18 Reasons Why Do Chihuahuas Shake So Much

Chihuahuas often shake due to their small size, which makes them more sensitive to cold and prone to shivering. Additionally, they can shake from excitement, stress, or anxiety, as these tiny dogs tend to be more reactive to their environment.
Much as some dog owners find this quirk in their pets pretty intimidating, Chihuahuas shake a lot and could shake for several reasons. Knowing why Chihuahuas shake so much lets the pet owner be able to care for them properly and puts them in a position to cure any hidden concerns that might be going on that may be causing this action.
In this article, we are going to consider 18 reasons explaining why they shake so much and understand your Chihuahua's behavior for the sake of their welfare.
1. Feeling Cold
Chihuahuas shake due to their small size and thin fur. Since they lack insulation against lower temperatures, they may shudder to generate body heat in a cool environment.
Because of their small size and large surface area-to-volume ratio, Chihuahuas lose body heat rather quickly compared with bigger breeds. They are, in effect, more sensitive to cold than larger breeds, especially in winter or in air-conditioned places.
Especially during winter, wrap your Chihuahua in blankets or put on a doggy sweater to help him stay warm and shake less due to the cold.
2. Experiencing Fear
According to them, Chihuahuas shake if something frightens them, especially when they come into a new environment or encounter something that is going to harm them. Shaking is how they deal with fear and one of their physiological behaviors when they are frightened.
Many different things can make a person shake out of fear, such as loud noises, sudden movements, strangers, or other animals. Shaking simply means expression in response to fear or anxiety.
This can be minimized by controlling the amount of exposure to stimulating and potentially distressful stimuli and enhancing feelings of safety. One secure environment, along with positive rewards, is an excellent way of managing this tendency in Chihuahuas.
3. Being Excited

Chihuahuas shake when excited, mostly when they are expecting a treat or to engage in play. In most cases, the shakes can be quite frank, with the small bodies just unable to hide the expectations.
The use of such shaking is to try to convey moods, which are generally harmless in nature. Excitement, going out, and doing something that was expected heightened energies and muscles shake.
Teach your Chihuahua to settle down prior to doing anything that he loves so that he does not start shaking because of excitement. Learning to control his energies may eventually reduce his shaking.
4. Suffering From Low Blood Sugar
Chihuahuas tend to suffer from hypoglycemia, a low sugar level in the blood. With a faster metabolism and small stomachs, small breeds like chihuahuas are prone to this disease.
If a Chihuahua's blood sugar falls, it may feel weak, disoriented, and shiver. Small, frequent meals will help stabilize blood levels, reducing shaking episodes caused by hypoglycemia.
Watching the pet's diet and ensuring that the pet gets proper nutrition will at least partially prevent low blood sugar. If not, especially when shaking persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, one would be advised to seek direction from a veterinarian.
5. Having a Nervous Disposition
Assuming Chihuahuas are an anxious breed of dog, shaking should happen more when they are scared. Anxious shaking in a dog occurs in quick succession, and the nature of this dog breed is also usually more nervous than other dogs.
For this reason, they might react more considerably to daily occurrences like meeting new people or other animals. Shaking, in their heightened sensitivity, is their response to what they feel is their environment.
Only routine training, socialization, and a peaceful, organized environment created by the owner can control an anxious Chihuahua. This will help with time-reduced shaking caused by anxiety.
6. Experiencing Anxiety

Chihuahuas shake a lot and some of the time, shaking is triggered by anxiety, especially in a strange place or during hurting moments. Trembling and shaking are just a few of the different physical body expressions that could be a result of anxiety.
Such shaking could, therefore, be a result of feelings of anxiety brought about by being left alone, traveling, or changes to their usual routine for Chihuahuas. Management with some help might, therefore, be needed since this type of shaking might be critical.
Gradually introducing situations that cause anxiety, accompanied by positive reinforcement and comfort, can help reduce the shaking caused by stress. In some cases, this might even call for a professional dog trainer or a veterinarian.
7. Reacting to New Environments
Chihuahuas shake when they are in situations they wouldn't expect to be in, after all. They are very small dogs. This is why, yes, it has to do with the coping mechanism or adjustment to an environment or routine change.
They may shake when they go to a new house, or even when they are going somewhere they have never been before, even by car. This is a very good indication that they are trying to pick up all the new sights and sounds surrounding them.
Introduce new places gradually, and give comfort or familiar objects that will help calm your Chihuahua until he gets adjusted. Gradually, shaking lessens with time as exposure occurs and through patience.
8. Being Overstimulated
Chihuahuas shake when overstimulation is more likely to occur due to excess excitement or being hit with too much at one time. Their sensory system is easily overwhelmed, and they quiver while trying to digest everything around them.
A person may become overstimulated in locations or during activities where there is crowding, high energy, loud noise, or fast motion. They shake as a means of handling the overload of sensory input.
Please give them a noise-free, calm area where they can retreat and relax to help minimize the shaking caused by overstimulation. Knowing early signs of overstimulation in your dog is very important, and calming them down at the right moment is necessary.
9. Signaling Pain or Discomfort

A Chihuahua will shake if illness, injuries, and other medical problems are causing it pain or discomfort. Maybe it shakes to let a human being know that something is wrong with it and that it needs to go to a doctor.
Depending on the degree of pain, shaking can range from minor to major. Other possible signs of pain are whining lameness, or depression of ambulation and appetite.
If your Chihuahua is shivering from pain or discomfort, it is critical to seek veterinary attention to make a proper diagnosis and course of treatment. Correct pain treatment will decrease trembling and offer a better quality of life.
10. Displaying Learned Behavior
Some Chihuahuas shake due to learned behavior, mostly those who have learned to associate shaking with attention or receiving rewards. This is their way of communicating their needs or wants.
Given the reward of comfort or treats, shaking in a Chihuahua could be self-perpetuating if it gets rewarded. That kind of learned shaking is strictly an association of action with benefit rather than discomfort or fear.
This behavior mustn't be rewarded in the sense that you shouldn't cave into their demands when they shake to prevent the behavior from continuing. Do reward their calm behavior and show them other ways of getting what they want.
11. Expressing Separation Anxiety
Chihuahuas are a shaking breed, and they shake more when left alone or far apart from their owner. Trembling can occur due to tension as they become stretched or anxious about separation.
Because they are clingy to their human owners, they may sometimes not have the patience to be left alone for quite a long time. When they are left alone, this shaking often comes with barking, whimpering, or other distress symptoms.
Allow your Chihuahua to have some toys or other preoccupancies, then gradually extend the time in which he should be left by himself. It can also be lessened if the environment, during your absence, is safe and comfortable enough.
12. Feeling Weak or Fatigued

Chihuahuas shake if they feel weak or fatigued. This occurs after heavy exercise and much more so if they are sickly. Their bodies usually get tired quickly. Shaking, therefore, could be an indication of tiredness, resting, or even illness.
Fatigue shaking in dogs can be combined with other symptoms, including general malaise and anorexia, as well as the absolute refusal to walk at all. All these act as proof of overload taken by the dog, in which one will most likely require time off to recover from tiredness. Proper rest might relieve fatigue-related trembling.
Hence, you can reduce shaking in your Chihuahua due to exhaustion by simply not overworking it and giving the requisite rest. Keep checking on the level of activity they are indulging in so that, if required, you can adjust and make sure they are not overdoing it.
13. Due to Their Small Size
Compared with big dogs, Chihuahuas shake more because their small bodies need to be kept at an optimum temperature and energy level within the body. Hence, they are physiologically more prone to shaking.
Due to their minute size and slender bone structure, they can shake at the least stress or even at a slight change in temperature. Because of their small size, they are easily influenced by external influences like fear or cold.
As they are small, their place should be safe and secure; the temperatures should be comfortable, not too hot or cold for them to withstand shaking. Shaking can be reduced if maintenance and safety are in order.
14. Indicating A Health Issue
Chihuahuas shake more than big dogs because their little bodies have so much heat and energy that they help maintain an optimum temperature and energy level within the body, which makes them more physiologically appropriate for shaking.
Because they are too small in size and their bones thin, they start shaking at even a slight stress or mere variation in temperature. Because they are of minute size, they are easily affected by externalities like means of fear or cold.
Because they are too small, they must be put in a safe and secure place so that they will survive shaking. Shaking can be lessened when maintenance and safety are in order.
15. Responding to Loud Noises

Chihuahuas shake when scared of thunderstorms, fireworks, and even construction noises. Their very acute hearing makes sudden loud noises seem scary and provoke a stronger reaction in them.
Though most dogs shake with every different kind of noise due to their size and temperament, Chihuahuas fall in the category. They sometimes shake, hide, or even run to the owner when exposed to loud noises.
Most of the time, it just takes setting up a quiet and safe space or looking into calming techniques or aids for the Chihuahua to retreat to. Gradual desensitization over time to particular noises also works on shaking less.
16. Asking for Attention
Some Chihuahuas shake to get the attention of their owners, mostly after they learn that shaking will provoke a reaction. Once again, this behavior becomes learned to communicate with humans and has nothing to do with fear or discomfort.
This way, a shaking dog could be asked to be picked up, fed, or played with. They learn to shake as a means of bonding to get what they want, more so if this has led to some satisfactory response before.
The best means in this case would be to not react to the attention-seeking shakes but reward calm and patient behavior. Controlled interaction with a human is useful so that shaking is kept minimal.
17. Having a Fast Metabolism
Chihuahuas have very fast metabolisms, which means they burn energy at a very fast rate. Shaking could be an effect of alteration in their energy level. Such fast metabolic rates will change their blood sugar and energy levels, hence making them shake even more.
A chihuahua's quick metabolism also means that they fast often and drink a lot to hold onto energy. If they feel thirsty or hungry or the replenishment of energy fails, they shake.
One manages a fast metabolism by eating frequent, well-balanced meals and drinking appropriate amounts of water. Therefore, one can record the amount of food taken and the type of exercise done, which can reduce trembling by stabilizing one's energy.
18. Due to Age-related Issues

Age-related problems like weakening muscles, arthritis, and even neurological problems could be some of the causes of trembling Chihuahuas at any age. Tremors are common perceptions in old dogs due to changes occurring with natural aging.
Human tremors in older Chihuahuas are seen as a normal indication of pain incurred from affected body areas, restlessness, loss of mental or physical functions, and the like. Such indications need to be realized, and proper care and therapy must be made available to control the ailment properly. Such routine visits and proper care of the older chihuahua should help to keep aging tremors in check.
Adequate care should be given to the older Chihuahua with the due attention it requires, ensuring that the age-related tremors remain in check and the quality of life maintained thus far is also preserved. Proper and adequate care in a warm, supportive environment would also benefit controlling tremors in your older pets.
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