Weak nerve dogs.?

Question

Lately there has been an abundance of questions posted on YA about dogs with geneticaly weak nerves. Where do these dogs come from? Is there anything that can be done to help these dogs? Do you believe that genetics can be overcome with training or socialization? Is it a waste of time to try to rehabilitate a dog with this type of problem? Serious answers only from experienced people please. No conjecture or theory, facts based on science and proven techniques.

Some great answers here so far. I have an additional question though, especially for the K-9 handlers. Does rehabilitating the dog produce a sub-standard dog with issues you would rather not have and do you feel comfortable working with and depending your life on that dog?

The answers keep improving and you can tell they come from people with first hand knowledge on the subject.

Answer 1

The problem timid dog is much easier to avoid before it becomes a problem.
Just about every litter has a wallflower, just as it has an alpha. It is the training that puppy's receive in their first 12 weeks (before fear memory develops) that prevents the wall flower from becoming the timid problem dog. This training is basically the responsibility of the breeder, and should start @ 3 days of age with ENS and continue through socialization and introductions.
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/achiever.html
Besides what is outlined in Dr Battaglia's article (link above) I also start introductions to birds, water, gunfire, etc @ 35 days so that all these intros are completed before the pup will have any memory of being afraid the first time it was exposed.

Intro a litter of pups to birds @ 5 weeks
http://www.hunt101.com/img/439232.jpg

Answer 2

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RE:
Weak nerve dogs.?
Lately there has been an abundance of questions posted on YA about dogs with geneticaly weak nerves. Where do these dogs come from? Is there anything that can be done to help these dogs? Do you believe that genetics can be overcome with training or socialization? Is it a waste of time to try to...

Answer 3

Great question... I can only comment on what I know and that's mainly Dobermans. Being involved in working dogs yourself I'm sure your knowledgeable on what I'm about to say right or wrong. The Modern Doberman genetically is a mess. There is almost two breeds emerging The working Dogs and the Show Dogs. The show dogs have been bred milder with almost all the attention to looks. Though bad breeding habits these dogs have a enormous list of genetic defects and health concerns. The American show breeders have developed a longevity program to correct the issue. 30-40 years ago Dobes lived to be about 11-13 years old today it's hard to find a dog that lives to be 10 years old. Shyness is another fault that's been seen more often in these lines. This is in direct opposition to what the show breeders were trying to create to begin with, a milder dog. The gamer dogs found in say Germany are harder to handle but stable not fear biters. Some show lines breeders mistakenly are adding German lines to their American lines in hope to correct the faults. This again unless done over a long period of selective breeding it is a mistake. Breeding a German Dog and American you get a American looking Dog that acts German or vice versa. I like using the example of a copy of paper from a printer. Your best result will be from the original copy the copy of a copy only deteriorates.

If you have a shy dog you can help matters with training and socialization but I doubt the dog will ever be all it could be with solid genetics

Answer 4

To an extent a dogs nerves can be based on Genetics but from my experience as a K-9 handler you can rehabilitate a weak nerved dog. It takes patience and an open mind. The key is to keep the dog happy, build confidence, and a lot of familiarization training. It's not an over night process at all but it is possible with even extreme situations. I have experienced it first had as a k-9 handler. My first dog was on the verge of being kicked out of the program because of his fears. He would cowar and urinate at the sight of any handheld metal object. By the time I was done with him he was confident and worked with minimal fears. Every once in awhile a fear would arise but with continued training they slowly diminished. I believe it is entirely possible with the right person training.

Answer 5

I can only answer from a breeders point of view. My main goal was always to breed well balanced and even tempered Golden's that not only exhibited these good genetic traits but also enhanced the breed itself. Well balance comes from good gene's, even temperament comes from good gene's, the likelihood of the dog to perform it's given task comes from good gene's. This is what every good and responsible breeder strives for in their dogs. If a dog is shy or pulls up or away from a task asked from it can be it be trained to be otherwise obedient, yes to some degree, but the underling fact that it is already predisposed genetically to be be shy or nervous or unsure of it self, to perform the task doesn't disappear once trained. It is always there no matter how much training the dog has.
I can't comment on K-9 work I have no experience with type of training. Never seen a Golden do any, nor do I think I ever will. I will leave that up to others who who do know about this and do this for a living.
What I have seen is a Golden go through all the training for a Therapy dog only to fail at the last stages of training only because it is unsure of it self and thus it is dropped from the program. It may well be suited for another type of program but that has to be determined by the owner and the trainer.

My dad used to say about his dogs that you can never make a silk purse out of a sows ear. You can dress it up to look like a silk purse but it's always going to be a sow. Rather simplistic and folksy, but never the less true.

Answer 6

I have had one weak nerved Dobermann. In my (limited) experience a weak nerved dog shows avoidance or aggressive behaviours in response to non-threatening people, situations or objects. This includes shy dogs (which he was) and fear biters. My Dobermanns nerve problem was not fixable with training. With the assistance of an experienced dog trainer I was able over time to teach him to inhibit his response to a particular situation (in his case a loose dog running towards him), but he was never cured. Living with a weak neverd dog is challenging and not for everyone. ~ In hindsight, a great thing, with the knowledge that I have now (still learning), largely gained from Greek God, I can see how I could have handled the situation differently and achieved a better result ~

Answer 7

Temperament is an inherited trait. That's why most standards have a description of the correct temperament for the breed. A responsible breeder breeding to conform to the standard is therefore breeding correct temperament.
Some dogs born with a "soft" or sensitive temperament, if properly socialized when young, should not become severely fearful. I've rehabilitated shy dogs, but I've never seen one that was actually born fearful, they're born highly sensitive and lack of socialization and leaving them to their own devices rather than encouraging confidence leads them to become fearful.
In the same way, a dog who has inherited an aggressive temperament can be controlled with proper training by an experienced owner.

Answer 8

Dogs can and are born with traits that can be considered a weakness. In the animal world most will kill weak animals. This however can be corrected with domestic animals with rehabilitaion.

Rehabiliation can be achieved by talking control of problems or behaviors. To achieve this study the behavior of pack animals in the wild and apply those methods to training.

I have done so...and find that compared to other training methods this works the fastest and the best.

Rehabilitiation does not create a sub standard animal. If need I would depend on my dog to save my life. Rehabilitation creates a good mannered, well balanced animal and happier animal.

Answer 9

My answer has nothing to do with science or genetics, but there is a saying in the show ring that a handler's emotions travel through the lead. I've seen dogs that are nervous around gunshots and loud noises because their handler was anxious at that moment. I've seen show dogs that are skittish in the ring simply because the handler was a bundle of nerves.
Some folks put so much pressure on themselves in certain situations, that their emotions manifest in their dog's behavior. I'm sure genetics plays a role too, but sometimes, the handler amplifies many of their dog's insecurities.

Answer 10

Each dog has a different personality, just like people. I have been able to get gun-shy dogs to hunt in the field, as well as others into law enforcement work (my K-9 was gun-shy to the point to where the "shooter" was going to get "apprehended." I'll bet my law enforcement co-workers, if they were the "shooter," would not have appreciated that. We're all better trained now).

Some dogs I just could not help and I feel that's OK... they have made excellent house pets and companions. They fit their niche well. I don't want anyone to make me into anything other than what I want to be.

Genetics, socialization and training each plays a part, to a degree, but each instance / dog is unique.