This paper reviews experimentally determined hysteresis loops for timber structures, including moment-resisting joints with (i) steel and (ii) plywood side plates, (iii) shear walls clad with various materials, and (iv) push-pull tests on various connection details. The paper compares bending and push-pull hysteresis loops for nailed steel side-plate joints. An attempt is made to classify the above hysteretic behaviour for analytical purposes, and the available computer models are reviewed for applicability to these hysteresis shapes.