Quote: jennifer mullen

i'll definitely be taking luc to the vet. i don't think it is normal for a GSD to have that much trouble w/the cold.

I know he's a GSD and all, but have you considered a coat for him? There are some very sporty ones out there that don't look like "dress up clothes" - Oscar wears one when it gets REALLY cold, but he's a short-haired dog...

Sorry if that's a dumb suggestion, but he is getting an awful lot of exercise, and his weight is probably always going to be pretty low - he's a proper athlete with you! He might require a little extra help on really cold, or cold and wet days...

~Natalya

he has two coats actually - well, a sweater (dark blue with bright green trim and a bright green whale surfacing on the back ....i'm one of those people) and he has the cloud chaser jacket from ruffwear (http://www.ruffwear.com/Cloud-Chaser-Soft-Shell-Jacket?sc=2&category=12), which is really great, and not so silly like his sweater is (i justified the sweater b/c wool is still insulating when wet - it's a good technical fibre! heh). i'm concerned though b/c he's totally bald around his privates, and for obvious reasons neither the coat or sweater covers there. he's also bald at his front armpits, and where he does have fur on this underside, it's thinner than everywhere else.

i didn't bring the coat this trip b/c it's early november, i didn't think he'd need it. i did put clothes on him when he was shivering though, didn't help much unfortunately. but yeah, he may need extra help. i'm worried to if he's had his tail do this once he'll be predisposed if i take him backpacking in feb., which i would hate for him to have it happen again, obviously he's been uncomfortable.

but i will be having him wear the coat/sweater on day hikes for the wintertime. especially once it gets colder it should help keep him comfy.

Jennifer take a look at these coats
http://katahdinms.com/product/a9ef11bb-fe00-4893-a738-7a2ca202d5df.aspx
they are great - high tech fabrics and great fit and performance.
Same company also has "belly blankets" http://katahdinms.com/product/2f735c10-18ec-4d49-b79c-d1ffc40869f3.aspx which are great at protecting underparts. Both styles allow free urination and are stretchy and comfortable on the dogs.

Lynn, thank you! Those look AMAZING! Just what Luc needs.

Greatly appreciated, the jackets and the belly blanket - so smart!

plus now is the time for us Canadians to order stuff from the US....

so true! i completely forgot about the dollar! i should stock up on US orders

Is it too early perhaps to brand your dog with having problems with the cold? It is early season and from your descriptions I am not convinced that Luc was not suffering from a minor tail injury that may have left him feeling under the weather.

Remember that your dog will acclimatize to winter as well. Especially as you are outside with the dog a lot. I know I don't feel as though I have acclimatized to winter yet

My dog (and the others we work with) have to make an abrupt transition to winter. A little shivering from your dog is no big deal normally. There are labs as avi dogs and even they make the transition to being outdoors all day and shiver less as the season progresses (temp depending).

In your case with the aggression and the tail position issues, I am suspecting a little more than just the cold.

I up the fat and calorie content of my dog's food in the winter as it is our ON season. Also they do burn more calories when cold I belive. I do not aim to add weight to my dog in the winter however, the goal is that he doesn't loose weight. With the amount of exercise you do with your dogs, I would want to keep them lean despite the winter cold. (less stress on joints and the like.) I still like to feel rib very easily.

Things I feed more of in the winter to add more fat and to keep weight on: pork, tripe, and more chicken quarters with skin vs. necks and the like with out skin. As well as upping the fat content, I up the amount of food I feed as well. In the winter I feed my 42 lbs dog up to 2 lbs of raw food a day. I try to feed less veg as well. (More room for calories from meat and fat).

Cheers,

that's a good point - and i need to up his fat intake anyways, though you're right, i want him to stay lean, any weight gain i want in the form of muscle.

it could be that he hasn't acclimatized yet, partly. i hope so. hopefully day trips will tell the tale with that. i am a bit worried about his bald spots though.

but it was a lot more than a little shivering - a little shivering and we'd still be out on the trail right now. it was bad, and constant, which is why i brought him back.

edit to note: i guess as well, b/c i didn't find it that cold, and he is outside with me so much, i would expect him to be more acclimatized than he appeared to be. he actually woke me up he was shaking so badly.

Heavy shivering can also be a sign of dehydration. Giving warm baited water can help if he is not a heavy drinker. The thing with his tail could be from him tensing up an causing a muscle spasm. If you are camping in a spot where you can cut some brush and lay it down for a bed most dogs will figure it out. A piece of closed cell foam in a grain sack makes a good "doggie thermarest". Luc's behavior sounds like a dog that was a upset about the cold, the sleeping arrangements or whatever and "blew up". Sometimes fall conditions are colder than camping in snow as snow has a bit of an insulating factor and also by the time it hits the dogs have usually developed more undercoat. Some dogs that don't carry alot of undercoat are alot happier with a few more "creature comforts" like a coat or some bedding as it helps them get proper rest and avoids stress on the dog. Shivering burns alot of calories. Most long distance sled dog racers use coats when appropriate to keep dogs comfortable and getting good quality rest.

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Heavy shivering can also be a sign of dehydration.

Great point!

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A piece of closed cell foam in a grain sack makes a good "doggie thermarest".

I just use the blue camping closed cell foam w/o the grain sack. I always want my dog to lay on it at times like dog courses when he is tied to a tree on a mountain all day, but unless I am there to make him, he won't sit on it despite that, it is a peice of equipment that is always in my rescue pack should I get stuck somewhere overnight.