DEFINE THE TERM "NERVY" DOGS - Page 1

Can someone define the word nervy dogs? I'm having a hard time understanding the term. What makes them nervy? What signs to look for to point out a nervy dog?

One other thing... i heard of the term environmental nervy? What else nervousness can a dog have?


Please shed some light here.....

Let me point you to a link which leads to an article that explains temperament rather well, including the foggy term "nervy".

http://www.vanerp.net/ilse/GSDINFO/Elements%20of%20Temperament.htm

The website only works with Internet Explorer, any other browser will malfunction. You will have to cut and paste since I usually use Firefox and it isn't completely compatible with the editor on PDB.

In very general terms TO ME- low threshold to stimuli (any stimuli).

adi is on the money.  one of the most common things we see and confuse are high drive dogs with low thresholds.  especially in newcomers, they see a dog come on like gangbusters and are in awe because the dog has so much "drive" when in reality it is a matter of low threshold.  the dog is literally set off by anything and everything.  very often the dog will exhibit the telling traits on the field:  failure to release, hectic/chewy grip, failure to grip might be caused from nervy low threshold traits.  even if you can cover up a low threshold in obedience, it almost always will show in the dog's grip and probably the hold and bark as well.
now, in all fairness, these low threshold dogs do have a place.  they make great alert dogs.  if you aren't looking for a so-called trained protection dog, they will bark and alert you if someone is messing around outside, someone comes to the door, etc.  depending on the character of the dog, you may have to watch them closely when friends and relatives come to visit.  i had one female that was an awesome home protector, low threshold and great with anyone that we "let in" the house, but would rip you a new one if you didn't have permission.  i put a bh on her, but that was as far as we went.  she was just too nervy to stand up to the protection phase in schh.
pjp

Twenty years ago many many Czech/DDR dogs were nervy, because it was a trait bred for by the police/military complex in the Eastern bloc nations. This trait served them well in their quest for a dog needing high alert and substantial follow-up. Many vocational uses (especially police/military) do not require the absolute "full grip usually out of prey" that the sport people desire. Many nervy dogs will initially give a full grip but change to 3/4 when in fight /defense drive. My point is previous posters are right in that there are genetic and environmental reasons for nerviness. They don't make top sport dogs but many do make top police dogs....many police/military personnel feel that a touch of nerviness is needed back into the breed for their vocation. Either way a dog still needs to be clearheaded and possess courage to go with the various degrees of nerves. 

Ok a trainer had made a comment that most malinois are nervy dog and that is why they do well in french ring...so that term made it sound like nervy is a good thing.

When you say nervy the term that comes to mind is nervous. I know that nervy doesn't mean skittish like. I'm having a heard time grasping the term. I tried doing a google search nothing really comes up ...i will check the above link.

In discussion of threshold high and low. Low threshold has to do with the ability of the dog to go "crazy" "hyped up" by everything vs high threshold is the opposite??? I have a leerburg video talking about threshold I can't remember if that was what he was talking about. I have to review it but i thought his term of threshold had to do with pressure and defense.

For ex. my friend's dutchie has a environmental issue (she says), so what may he encounter that will make him a environmental nervy?

At what age(earliest) can you tell if a dog has a type of nerve issue?


ziegenfarm-- she was just too nervy to stand up to the protection phase in schh.  Now, that sentenced you just used...what do you mean? Meaning that she would coward away or become to aggressive?

Sam1427--thanks for the link I get it now..lol

she was not CLEAR in the head.  solid nerves combined with adequate drives and medium threshold are, to me, the best possible combination for schh competition.  its not that the low threshold dogs can't do it, its just that they don't do it well.  then when you look at the dog as a whole, you realize that their health also figures in to the equation.  much more often you will find the dogs with low thresholds are also bothered with digestive upsets, food allergies, skin disorders and other immune related problems.  low threshold + stress = compromised immunity.  not worth it.
hope that helps.
pjp

gotcha thanx