How do you know a dog has weak nerves?

Question

What are the signs?

What to do with these dogs in your opinion?

Answer 1

They are fearful, easily startled, lack confidence, don't recover quickly when new circumstances arise, etc.  They are just fearful, nervous, and jumpy.

Small dogs with fear issues can be contained safely in homes with no children and few visitors.  Larger dogs have more potential to hurt someone out of fear, so they are a more difficult issue to deal with.  If there is a country home available where the dog will be able to develop a routine and bond with one or two people yet NEVER be around strangers or children then that is a good option.  If the dog somehow ends up in a family with small children, euthanasia is really the best answer, especially if the dog is nippy.  

It seems final, but dogs with weak nerves can never be trusted.  They cannot be trained not to be nippy.  They have no control over their reactions.  They are simply mentally ill.  A mentally ill four pound dog poses much less danger than a mentally ill 140 pound dog.  Large, fearful dogs are a danger to society in general. Any dog that is overly fearful and nippy with the potential to kill or maim someone does not belong in society. It is not the dog's fault, it is simply a genetic defect of temperament.

Answer 2

IMO, a dog that truly has weak nerves, who is just a basket case, and dangerous to themselves or others needs to be put down.

you can't help that.

people mistake lack of socialization for poor nerves, or even worse, poor nerves to lack of socialization.

as i understand it, some dogs just can't handle any type of stimulus, everything, and i mean everything makes them react with fear and/or fear based aggression. they  aren't safe to be around, because they aren't stable. It is genetic, and you can't change that.

a dog should with a fair amount of work be able to face his world, and new things without being afraid or overly defensive. Someone walking by shouldn't make your dog p**s himself.

but don't mistake a dog with bad training and poor socialization for being a "hopeless case".

Answer 3

Don't think I can answer any better than Kip's Mom! :)

Answer 4

Disclaimer - I do not know a lot about this, so take my advice with a lump of salt ;-)

From what I've learned - it is a dog that reacts with fear to a new situation - whether it's a loud sound, a stranger approaching, going to an unfamiliar place, etc.  for example - a puppy will startle at a loud sound, but immediately after - does it go to see what caused the sound, or does it run away?    

What to do with them?  First - make sure the dog is just not under-socialized.  If it is truly a "weak nerve" issue, there is no cure, but you can control it by controlling the dog's environment.  It also really depends on how the dog reacts when it is afraid.    

Answer 5

The expression "my nerves are shot" is actually not possible.

Nerves are connected throughout our body.

I think you mean your dog  reacts easily to fear, surprise, unexpected happenings etc.

Many dogs react like this.

If that is how he reacts than that is his personality.