I like to think of nerve strength as being on a continuum, rather than *weak vs strong*. As earthdog said, there are varying degrees of nerve strength.

I agree that there are various degrees in strong nerve dogs. But this also the case in weak nerve dogs.

I seen dogs so scared that they run and hide behind their owner or when presented with a different sound/thing or person they run for their safe spot, urinating as the run.

I witness a large adult female Rhodesean Ridgeback, cower behind its owner peeping between his knees, as three of us approached. The owner was shocked and embarrassed stating that she usually challenges strangers entering their yard. He expected the same responce (without any training).
Of course the guys road him, saying they had read that most dogs courage matches their onwers, (men can be like children). This pissed him off, but he was more upset with his dog, then the guys. He wanted to get rid of her, but his kids talked him out of it, poor dog.

I've also seen the opposite, dogs that were so afraid/crazy they would bark and act aggressive toward anybody and anything that was new and unusual. Some will even growl and bark at there owner when presented with new people or things. Around new people this one dog, would snap and growl at the onwer if he tried to pat him. Most of these dogs, if you walked toward them would run away stop and bark.

Both are examples of poor socailzation, gentics, up bringing, lack of attetntion that promotes and
enhances poor nerves. How would you rate these dogs, nerves?

Gooddogu
Its hard to rate nerves over the internet for the very reasons you mentioned, socialization, genetics, etc. I would put genetics at the very top of the list. A well bread dog will adjust without as much socialization as a poorly bread dog. I have hunted with my JRT's parents and grand parents on both sides. His grandmother on his fathers side was a little flakey and his mother was a real spook but his breeder insisted it was poor socialization :rolleyes: . He was the first dog I ever got that I didn't consider temperment first (they were all great hunters as he is) but !WOW! has he been a pain in the ass, but I love him anyway.

I realize some people would like to kick me in the ass <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> when I talk about my working terriers,in comparison to working GSD's, but aside from the size difference, and different quarry/helper/badguy, I think their drives,instincts, or however we describe them are VERY similar. Working terriers are as different from most pet terriers as working GSD's are from show gsd's, except even most show/pet terriers have more balls that a show gsd. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Now that I've stired that pot, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I have to go to work. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I thought sharp was kinda like moody, or pissy; easily iratated, and nerves had to do with what it takes to scare the dog.

Oldearthdog,

Any dog that would take on bear is cool by me (Airdales), terries are feirce litte dogs.

Robert

I like to keep it as simple as possible. I define sharpness as quickness to react to a stimuli with an aggressive response. Could be because of a low defensive threshold, could be because the dog has hemoroids.

I like simple it makes alot of sense.

And I think your JRT, are tough high spirited dogs, their drive and high drive is that of a full size dog.

I'm wondering what there TV popularity has done to the breeding. I heard somebody trying to breed miniture JRT, what gives anything for a buck? How much can you delute a breed before it's not the same breed?

Dogs are sorta like people products of their enviroment. But get the right dog and you can't find a more loyal friend.

Now sometimes I wonder if, my dog would eat my face. I had a OSBI agent tell me that when a person is found dead, and the dog is locked in the house with him/her the soft tissue of the face, he licks until it starts to decay then it has a pig ear like look/taste. The dog will eat its owners face. I know thats weird and doesn't matter because you would be dead, but those are things that make think, hummmm. Morbit I know, but I wonder sometimes.

Like VanCamp said, The 60's-70's screwd up the GSD, the JRT is going the same route in the 90's and new century. They will be breeding for "nice" dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> They are damn nice dogs now, don't f@#k with them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> People see the(well trained) tv JRT's and think what a cute dog. I want one and the shelters and rescue clubs are now full. Same thing happened to Dals(101 Dalmations), Irish Setters (Big Red), and on and on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I have a number of friends in the St. Louis Dal. club and they started cringing as soon as that movie came out.
VanCamp
Do you think agression alway goes with sharpness or just one of the reactions to sharpness?(Don't know if that sound right)

Gooddogu
Like you said if your dead who cares. It will at least feed your dog until someone rescues him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What the standard of GSD says?
The Polish translation says that a GSD should be untrustful to strangers and sharp <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I do not know when the translation was made, but it is still being used <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />