Mary: No. Hackling at the drop of a hat CAN be a sign of a weak nerved dog, but it isn't always. There is no one behavior that always indicates weak nerves, it's more of an overall picture of he dogs behavior in different settings and situations that describes the quality of its nerve.

Ramon: It sounds like you're a very responsible owner and father. Kudos to you. Your pup sounds great, too. Not weak at all, as the others have said. Keep up the socialization during the next 6 months, the first year is very important to a dog. You're in the right place, check out the articles and keep asking questions!

Hey Ramon, one thing I like to do to control the interaction between my 3 kids and my high prey drive dog is crate train him. He can relax and observe and you can relax and not have to pay attention. I also tell my kids to leave him alone when he's laying still, not just asleep. If they are going to pet him they call him over and have him sit. It's more for them then the dog because it has them pay attention to how they are acting with him. I also have always taken my three year old in a jogging stroller hiking with my dog. I've always felt that he associates him with something enjoyable that way. Kind of like when you pull out the leash and collar.

Just to add in another comment on hackling - it is a defensive response. The entire purpose of hackling is to make the animal seem larger and more imposing to a foe. A dog that hackles and runs around with it's hindquarters lowered and darts back and forth and had a low tail etc is a nervous dog in avoidance that if pushed or cornered may bite (fight or flight) But a dog with hackles up that stands tall and is forward moving is defensive and trying to intimidate the opponent.

There are many different levels of "nerve" in dogs - there are dogs that are very weak nerved and respond to the slightest thing.. say maybe the sound of an empty soda can falling on a hard surface floor, with running/hiding/tail tucked/slinking or urinating and exposing the belly. Some dogs only respond in this extreme way to specific things, such as something entirely new, or strange people. A dog can show weak nerves around new/strange people and yet be territorial and aggressive/forward moving with strange animals or objects. A dog can sensitivity to sounds and nothing else. And so on and so forth.

Also note that weak nerves does not always mean a soft temperament, and that a strong/solid nerved dog does not always have a hard temperament. A soft dog may not be a weak nerved dog but a hard dog may be scared of shadows.

 Quote: Jennifer Marshal

Just to add in another comment on hackling - it is a defensive response. The entire purpose of hackling is to make the animal seem larger and more imposing to a foe. A dog that hackles and runs around with it's hindquarters lowered and darts back and forth and had a low tail etc is a nervous dog in avoidance that if pushed or cornered may bite (fight or flight) But a dog with hackles up that stands tall and is forward moving is defensive and trying to intimidate the opponent.

Jennifer could hackling be considered a form of excitement as well? Or is it always used as defense mechanism that may be a pre-emptive indication of aggression?

yea. I know dogs that I really dont think that when they hackle it is from insecurity, with those dogs it seems more to be a form of total self-confidence with dose of territorial and dominance. does that sound right? I know the difference between territorial dogs that are not confident in their ability to drive away the "intruder" and the fear biter that will, with hackles raised, head low, tail low and shifty eyes follow you down the block.

It depends on the dog, I think - some dogs hackle in prey drive I have noticed. See tug. Tug is moved. Lock on with attention to tug. Tug is moved more. Frustration builds... the tug is a prey item - when a dog goes after prey there can be a fight. Lets continue with the tug example - the dog knows that he is going to have to fight for that tug a bit, grab, pull, maybe shake, firm tight grip etc. The tug doesn't just become limp and lifeless like dead prey, we make it fight back. Anticipation of the fight I can see would potentially cause the hackling. Generally speaking, in my experience, hackling is a defensive tactic. It means somehow the dog interprets a threat, somewhere. Something int he territory or environment is a threat or requires that communicative body language of "I am BIG!! Do you see? BIG!"

As an aside Jennifer, because I only think I know, Do wolfs hackle, as a general course? Or is a stranger a call for straight out war and hackling is a useless waste of energy?

Randy

My chihuahua hackles when she's cold. I find that strange, but then again, we all know that a chihuahua isn't actually a dog anyway so I guess normal canine behavior/physiological responses just don't apply. :-P

Hackling is not exactly common, but it is definitely used. When encountering a strange pack, a single member will hackle. When the pack encounters a single animal, nobody but that single animal will hackle. The one that is in some way unsure will hackle, the one that needs that boost. Pack members will hackle towards eachother, it is a defensive response to a threat. It is what the dog/animal views as a threat that determines its nerve level.

Also.. a note about sharpness. Sharpness is often described as a dog that will react forward-aggressive towards minor stimuli .. people view weak nerves and sharpness to be the same thing, but a weak dog will not face the threat. I view sharpness as a level of sensitivity.. being fighty versus being flighty. This is of course just my personal view of things and a lot of people have differing opinions on what makes a dog weak or sharp.

Elisabeth- That form of "hackling" can be the same as goosebumps on a human. When humans are cold the hair on our arms stands up, same as a thin skinned, warm weather short/mid coated dog.