shivering?
- WillieELk78GSP
- Rank: Senior Hunter
- Posts: 199
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:29 pm
- Location: Silverdale, WA
shivering?
My year and a half GSP seems to shiver for no reason, just wondering if anyone had any insight to why she does this, its not cold out and its in the house. I know of another GSP that does this frequently. Does this breed just do this or maybe something else is making her do this, So why does she shiver like this?
Thanks,
Will
Thanks,
Will
Re: shivering?
excitement, anxiety ??
- birddogger
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3776
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:09 pm
- Location: Bunker Hill, IL.
Re: shivering?
The GSP that I just lost last spring did it off and on his whole life. I believe, as Sharon said it was probably just excitement. But whatever, I never worried about it. It is just the way some dogs/breeds are IMO.
Charlie
Charlie
Re: shivering?
My oldest GSP does it all the time. If he can see a bunny rabbit, squirrel or something when he looks out the window he starts shivering and you can see all his muscles twitching. He even does it right before I turn him loose at a trial. With him I think it is both the excitement and anxiety all at the same time.
Re: shivering?
Mine does it while laying in his bed. To me it seems he is burning energy. This happens even after a good hunt.???????
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- Rank: Just A Pup
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 4:12 pm
- Location: Austin, Texas
Re: shivering?
My 4 yr old female does this in anticipation of smelling birds, always has.
Re: shivering?
Mine learned that when it shivered at back door in winter my wife would let it in, now she does it even when it's 90 in the summer to come in.
Re: shivering?
LOlfishvik wrote:Mine learned that when it shivered at back door in winter my wife would let it in, now she does it even when it's 90 in the summer to come in.
And they say dogs aren't smart. I started giving my old dog a little vegetable oil on his food to get her to eat better. Now the other two sit there looking at me saying, " So where's mine?"
Re: shivering?
LOL, and I thought if was just our pups that shivered in the summer.fishvik wrote:Mine learned that when it shivered at back door in winter my wife would let it in, now she does it even when it's 90 in the summer to come in.
Re: shivering?
My pointer will do the shiver with butt wiggle when he sees a leash, backpack, etc., shiver when he gets out of the crate outdoors, and shiver when he hears a train (that last is just an "I'm nervous" shiver, I think). It would be interesting to know if coated high-drive dogs like mals or Border Collies did this; I have seen labs do it. It's easier to see on a pointer for sure.
- birddog1968
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3043
- Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 pm
- Location: Wherever I may roam
Re: shivering?
I call it the coiled spring effect.....ready to go at a seconds notice.
- millerms06
- Rank: Master Hunter
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:34 pm
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
Re: shivering?
The only time I see a dog shiver is from two things:
1. anxiety or excitement
2. trying to keep warm
1. anxiety or excitement
2. trying to keep warm
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- Rank: Senior Hunter
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:22 pm
- Location: N.E.Ohio
Re: shivering?
My shorthair has shivered her whole life (11yrs) when the thermo drops below 70 shiver wiffee covers her with a blanket she wears a coat all winter long and the white box(heater duct) is her best friend... while I type this she is upstairs under the blankies in bed... I have seen many shorthairs shivering.
Re: shivering?
I was out working in the yard yesterday and it was cold and breezy. Lots of shivering from our dog. The wife kept taking him in because she felt sorry for him, but would bring him out a few minutes later because he wanted out so bad. After going in/out 3-4 times, he got to shiver outside with me... Later that night, she was looking at some of the kids old sweatshirts and trying to figure out a way to fit one on him.
Re: shivering?
My lab has never shivered from cold. But she shivers/quivers on the dock with excitement.
- roaniecowpony
- Rank: 5X Champion
- Posts: 817
- Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:05 am
- Location: westcoast
Re: shivering?
My pointer used to shiver a lot. I did some investigation. One of the possible causes can be too low body fat content. It turned out much of the shivering in my pointer was from this. Her shivers would occur constantly. Even when bedded in warmth. We picked up her weight/fat a bit and she lost most of the shivers.
She still shivers with excitement. But not just laying in bed.
She still shivers with excitement. But not just laying in bed.
Re: shivering?
My five year old gsp has done it his whole life while laying down or sleeping. no reason why.
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- Rank: Junior Hunter
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:04 pm
- Location: Hudson, Wisconsin
Re: shivering?
I have had the same question.roaniecowpony wrote:My pointer used to shiver a lot. I did some investigation. One of the possible causes can be too low body fat content. It turned out much of the shivering in my pointer was from this. Her shivers would occur constantly. Even when bedded in warmth. We picked up her weight/fat a bit and she lost most of the shivers.
She still shivers with excitement. But not just laying in bed.
My 3 yr old GSP will also (sometimes) shiver while just laying there on a warm day and not sleeping. I know he is not cold or nervous at the time. I like your thought on body fat as a cause. But how would you add body fat to a GSP which has so much energy and burns up everything I feed him? I give him (Purina Pro High Energy)2 cups in a.m. and 2 cups in p.m. year round and an extra 2 on hunting days. And recently I have broken my rule of no people food and he has been getting some plate leftovers - he loved Thanksgiving! But he hasn't an ounce of fat on him. Do you suggest a different dog food or supplement?
Also, I don't know why but when I bought the F150 crew cab (he has to stay in the back seat all the time), he shivers almost the whole time back there (for the last year)He didn't do that in the SUV. He has been driving with me 70% of the time when I work for 3 years, so it is not like he is uneasy traveling. Maybe he doesn't like Fords.
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- Rank: 5X Champion
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- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:50 pm
- Location: Georgia
Re: shivering?
Nerves, anxiety, more of a mental issue IMO. To put weight on a dog you increase calories, add some oil to the dogs food.