Shaking Dog
While researching articles, I usually have the TV on for background noise. Today was no different until I noticed a small dog walking into a popular daytime talk show. Well, the movement of four feet instantly causes me to look up and smile. This darling little dog was accompanied by a well-known movie star who picked her up and immediately said, “She’s shaking because she’s cold. I’m not abusing her.”
Well I certainly don’t think the dog is shaking because she’s being abused, as she looks well loved by her pet parent. One thing I want to address: shaking or shivering doesn’t mean a dog is cold, but instead it means he or she is stressed or scared.
Do I feel this darling little dog is abused? No. She willingly walked onto a stage with her pet parent. Her shaking was minor and ended within a few minutes, meaning she settled into her pet parent’s secure arms and watched the crowd. But I do want to address the cold shaking myth because it’s not entirely true.
Dog Shaking Means Stress
Shivering or shaking means a dog is stressed or fearful. Humans react the same way. It’s a natural response to stress. Shaking paired with flattened ears, bulging eyes, tucked tail, closed mouth, or slow walking, looking away, turning head means fear. The dog is trying to walk away and ignore the cause of his fear.
Now, some dogs shake with excitement, but the majority of their body language is different. When dogs are excited, their ears are up, tail wags loosely, eyes soften, body bouncing or jumping around, and engage with whatever is causing their excitement.
Shaking, trembling and shivering can be a medical issue, and usually happens when dogs are hurt, nauseous or sick. If you suspect any of these causes, contact your vet immediately.
RELATED: How to Train Fearful Dogs
Why Dispel This Myth?
Once pet parents understand why their dogs are shaking, they can address it and move on. Now, dogs can shake because they’re cold, but it’s highly unlikely when it’s warm outside. I’ve yet to notice air conditioning causing a short-haired dog to shake. Plus, look at a dog’s entire body language. Choosing one thing to focus on (shaking) is like reading a sentence with missing words—you’re missing the true meaning.
How to Address Shaking and Shivering
If your dog shakes and shivers, take note where this happens. Usually, I witness small dogs shaking at the vet’s office or during the first day of group dog training classes. Now, this is not a small dog problem. I’ve witnessed large dogs shivering too—big dogs get scared too.
If you notice your dog is shaking due to fear or stress, bring super yummy treats with you when visiting these scary places. Ask your worried dog to “touch” while waiting at the vet’s office. This gives your dog something else to do instead of worry. Notice I mentioned dogs shake and shiver during the first day of class? It’s because we keep them busy by rewarding other behavior. Soon, dogs learn scary places mean yummy treats and they’re not as worried. They’ll have had more positive experiences than scary ones, so they learn it’s not that bad.
RELATED: My Dog Refuses to Move
Typical Redirection Session
Assuming fearful dogs will get over it is like assuming your fear of spiders will subside in a room filled of fast-moving spiders. It’s not going to happen, and it will only get worse. Instead, redirect their stress or fear with a simple game.
- Use a clicker (or say “yes”) and super yummy treats, such as cheese bits, diced baked chicken or cubed lunchmeat. Don’t be stingy with treats. Give them often (every five seconds or so). 🙂
- Ask dog to “touch” his nose to your hand. This is super easy to do, and it redirects his attention to something else. Refrain from asking “sit” or “down,” as this is tough to do when scared. Your dog is scared and really doesn’t want to draw any further attention to himself.
- Patience is key. Usually, a stressed dog will reluctantly “touch” your palm, eat his treat slowly and scan the room again. Say “touch” again after he’s had a few seconds to look around in his environment (he’s making sure he’s safe).
- Don’t repeat the “touch” cue. If your dog isn’t responding, move farther back from the scary thing and try again. Repeating “touch” over and over with ever increasing volume will cause additional stress. Your dog hears you, but he’s too scared to look away.
- After a few “touches,” you’ll notice your dog rebounds faster, meaning he’ll look back at you quicker and touch your hand with gusto. Good job!
Keep practicing in scary situations and soon dog shaking and shivering will be a thing of the past. If it happens again, you know exactly what to do!
I sometimes see my small dog shiver even though she is wagging her tail. So, I don’t think she is stressed or fearful. I praise her but the shivering doesn’t stop. It is usually when I am sitting at my desk working instead of sitting in the bed with her. I used to work from my bed until about 9 months ago and she doesn’t like not being able to lay next to me as I work. Unfortunately, she is too big to lay next to me in my office chair.
Hi Bill-
A wagging tail doesn’t mean a dog is happy, it can mean uncertainty, fear or aggression too. I’m sure your dog holds her tail down, yet wags slowly which means uncertainty. When you’re at work, give her a food-stuffed toy to keep her busy. She can lick the toy at your feet while you’re working, and it keeps her from stressing out. Do this daily, and soon she’ll look forward to you working as she’ll get a peanut butter stuffed toy! By pairing something good with you working, she’ll soon accept change. Good luck!
In a commercial me, my brother and Dad were watching, about dogs being abused, one of the dogs WAS shaking out of fear.
Yes! Shaking is mostly fear, it has nothing to do with cold…. unless a hairless or short-haired dog is standing in freezing weather. 🙂
My dog just randomly went stiff, bulging eyes and wouldn’t open his mouth. He showed no signs of understanding us and wouldn’t move his eyes, he was also shivering. After a few minutes of us wrapping him in a blanket and rubbing him and talking to him he went back to normal.
Please help me understand what went wrong with him.
Oh, how scary Rhonda! It’s hard to say exactly what happened to your dog, but I would certainly schedule an appointment with your vet ASAP…. he may have had a seizure. If this happens again, while waiting for your vet appointment, write down specifics on how long it happened, how your dog behaved, etc. Kisses to your dog, and I’m sending lots of positive energy your way!
I’m sorry but I think this article is nonsense. You’re telling ppl to. Give their dogs treats when their scared then saying that they will then shake at not scary places because you rewarded their behavior? Why would you give them a treat when their scared. My dog shivers in the middle of the night at random or whence heard his dog friend outside barking. He gets along with this dog and they are buds. Never got in a fight or anything. So I really doubt he’s scared. Also, I’m a dog groomer and i have a few dogs that shake when they know they are about to be groomed so you’re totally just confirming the pet parents fear that the dog is scared. The dogs in question that I groom are very easy to groom, never got hurt, and nothing bad ever happened. It annoys me when they act like the dog must be getting hurt under my care but I’ve been doing this for 10 years and that definitely not the case. Dogs shake randomly for random reasons we do not know. Yes, sometimes it could be a little fear but not exclusively.
Hi Jessica! Many years ago, I believed the same way you do…. but science has proven otherwise. Using counter conditioning is extremely powerful, hence using treats to change a dog’s behavior toward something scary. Now, some pet owners assume “no behavior” means a dog is comfortable but that is incorrect. When dogs shut down, they are scared and don’t know what else to do (happens multiple times during vet exams and grooms). Yes, dogs shake for many reasons, but when a dog’s ears are pulled back, tail tucked, leaning backwards with wide eyes and shaking- that’s fear.