question about shivering
 

As some of you know my little Andy I have a question about shivering ,See I live in Canada ,he is almost 6 pounds ,when he goes outside -4 this morning he shivers or say he has been asleep and we go outside temp change he shivers. I have been talking to a dog trainer (I'm not going to use her) This is what she is telling me

(your dog shivers alot because of two possible things, ONE: he has a medical problem. Most toy breeds do especially Yorkies. In other words low blood sugar. Give him some maple syrup....rub it on his gums. The shaking should stop in 10 mintues. If it does not stop take him to the vet. He may need Dextrose shots. TWO: He is afraid of everything. Dogs only shake from cold when they are going into hypothermia (coming out of water in the winter).

Any small dog that I have seen get the shivers when they get cold not Hypothermia.I was just wondering what you all thought of this

They can shake when they are cold also Ive seen mine do it

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most dogs have an "undercoat" that changes in the spring and winter (shedding) but Yorkies are single coated (that's why there're better for people with allergies).

So the single coated breeds would get cold and shake, while an Alaskan Husky could roll around in the snow for an hour and be fine.

Thankyou for your responses .I knew there was nothing medical about it or Andys vet would have told me .I sought out the advise of this trainer just for some tips on how to get him to stop barking at the odd person or bike or here and there the odd dog when we go for walks or just being out on the front lawn .She tried to tell me my Andy had big behaviour issues ,I am to throw all his toys and treats away take his beds away .Make him stay off furniture and my bed .Also he is to work for his food .For what being a normal dog ? its not that big a deal ,Just something I wanted to work on but not punish him jeez .Well I told her to P*ss off lmao. Good thing it was via internet I might really have lost my cool

We live in London Ontario and we had a dusting of snow here last night - yikes! Jack is 6 months and almost 4 pounds. He will shake a little if he's outside going to the bathroom, even with a coat on. But he will also shake if he's excited about something. We throw a toy and we have him 'sit and stay' for a moment. The whole time he is waiting to run to the toy he's quivering. I think he's just bursting with energy!
And as an aside, we used to have a much larger dog before we got Jack. Our vet told us that if we were going to get a trainer, that we should look for one that specializes in small dogs since some training issues can be quite different for small and large breeds. I wonder if perhaps the trainer you consulted deals mostly with large breeds.

I'm sad that this trainer doesn't seem to understand the effectiveness of reward based learning; like a Yorkie will really know why you have taken away all of it's toys? Not! And I like having my puppy on the sofa with me, don't you? I do believe that my Daisy should have to work for treats, as this not only teaches her a new skill but reinforces her place in our 'pack,' but working for food? Gosh.

It sounds like you have really good judgement and that you know your dog well!

Laughs I think she's been watching to much of that show at the end of my leash .Man he is brutal .
Yes I love my little boy and nothing will cause him harm they have to get through me .I was just shocked at the harshness of what she required .
Yes maybe she is only looking at it from a big dog standard ,but still no toys ,no treats ,no bed yes I forgot that one she said he has to earn his bed and then only for sleep .I'm just shocked

I'm glad to hear that you're not going to be using this person. :thumbup: My babies definitely aren't hypoglycemic but they do shiver when they're cold.

Wow, that trainer sounds like an idiot who thinks all breeds are the same. But no matter what the breed is, that type of discipline is harsh and the comments about him having bad behavior issues because he barked at people going by is unnecessary. He might just be telling them hello...LOL And about the -4 weather, he's a Yorkie not a Husky and if a Yorkie was left outside for too long they'd freeze to death, just like a human child. That baby is cold and so is Canada...LOL! I'd put a comfy warm sweater on him.

Joey also gets cold easily, and will shiver if he's even slightly chilled. Some of the things your trainer suggested aren't so bad, I think this is based on tough love type of training, and she must have gotten the impression your dog was displaying many bad traits. You basically take away all things, and make your dog realize everything good comes from you. I've read of using this technique with teenagers, who are displaying really dangerous behaviors such as skipping school or drug taking, and it can be effective, but I didn't know it was useful for dogs. Dogs don't really understand why their beds are taken away.

I do a lot of "trick" training with Joey, and he does get most of his food by performing, and I actually think this is very good for him, and it seems to give him confidence. Remember, many dogs bark because they are scared. At the very least, I think you should make a dog sit and stay before you give him a meal. Concerning your problem with walks, Joey did the same thing, and I found a couple of things that helped. One is redirection, turning his attention away from the source of anxiety, and also watching out for what could be a problem, and walking in a fast pace way past the problem. When you are doing a purposeful walk, they tend to really get involved in the actual walk, and bikers and other dogs don't get their attention, as easily, on the other hand if you are taking a "stroll" they will notice every little thing. So as we are walking, I'll notice a biker and continue to walk fast, if Joey gets too agitated, I will say UH-UH, and continue to walk in a fast pace, if he continues, I will do a turn-about so that he can't see the object, and continue this until the biker/dog is out of site, and his episodes of agitation are now quite short.

Mine also shake when they are cold. That's the only time they do shake is when they are cold. I am glad you are not going to use that trainer also. Boy, I can't believe her recommendations! Geezzzz:p

I have a little guy who shakes in the morning, Its getting cold here already so ive been putting sweaters on him :)It helps ;)

Andy knows basic commands sit,stay,heal at crosswalks etc.He waits till his food is set down and waits for me to say ok .I just find what she says and wanted me to do was to harsh ,I want to teach him things not punish him .It was just a minor thing that I has inquired about with her get some tips .Then she starts on this shiver thing and I lost my cool . So she didnt get my business .

Andy has sweaters,hoodies,winter coat ,rain coat and boots ,he stands till I am finished getting him ready overall he is a good little boy

She sound exactly like that Brad person on AP. He trained just like that for any size dog as I remember. What an idiot! :mad: :thumbdown Sure glad he's not on anymore!

Hi All YT'ers.....
My Lucky shivers and I live in Brampton ON......Even when he wears his coat! He also shivers just when he gets out of the bath....so yeah, I think they shiver when they are chilly!!
P.S. I love this site!! Is it possible to set it as a homepage??!! lol

Lucky's Mommy:aimeeyork

Wrong
 

I am a certified dog behavioralist and trainer. I have been for 10 years and have trained over 400 dogs. I am very sorry that Andy's owner is completely uneducated and is giving you missinformation. Maybe if she told the entire story I would not be here.

First off Andy's owner did not ask me why Andy shivers OUTSIDE...she said:

"Dang he is so little he shivers alot the couch and bed has been his place for warmth .I never thought I was being his equal by allowing this ."
My main two answers since her dog is unsocialized (which she admits) was that Andy shakes due to fear (anxiety, nervousness, stress etc) or a medical problem.

Second in response to lil fu fu girl...I NEVER told Andy's owner to not feed her dog. That's a little retarded that you would even consider that is what I meant. lil fu fu girl...your dog probably has no aggression, so I really don't thing you have a clue how to resocialize an unsocialized dog.

It is sad and very unfortunate that most of you people have very very little understanding of your Yorkie's. Maybe doing your own research on the breed will help you stop communicating Wrong information. It is absolutely "tough love" all things come from the master as long as the dog earns them....if your kid screamed at every other kid at the play ground in order to get the other kids to play...what would you do? You can not correct a little dog like you would correct a large dog. Chokers etc can seriously harm a small dog. All small dog training is done through treats.

Lastly the NO treat rule was only until I arrived to guide this woman. To resocialize a dog you ONLY give treats when the dog is in contact with the thing of anxiety.

Giving a dog treats while trick training IS MAKING THE DOG WORK FOR FOOD!!!!

Yes I know, and I see nothing wrong with it. I have to work for my food too.

Then why do you think that dogs should not work for food?

When did I say that? I said, "Dogs don't really understand why their beds are taken away." The OP said that her trainer suggested that the beds be taken away.

Ok, so here's my problem. I learn a lot from the lively debates on YT and respect everyones right to have a different opinion. I understand how the trainer might feel she is being misrepresented and that this is upsetting. What I object to is when a person posts in a way that is full of inflammatory language. For example, calling people 'completely uneducated' or referring to their behavior as 'a little retarded;' using the terms 'you people' and saying someone doesn't 'have a clue' is just unnecessary. Please, everyone, just play nice.

I dont understand that either :confused: whats that going to help.....I would NEVER take my kids beds away :(

Lol, I wasn't sure if you mean your furkids, or skinkids, but it is suggested as part of tough love for parents of teenagers who will not follow the rules. I'm talking about serious rule breaking, and drugs are usually involved. Everything is taken away, but the bare necessities, mattress on floor, blanket, a few clothes for school, and they have to "earn" everything back by following the rules. My point is that while effective on some wild teenagers, I don't think it will work on dogs. I do believe in the concept, "nothing in life is free," and there are many dog trainers who use this method. I don't train Joey because he has bad behavior though, I train Joey because I think he really enjoys it, he seems so proud of himself and so happy during training sessions, and I don't think it's all about the food, I think he really is pleased with himself when he learns something and gets a trick right.

On the beds comment...Do you let your kids sleep in your bed? Dogs are not human.

Most people believe what they want to believe no matter what professionals say. Again none of you know Andy's owner and what problems she came to me with.

Actually no, I didn't allow the kids to sleep in our bed, so it has nothing to do with the human factor. I do not believe in the rule, "One size fits all". Most people here have dogs that sleep with them and it causes no problems, so just throwing out the rule that dogs shouldn't sleep with humans makes little sense to me. I do understand that if you are experiencing certain problems with aggression that sleeping with the humans might not be in the best interest of the dog.

Don't feel too bad, we understand a little more than you think. Often there is a communication problem between professionals and their clients, the OP was venting a little and clearly unhappy, we were trying to be supportive, and I even tried to explain that I agreed with some of your methods. Stick around we are not a bad lot, and willing to listen, but don't get angry and call us names just because we are not willing to do everything you suggest. My own personal bit of advice is that we can learn from lots of different training styles, but we should never do anything that we are personally uncomfortable with.

To The Dog Trainer - Please do not come on this site to bring your drama .I suggested you come look at the answers just so you could see that Andy is not the only one that shivers in certain situations ,That it had nothing to do with a medical problem .You asked me alot of questions and I answered them to the best of my ability .I ended by saying I did not like your methods of training and thats my right to like or not like it .I tried explaining he is not a Bad dog .Just sometimes he he barks at strange dogs ,Bikes .Once and awhile people .You went on this array of things I needed to do and I disagreed .I dont want to punish him .I dont want to take everything away from hinm for this ONE small thing he is learning on .I looked for ideas advise and lo and behold I got it here amoungst fellow yorkie owners .And your wrong as Andy's owner they have seen me posting over the months and have come to know him in some small degree.Yet you take my invite to maybe YOU learning something and come in here abuse me with your insults and language in a place I love to come to .I'm intitled to like or dislike and not take you on as a trainer if I choose to go another route.Your showing a lack of professionalism:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown

I never said he shivers on the couch and bed .I have the e-mails

That's fine. I hope you find a trainer who entertains your dillusional state. I also have the emails.