Shaking On Walks

[Guest Branna]

Hi, everyone. We adopted our greyhound about 8 weeks ago. He's adjusted very well, except now that it's so cold I'm wondering if anyone has ever come across this issue.

It's not that he's shivering (he has a warm coat and a snood), but it seems that every few steps when we're on our walk, he is constantly shaking himself (as if he were covered with water). Could this just be a reaction to the cold (-13 celsius) dry air and he's just not used to it, coming from the Alabama.

Thank you for all your help.

[juliemac]

Mine do that too ... and I see it as an indication that they're cold (like a shiver). Don't be surprised if they start picking up their feet and whimpering pitifully shortly after that (if there's snow on the ground) ...

[ramonaghan]

My hound does this because she doesn't like wearing a coat; could that be it? (Obviously, at that temperature yours will have to get used to it!)

[Guest RMarie]

James does this, even with 2 coats on and boots. He especially likes to stop and shake in the middle of a crosswalk! He is a big drama queen when it's cold.

[Guest laura150]

Mine does that with his coat on. He wants to shake it off!

[Guest Branna]

Thanks for all your replies! I appreciate it.

[Guest Heep]

It could also be the static created by his fur rubbing on the lining that's bothering him. Try running a thin layer of hand lotion over him before he dresses to go out.

[djsgreys]

Some of mine do this only when wearing a coat as well.

[XTRAWLD]

Mine do it too, but I thought for the longest time it was because of static. I have one coat for Kasey it's always charged with static and I wonder if it jolts him as he walks. You could try to wash the coats in more softener, or wash them more regularly. That's my only suggestion.

[claudiav]

my girl does this constantly cause he hates coats

[philospher77]

I will just chime in to add that "shaking off" is also a stress-reliever for dogs. Since you haven't had this dog long, and it's obviously way too cold for him to go coatless, I would try all the things suggested for static, but also watch to see if there is a common trigger for the shaking. Does he only do it when he's just walked past a yard with barking dogs, or when a bicycle has whizzed past, or kids have been playing? That sort of thing. Just in case it is an anxiety cause, and not a physical one from the coat.

[Guest TheLast13]

My guy will hake when hes chilly, coat or not. When a cold wind hits him he usually shakes right afterwards.

[Guest PipDG]

Emmie shakes fairly regularly - whether she has a coat on or not - but especially if she has a coat on!

[antisense]

Mine tries to shake off his coat in the winter. He especially likes to do it while crossing the street.

He infrequently shakes while walking in warmer weather when he doesn't have a coat, but he seems to mostly do it while in the middle of the street!

[macoduck]

Try walking him without the coat. You can't believe how much static electricity can build up in those fleece coats.

[Feisty49]

Annie likes to give her body a big shake, with feet flying side to side, a few times a day, inside or outside, summer or winter, but she does it more often outside when she has on a coat in the cold weather. It's as if she's trying to shake off the coat. Too bad. If she wants to walk and it's cold, she has to wear a coat. If she really hates a particular coat (such as the expensive but wonderful Voyagers K9 coat I bought last month), after 50 feet, she refuses to walk and turns back to home. Once I change out the coat for another, she's glad to walk.

[Walliered]

DaVid does that because he does not like coats. He is a very happy dog in the cold weather, so I don't put a coat on him. Of course, we live outside of Savannah, Georgia!