We've all seen dogs shake for several reasons; the least fun being soaking wet shaking near us. Sometimes our dog's shaking can be helped on our own with clothes or training. Other times our dog's shaking might be medical, and we need to get our veterinarian's eyes on our dog.
Key Takeaways
- There is always a reason for our dogs shaking.
- Training can help dogs shake from excitement.
- Getting our dogs out of the heat can potentially help dogs shaking and panting.
- It's never a bad idea to get a video of your dog's shaking to share with your veterinarian.
Why Is My Dog Shaking For No Reason?
It is our responsibility to recognize what their body is trying to tell us by shaking so much. Anyone asking why is my dog shaking so much is already halfway to the answer, because the shaking itself is the message. Of course, I'm not recommending a full-blown panic if we see our dogs shaking. But it is important that we understand the underlying reason for it.
Dog Shaking When Excited — Normal Or Not?
Context helps us piece together the puzzle. Dogs can shake a lot when they're excited. After experiencing life with our dogs, we can get an idea if they display their excitement by shaking. There are so many ways we can help them handle these situations more easily in the future with training. Below are a few examples where dogs may shake out of excitement:
- Car rides.
- Meeting people or dogs.
- Getting a pup cup.
- Going for a walk.
Each of those is a moment worth practising for before it happens, and a training plan built around your dog gives you somewhere to start.
Why Is My Dog Shaking And Panting At The Same Time?
Dogs pant for several reasons. But if we see our dogs panting and shaking at the same time, it is not a combination we want to ignore. If our dogs are in a hot environment, we should start by cooling them down and ensure no risk of heat stroke by making sure their gums aren't dry or pale.
When Panting And Shaking Signal A Bigger Problem
If heat isn't a factor we find ourselves wondering why is my dog panting and shaking, then a call to our vet is in order. Before calling we should observe our dog for any of the additional behaviors below, as our vets will be very interested to know:
- Throwing up.
- Drooling.
- Lethargy.
- Limping.
- Decreased appetite.
Anyone wondering why is my dog shaking and throwing up should flag that combination on the call in particular.
Why Is My Dog Shaking His Head?
If our dog's head is shaking but the rest of their body isn't, it is important to decipher if it's a head shake or a head tremble. We might see our dogs shaking their heads if they have something in their ear or if they have an ear infection. When our dogs are shaking their heads, we can usually see their whole bodies shake, even their tails. This is usually accompanied by ear scratching as well.
👉 Example:
We can make sure this isn't a neurological response by calling our dogs to us to see if they are capable of responding. A video of these events will be really helpful information to bring to our veterinarian so they can get a full picture of what we just saw.
Dog Shaking Tail Between Legs — What It Really Means
If our dogs are shaking with their tail between their legs, then we need to step in and help. Dogs tuck their tails when they're feeling frightened or overwhelmed. There are so many ways we can help our dogs in these instances:
- Distance from whatever is scaring them.
- Playing their favorite game.
- Picking them up.
- Keep moving.
- Bring one of their friends along.
The goal in the moment is simply to get them out from under whatever is worrying them, and the quieter stress signals tell you when it is working.
Why Is My Old Dog Shaking?
Dogs are considered members of the senior age group around 7 years old. If our old dog shakes where they haven't before, more investigation is needed.
📝 Think about:
Why Is My Dog Shaking In His Sleep?
I'm always wondering what my dog is dreaming of when I see her running or barking in her sleep. Sometimes it's simply her paws twitching. Other times it looks like her whole body is shaking in her sleep. If I think she's having a nightmare (complete anthropomorphizing), I might call her name to make sure she's able to respond and shake herself out of it.
💡 Tip:
A dog whose behaviour has changed suddenly is worth watching closely for a few days.
How PawChamp Helps
The "Commands" and "Games" sections on the PawChamp app can be a huge help if our dog is shaking because of excitement or fear! We should choose a stress-free and well-known environment when starting any new exercise. Before our dogs are capable of playing with us when there are distractions around, we need to make sure they've had plenty of practice without distractions around.
Once our dogs are comfortably playing along in a known environment, we can see if they can participate outside or in the location they shook last time without the distraction. With practice and steady mental stimulation, we can help our dogs feel more comfortable and not feel the need to shake. Ask Dog Experts is always available for us to help us split the steps if we feel like it's not working.
Bottom Line
If our dogs are shaking, we shouldn't ignore them. We can use context clues to help decipher why their body is responding to the environment in this way. The relieving fact is that we don't have to answer "why" on our own. If we think our dog's shaking is a result of anxiety or health, one of PawChamp's dog experts can help you ask the right questions.
