But I recently got the Nikon P80 which takes really great photos. It's just not as portable. But it's a great camera and has a nice zoom. It's like a compromise between a pocket camera and an SLR. I recommend it also.

[Nebraska]

My first GSP had and extremely light coat and shivered a lot but I think she was just buttering me up to make sure I let her sleep in bed.....

BTW - she would make her "trips" outside as fast as possible and then want to come right back in but she wouldn't quit hunting no matter how cold it was......I couldn't believer her heart in that regard.......

[V-John]

My V's got to be moving... If he is, no problem. If not he'll get cold. But we are looking at under 50, not 70. Might be a regional thing.

That wirehair is a good looking pup though!

[GSP 4 me]

I haven't had any experience with a Viszla in this regard, but my GSP seems to tolerate the cold pretty well. I can't recall ever seeing him shiver even with snow on the ground and he's on the lean side for a male (55 pounds).

I've seen him shivering in the car whenever he sees pigeons on the sidewalk walking close by or when we are heading to one of his favorite dog parks...in this case... it's just pure excitement.

[mit]

it has gotten cold real fast here on the east. I know my gsp doesn't have any sign of his coat getting any thicker on his belly yet. Maybe it's because it went from being relatively warm to windy & cold within a matter of days.

[EddieF]

That's one handsome dog you've got there, mit.

[GSPVIZ]

That's one handsome dog you've got there, mit.

He sure is!

[mit]

why thank you both.

[EddieF]

I'd like to see more pics of him. But I love photos like the one in your avatar with the shallow depth of field - dog in focus, background blurred. Great shot.

[GSPVIZ]

mit, your not too far from me. I am only 10 minutes from Philly in Woodbury, NJ. GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where do you hunt?

[mit]

GSPVIZ,
I'm sorry to say we do not hunt Webster. I grew up in Minnesota hunting pheasants but when we moved out east I never hunted agin, I don't even own a gun. Webster & I are starting agility.

[mit]

EddieF,
I am just a hobbyist but I love photography. I own a Canon 20D but have a lot to learn!

[GSPVIZ]

mit, I was thinking of starting agility with my Viz but once I saw her in the field, agility took a back seat

How about this weather huh? It is too cold too quick!

[mit]

I'll say, that's why i wondered if that was the reason your viz was shaking, no chance of growing a thicker coat

[NE Vizsla]

I hunt mine in zero and minus weather and they seem to do just fine. I suppose if they were just standing out there in the cold they would get cold but most dogs would minus a few hunting breeds i suppose. If its bird season we go out whatever the temp is and they are happy to do it or at least they have never told me they want to stay home.

[56-26]

My vizlsa is the same way when it get it little colder out. I've been wondering what he is going to be like when we hunt and the temps get down into the 20 or 30's. I've read that they are not cold weather dogs. I also wondered if it affects him more that he stays in the house with us.